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Archive through December 19, 2008

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Jan ~ Apr 2009: All Things Technical: The Help Desk: Computer Problems? Ask Here (ARCHIVES): Archive through December 19, 2008 users admin

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Ladytex
Member

09-27-2001

Thursday, December 11, 2008 - 1:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ladytex a private message Print Post    
here

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Thursday, December 11, 2008 - 3:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
is Avira better than Avast?

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Thursday, December 11, 2008 - 7:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
I tried Avast first (after I decided I couldn't live with the new AVG) and didn't particularly like it, but I don't recall now why I didn't like it, lol. I guess try both and see which one you like. Those seem to be the two most popular right now.

Babyruth
Member

07-19-2001

Thursday, December 11, 2008 - 8:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Babyruth a private message Print Post    
Isn't "avast" what pirates yell to their shipmateys during a storm, along with "shiver me timbers"?

Draheid
Board Administrator

09-09-2001

Thursday, December 11, 2008 - 9:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Draheid a private message Print Post    
The trick I learned with the new AVG is you have to Disable LinkScanner or you'll never get anywhere. It is an interesting concept, scanning all the links on a webpage to see if there is any potential threat to you if you click. However, the implementation seems to be very poor. I was seeing huge memory usage and 99% CPU while LinkScanner was running. Now everything is working fine and AVG is doing it's job as before.

Of course, turning off a feature will result in the typical warnings of impending doom because you aren't using that feature.

To disable this, open the AVG control panel, click on 'Components' then 'LinkScanner'. Uncheck everything on that page and click 'Save changes' to finish. Finally, from the Overview panel, right-click on LinkScanner and check the 'Ignore component state' to avoid error messages.

Hope this helps.

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Thursday, December 11, 2008 - 9:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Teachmichigan a private message Print Post    
DH uses Avast, I've still got AVG (and it's been a pain in the butt the last 6 mos. - issues w/automatic updating not working). Avast has too many pop-up "allow" screens; it drives me bonkers when I have to use his computer. I'm downloading Avira as I type. Thanks for the heads up! :-)

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Friday, December 12, 2008 - 5:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
LOL Baby!
Teach, hmmm don't have any of those problems. I am curious now and will check in Avira.

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Friday, December 12, 2008 - 7:15 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
Thanks, Draheid. Maybe I will try that.

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Friday, December 12, 2008 - 7:17 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
Thanks for the advice about AVG, Dra. I did that a while ago and it improved it considerably but it is still sluggish compared to the previous version. You will probably notice a considerable improvement Juju. Maybe my PC has other issues going on.

I may try Avira but I don't know how good it is. I sometimes wonder though if the threat from viruses is over hyped?

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Saturday, December 13, 2008 - 12:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
Anyone heard of this????
i am including the article from my local paper and the attached link to microsoft.
followup_no_version_of_ie_is_safe_from_zeroda_1.html
Follow-up: No version of IE is safe from zero-day flaw
On Thursday, I wrote about a pair of flaws in Windows that are being exploited by cyberscum, one of which involves a bug in Internet Explorer. Initially, Microsoft said it only involved IE7, and that earlier versions are not vulnerable.

It turns out that Microsoft was wrong.

In fact, all currently supported versions of IE -- from 5.01 all the way to the latest beta of IE8 -- are susceptible. In addition, the flaw is based in the way IE binds data, not in its HTML renderer. Microsoft has amended its security bulletin on the issue.

The updated information includes new ways to prevent an exploit, but Brian Krebs at the Washington Post's Security Fix blog says the tactics aren't always successful:

Microsoft's advisory includes a host of recommendations for mitigating the threat from this vulnerability. Some of the company's suggestions did not work when I tried them on my Windows Vista system, or did not work without some tweaking that was not mentioned in the advisory.

For instance, Microsoft recommends enabling a feature called "data execution prevention," by clicking "Tools," "Internet Options," then "Advanced," and then checking the box next to that option. However, when I tried to make the changes in IE7 on Vista, I found that option grayed out. To make that change, I had to close out of IE completely, then right click on the IE icon, select "Run as Administrator," and then alter the setting.

