[Mccoypottery-talk] general computer stuff. was: Ebay Spoof

[mjtn@charter.net]

>Solutions:
>
>>1.  Don't click on the link in the message
>>2.  Don't use Outlook
>>3.  Don't use Windows

This is so not about McCoy, but since this topic applies to everyone with 
an online computer, I thought I'd share.

I'm a doh-doh when it comes to technical stuff.  I know the basics of my 
computer and how to get around the internet, and that's about it.  But I've 
had a computer online since 1995, and I've never had problems I couldn't 
fix myself --- so far.  When I first got online, I had "Windows for 
Workgroups."  What a trip that was, having to learn everything on my 
own.  When I got my first computer, I barely knew where the enter key was, 
and that's no exaggeration.  At the time, there were no night classes, etc. 
where I live.  It took about 3 months to even really get around my own 
computer very well, let alone getting around the internet.  Anyway ...

It wasn't long after that when I bought\installed windows 95.  Soon after, 
I was in a "newbie" chat room on IRC, and met up with a really nice guy who 
saw that I knew nothing, and told me some basics.  I've done what he said 
ever since, and I've had very few problems.  He told me to download Eudora 
and use that for email along with instructions for how to set everything in 
"options."  (I set it not to open html, etc.).  I've downloaded an updated 
version only twice, and I'm still using it.  And when I "sign up" for any 
kind of email updates, listservs, etc.,  when I'm given the choice, I 
choose to get the "text only" version.  As far as I know, I've never 
received a virus\worm\etc. through email, even when that was the rage.  I 
just don't click on anything I'm not absolutely sure of.  If I did, my 
virus-thingie caught it, and I never knew it.  (See how techie I am?)  :)

He also told me to download and use Netscape as opposed to Internet 
Explorer.  He told me how to set all the options, and I did that.  So I've 
had few problems with viruses that way.  When I do get one, the virus 
protection thing gets it.  Like ListMom said, I downloaded (free) AVG 
Anti-Virus at lavasoft.com and it's been pretty good.  (There's another 
good, free anti-virus thing, but I can't remember what it's called right 
now).  I also use AdAware and SpyBot Search and Destroy.  You can set the 
AVG thing to update itself and then run the "check" at a specific time 
every day.  Since I'm on a cable connection and I leave my computer on 
24/7, I set it to do that at 1am every night so that it doesn't start doing 
its thing while I'm in the middle of something.  I used to hear people say 
to never leave your connection open all the time like that, but I've never 
had any problems.  By the way, I've never used a firewall.  (I think the 
reason I don't have problems is because of the other precautions I've taken 
explained in the last paragraph).

The Start-Run-msconfig-startup thing to check on what's running is one good 
way to check something out if you already have a problem.  But like ListMom 
said, you need to know what should actually be running and what shouldn't 
before you start "un-checking" things.  If you un-check the wrong thing, 
your computer wont run correctly.  But there's one thing that even 
un-techie people like me can do in there.  You can easily make your 
computer boot faster if you have programs that open every time you start 
your computer, but you'd rather they didn't open until you want to use 
them.  Lots of the things many of us install, like chat programs (msn 
messenger, yahoo messenger, etc.) ...  and lots of other things, will set 
themselves to open every time you start (boot) your computer.  All you have 
to do is go into that "startup" thing, and un-check it, and then click 
"apply."  (It might ask you to re-start your computer for the new settings 
to take affect, but you can wait until later if you want).  I'd advise 
leaving your virus checker alone in "start-up" to just let it boot every 
time the computer starts.

I did get one kind of virus or worm or something one time that AVG said it 
didn't know what to do about.  So I did as ListMom said --- google'd the 
name of the virus which pointed me to a webpage explaining exactly what to 
do about it. I did it, and it worked.

The point is, even we who aren't very techie can still figure things out by 
just relaxing, not getting uptight, and taking the time to read about 
it.  In the 10 years of having 4 different computers online along with the 
occasional typical problems, I've never had to use the local high school 
computer nerds to come over and fix something.  So far, I've always figured 
it out by using online searches or going to chat rooms where they discuss 
stuff like this, and asking questions.

By the way, I've also downloaded cool stuff at a really good website for 
things like this.  It's called Gibson Research 
at  http://grc.com/default.htm  It's a fun and educational place to go 
prowling around when you have the time.  They freely share lots of good 
info. re: MS "anomalies" (to put it nicely).  They offer lots of free 
downloads for whichever "fix\plug\patch\un-plug" etc., etc. that your 
particular computer needs, making it much less vulnerable.  He seems to 
know all the quirks of each operating system.  He uses only "pure language" 
in the programs he writes, leaving out all the "garbage" and making the 
file sizes smaller.  Anyway, it's a good site because he makes it as easy 
as possible for someone like me to understand.

Mark


-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.8.8 - Release Date: 2/14/2005