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Fear of Spyware Changing Online Habits (PEW "Research" Poll)
AP on Yahoo ^ | 7/7/05 | Anick Jesdanun - AP

Posted on 07/07/2005 9:45:11 AM PDT by NormsRevenge

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1 posted on 07/07/2005 9:45:14 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge
I guess I won't be going back to the XXX game shareware sharing site anymore...
2 posted on 07/07/2005 9:46:32 AM PDT by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - They want to die for Islam, and we want to kill them.)
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To: 2banana

Brother, spyware is in no way limited to those kids of sites.


3 posted on 07/07/2005 9:50:02 AM PDT by L98Fiero
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To: L98Fiero

"kids" should be "kinds". Ooops.


4 posted on 07/07/2005 9:50:37 AM PDT by L98Fiero
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To: NormsRevenge

I stopped using IE because of spyware, and even with Mozilla I have to avoid Drudge. I'm trying to avoid ebay, but that's a bit more difficult. :(


5 posted on 07/07/2005 9:50:58 AM PDT by Graymatter
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To: Graymatter
"I stopped using IE because of spyware, and even with Mozilla I have to avoid Drudge. I'm trying to avoid ebay, but that's a bit more difficult. :("

Drudge and ebay install spyware? I've never heard of either of them being a problem.

I use Firefox (previously used Mozilla) and have never gotten spyware from a web page. I've gotten it from installed software, but I quickly caught it and got rid of it, thanks to AdAware and Microsoft's Anti Spyware software.
6 posted on 07/07/2005 9:58:26 AM PDT by Moral Hazard (I question the bargaining power of the Union of the Snake.)
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To: NormsRevenge
Hit twice by spyware, after which all her Internet searches went to a rogue search engine rather than Google, she bought the safer Mac computer, installed two layers of firewalls and began switching off her broadband-connected machine when she's out.

First, that is not "spyware", it is a redirect trojan or other malware and can be removed albeit you may have to modify the registry.

Good grief. I go to game sites ALL the time. Just use a good (free) spyware blocker and virus check your downloads. I have not had a prob in a long time. Lots of free tools out there.

Buying a MAC and and turing off the broadband is just plain silly IMHO.

In 20 percent of cases, the problem couldn't be fixed.

Huh? The prob can ALWAYS be fixed unless you were such an idiot you broke hardware. And that is very very rare.

7 posted on 07/07/2005 9:59:21 AM PDT by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
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To: NormsRevenge

WHAT spyware?


8 posted on 07/07/2005 10:00:39 AM PDT by mercy (never again a patsy for Bill Gates - spyware and viri free for over a year now)
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To: Moral Hazard
I stopped using IE because of spyware

I use IE and don't get spyware. Just need the right tools. :-)

I also monitor in realtime what programs and how many of them that are running on my machine at all times. If I see more than the normal 19 to run windows, explorer, and my malware blockers, I will see it in realtime.

9 posted on 07/07/2005 10:02:43 AM PDT by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
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To: NormsRevenge

Linda Parra, a technology usability consultant at an insurance firm in Madison, Wis., is typical of the once-burned, now-vigilant crowd.

Hit twice by spyware, after which all her Internet searches went to a rogue search engine rather than Google, she bought the safer Mac computer, installed two layers of firewalls and began switching off her broadband-connected machine when she's out.

"I've become a lot more security conscious," she said, adding that she had to learn much more about how computers and the Internet work.

Wow... what a "duhh" moment of clarity

10 posted on 07/07/2005 10:05:50 AM PDT by hatfieldmccoy (Satan has a new name and it is Islam)
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To: Moral Hazard
Every time I log onto Drudge the site loads at least 5 cookies and has loaded as many as 10 cookies in the past. My computer tells me how many cookies were detected. It keeps a running count of computer "bug," cookies and other nasty stuff. In addition, I am running three anti-spyware programs. Tracking cookies are the least intrusive type of spyware out there on the web.