Microsoft also suggests shifting IE's Internet and local Intranet security settings to "high." No problems changing that per Microsoft's instructions, except that few sites will now load properly in IE because changing that setting disables active scripting, a feature that many Web sites use.

In addition, Microsoft says users can mitigate the threat from this flaw by de-registering the vulnerable component, a system file called "oledb32.dll". To do this, users need to run the Windows command prompt as administrator, and type or cut-and-paste the following command:

Regsvr32.exe /u "Program Files\Common Files\System\Ole DB\oledb32.dll"

This generated an error message on my Windows Vista machine, complaining that the action could not be performed. The command worked fine on my Windows XP system.

Microsoft says exploits are limited, but that's the status now. You can bet that the jerks who prey on these flaws are hard at work, trying to find ways to take advantage of this problem.

Until Microsoft patches this flaw -- and I suspect we'll see an out-of-cycle patch very soon -- Windows users should not run IE when surfing the Web. Download and install Firefox, Google's new Chrome browser (which just left beta), Opera or some other alternative. You don't want to discover first-hand that this wildfire is spreading.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/961051.mspx

Ladytex
Member

09-27-2001

Saturday, December 13, 2008 - 1:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ladytex a private message Print Post    
yes, I've heard of it but I use FF and Chrome so ...

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Monday, December 15, 2008 - 9:05 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
I really wouldn't follow the advice of someone who makes a living writing blogs. If you are following basic and well known security precautions (firewalls, AV) and don't click links you don't know where they go, you are safe.

If this was a bigger issue, we'd have been told about it at my company. Since I work for a security company, it would be a mandate to quit using IE. And nope, it's not.

(I really think people who do this cry wolf. At some point they are gonna cry wolf one too many times.)

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 5:11 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
Did you not read the link from Microsoft?
I tried Firefox, but for some reason it would never launch adobe flash. it would download it but not launch. I went back and thought sort of along the same lines that I hadn't heard much about this, but then my local news carried a story this morning.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 5:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
did another quick google. hmmmm
maybe he isn't such a chicken little after all...

Serious flaw in Internet Explorer not fixed yet
10 minutes ago

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Users of all current versions of Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer browser might be vulnerable to having their computers hijacked because of a serious security hole in the software that had yet to be fixed Monday.

The flaw lets criminals commandeer victims' machines merely by tricking them into visiting Web sites tainted with malicious programming code. As many as 10,000 sites have been compromised since last week to exploit the browser flaw, according to antivirus software maker Trend Micro Inc.

The sites are mostly Chinese and have been serving up programs that steal passwords for computer games, which can be sold for money on the black market. However, the hole is such that it could be "adopted by more financially motivated criminals for more serious mayhem — that's a big fear right now," Paul Ferguson, a Trend Micro security researcher, said Monday.

"Zero-day" vulnerabilities like this are security holes that haven't been repaired by the software makers. They're a gold mine for criminals because users have few ways to fight off attacks.

The latest vulnerability is noteworthy because Internet Explorer is the default browser for most of the world's computers. Also, while Microsoft says it has detected attacks only against version 7 of Internet Explorer, which is the most widely used edition, the company warned that other versions are also potentially vulnerable.

Microsoft said it is investigating the flaw and is considering fixing it through an emergency software patch outside of its normal monthly updates, but declined further comment. The company is telling users to employ a series of complicated workarounds to minimize the threat.

Many security experts, meanwhile, are urging Internet Explorer users to use another browser until a patch is released.



On the Net:
Microsoft's advisory: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/961051.mspx

From Times OnlineDecember 16, 2008

Internet Explorer users warned to change browser over security fears
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article5351749.ece

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 6:31 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
Good Morning America had a story about it too.
My first reaction was 'i never click on stuff that i don't know' so this shouldn't be a problem for me. but now, i am confused. i don't really care if i switch except like i said i had problems with Adobe on firefox and i just didn't like Google's new browser.

Zgoodgirl
Member

08-22-2003

Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 6:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Zgoodgirl a private message Print Post    
The only problem I have had with Firefox was with Adobe and that it really sucked up a lot of bandwidth during use.

I really don't go surfing by clicking on other links from sites. Come to think of it, I rarely do a lot of surfing and only go to sites I regularly use.