As for Drudge, I hardly visit his site today. Total waste of time. Matt is making tons of money and more power to him. But, frankly, his celebrity news format just turns me off. Simply put, I do not care about what Cruise or Katie or other A list people are doing.

11 posted on 07/07/2005 10:13:36 AM PDT by ex-Texan (Mathew 7:1 through 6)
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To: NormsRevenge
... a technology usability consultant...

what the heck is that ?
12 posted on 07/07/2005 10:16:46 AM PDT by stylin19a (Suicide bomber ??? "I came to the wrong jihad")
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To: hatfieldmccoy

I should have scrolled down more.....you nailed it.


13 posted on 07/07/2005 10:18:04 AM PDT by stylin19a (Suicide bomber ??? "I came to the wrong jihad")
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To: NormsRevenge
Just a warning to freepers.

Apparently MS is buying the makers of Gator. MS anti spywhere now recomends ignoring Gator not deleting it as it did last week.

As someone said on slashdot. 'Never buy security software from the company that put the holes there in the first place!'. It's like Danes Gelt.

14 posted on 07/07/2005 10:22:29 AM PDT by Dinsdale
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To: ex-Texan

Just tell your browser to disallow any cookies, or if you have sites that you need to have cookies for (on-line shopping), then tell your browser that only those sites are allowed to set cookies.


15 posted on 07/07/2005 10:23:45 AM PDT by AFreeBird (your mileage may vary)
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To: mercy
WHAT spyware?

Oh, you use a Mac too?

16 posted on 07/07/2005 10:32:33 AM PDT by SengirV
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To: stylin19a
... a technology usability consultant...

what the heck is that?

They make products (hardware, software, web sites) easier to use via various research methods and a knowledge of human behavior. They address things like web site navigation, the "user-friendliness" of software, placement of hardware buttons, etc. Usually a degree in engineering, design, or an advanced degree in psychology/human factors is required. It's a somewhat obscure field, but interesting, really. Most large companies, even some small, have departments devoted to this. And there's a large group of consultant firms that specialize in it.

17 posted on 07/07/2005 10:33:03 AM PDT by ncdrumr
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To: 2banana

Someone sent me an email with what they thought were "harmless Smiley's"! I started getting porn to my PRIVATE email -an email address I had never given out to anyone but friends.

Needless, to say, I checked on the "user agreement" for those dang Smiley's, and sure enough, they warned of 'possible adult sites' - which I immediately sent to this jerk - the former "friend" to whom I gave that very private email address.

He didn't read what I wrote -and a week later, sent another email with the same Smileys. Needless to say, I not only wrote this guy, but called him, to tell him about the problem, and also to tell him to "forget my name, my address and anything about me because clearly you are not bright enough to be my friend."

May sound harsh, but sheesh, I can't have people in my life who give away an address that I've now had to abandon, and who don't read emails that tell them of the error of their ways.

Meanwhile, I guess he must have appreciated the porn sites because he never complained about receiving emails with totally gross pictures in them.


18 posted on 07/07/2005 10:46:00 AM PDT by TruthNtegrity (Jets overhead for the weekend- Ah, the sounds of freedom! AND the Blue Angels, too!)
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To: ncdrumr
I take it your explanation isn't tongue-in-cheek.
Man, I need to get out more.(I telecommute)...I've been in the IT business since '67 and hadn't heard of this.
19 posted on 07/07/2005 11:01:02 AM PDT by stylin19a (Suicide bomber ??? "I came to the wrong jihad")
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To: Moral Hazard

I guess I'm just not as lucky and clever, because I'm positive the spyware acts up after a visit to Drudge, and it always appears when I'm in ebay. I've tried AdAware and lots of other anti-spyware programs, but nothing keeps it out permanently. Where it came from I don't know. I don't click on ads, or on any links in email, in fact I hardly ever use email on this computer. But I've got a bad case of homepage hijacker and nothing so far has cured it completely.


20 posted on 07/07/2005 11:03:32 AM PDT by Graymatter
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