Ladytex
Member

09-27-2001

Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 9:01 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ladytex a private message Print Post    
Microsoft Issues Emergency Security Patch For IE

Here ya go, Texannie

Microsoft will issue an emergency security patch Wednesday for all versions of Internet Explorer. The patch is considered a critical fix for the security flaw currently plaguing the IE browser. So far, more than 2 million computers are believed to have been infected.

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 11:05 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mocha a private message Print Post    
Whew. At work they shut down the internet so I was bored as hell. Had to go home lol.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 11:08 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
Thanks LT!!!
Mocha, shut it down because of the security issue?
Cost, did your company ever hear anything?

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 11:14 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Annie, it's not that we "heard" anything. It's that our systems are so protected with firewalls and VPNs that it would be impossible to be hacked. If there was a credible threat, we'd have been told to stop using IE. Since IT didn't, it means in a secure computing environment, it's not a credible threat.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 12:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
got it

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 9:31 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
Neighbor who don't know shit about shinola about computers and viruses and all that stuff mentioned it to me tonight, so the threat about the threat has gone low tech by now indeed. I didn't know how to politely say I know, but howdahell do you know???

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Thursday, December 18, 2008 - 5:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
they probably watch Good Morning America! LOL

Mack
Member

07-23-2002

Thursday, December 18, 2008 - 10:47 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mack a private message Print Post    
Got all my machines (4 of them) powered up this morning and all have now received the update. Rebooted everything so we're good to go until the next one...which will probably be tomorrow the way these things seem to pop up.

Jewels
Member

09-23-2000

Friday, December 19, 2008 - 11:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jewels a private message Print Post    
Help! I'm having a computer issue that I hope someone can help me with. I'm as computer illiterate as they come, so bear with me.

The other day I was trying to upload some pictures to order Christmas cards. To do it the "fast" way the site said to get the latest version of Java. I assumed the download and installation went just fine, it looked like everything was completed. I still couldn't get it to work, so I ended up just doing it the "slow" way instead.

Shortly after, my husband go on line to look at our weather radar. It wouldn't load. With an impending storm coming this weekend, we want our radar! I believe my husband has tried to uninstall and reinstall, but I'm not sure exactly what he has done, but I do know that it still won't work. This is the error that we get:

Java Plug-in 1.6.0_11
Using JRE version 1.6.0_11 Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM
User home directory = C:\Documents and Settings\Julie
----------------------------------------------------
c: clear console window
f: finalize objects on finalization queue
g: garbage collect
h: display this help message
l: dump classloader list
m: print memory usage
o: trigger logging
q: hide console
r: reload policy configuration
s: dump system and deployment properties
t: dump thread list
v: dump thread stack
x: clear classloader cache
0-5: set trace level to <n>
----------------------------------------------------


load: class AniS.class not found.
java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: AniS.class
at sun.plugin2.applet.Applet2ClassLoader.findClass(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin2.applet.Plugin2ClassLoader.loadCode(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin2.applet.Plugin2Manager.createApplet(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin2.applet.Plugin2Manager$AppletExecutionRunnable.run(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)
Caused by: java.net.SocketException: Invalid argument: connect
at java.net.PlainSocketImpl.socketConnect(Native Method)
at java.net.PlainSocketImpl.doConnect(Unknown Source)
at java.net.PlainSocketImpl.connectToAddress(Unknown Source)
at java.net.PlainSocketImpl.connect(Unknown Source)
at java.net.SocksSocketImpl.connect(Unknown Source)
at java.net.Socket.connect(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.NetworkClient.doConnect(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.openServer(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.openServer(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.<init>(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.New(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.getNewHttpClient(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.plainConnect(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.connect(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.getInputStream(Unknown Source)
at java.net.HttpURLConnection.getResponseCode(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin2.applet.Applet2ClassLoader.getBytes(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin2.applet.Applet2ClassLoader.access$000(Unknown Source)
at sun.plugin2.applet.Applet2ClassLoader$1.run(Unknown Source)
at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
... 7 more
Exception: java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: AniS.class

Does this mean anything to anyone? I have no idea what it meas or that to do!