I have just about every kind of security program you can think of, most of them free. Ad-Aware, Spywareblaster you name it, I probably have it. I use Firefox and stay away from IE as much as possible.

Going on the internet without these things is like riding an upside down roller coaster without restraints.  

I have known some that don't use a firewall or AV. But it takes a lot of knowledge and caution.

Only 3 viruses in a year and a half?? 1 in 3 years was enough for me to be mad. Even though it was cought by my AV and deleted.

Like most I have a firewall. And glad to have it. I have had several high rated attacks in the last few years and without the firewall I would be in big trouble.

God bless the firewall.  

Hello everyone.

Gracey, you can go microsoft and manually download the patches that you need. That way you would not have to use windows update. I don't do this myself, but I know some that do.

By Blackeyedpeas

There is another gremlin loose in Windows, the Windows Messenger. That's a security hole big enough to drive a semi through. You can and should disable this. I did disable it on my system, and I can't see any negative effects at all.

Oh yes that definitely needs to be disabled. That service is only needed if you are on a network that is controlled by an administrator. It allows an admin to control updates and make changes on client computers from a remote computer. That is why it is such a security hole.

But there are other services that need to be disabled as well. Like remote desktop help, secondary logon, terminal services to name a few. These are not needed by most home users. Besides being security threats they also slow your computer down by running unnecessarily in the background.

http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm This is an excellent place to learn what services do what and what setting is recommended and why. Please note that this is for windows XP and 2000 only. Also that he is in the process of updating his Service Configurations to include SP2.

This is a great site to learn how to tweak your computer. If you shut down unneeded services you will notice a boost in performance as well.

You can also turn Active-X and Scripts capabilities on or off any time you wish. I only leave these turned on with sites I know are safe, and Christians Unite is definitely safe.

I agree. But bad things can happen to good sites. Two or three days ago a forum that I go to often had a incident. Someone inserted malicious code into a post and was redirecting everyone to a very nasty picture. On top of that it falsely associated user names with that post.  

I have just about every program you can think of to secure my computers. I practice safe browsing. But still about two months ago I had a virus.

My point is that even though you think things are locked up tight, there is always someone trying to find a new way in and you have to be careful.

Peace to all.

As they say "pessimists are blessed for they make backups".

 

[WIFE]

LOL    Standard procdure eh?   Lets see if this kills any games on the kids pc before I let on my pc....hehe.   Just messin with ya IC.  For some reason that just hit my funny bone.

Grace and Peace!

Hehe. That's exactly it. If the kids computer gets messed up, nothing to worry about. They will just be mad for few hours while I get it up and running.

Now if my main computer gets messed up, that's a different story. My WIFE will be mad at me. LOL . And it takes a lot longer to restore a 60 GB HDD (about 80% full) than a 10 GB on my kids computer.

All the experimenting gets done on my kids computer.

Peace

I think everyone will find SP2 is just fine. It was tested for months before it was released.

But I understand many being nervous about it. I installed it on my kids computer the first day it was available, but waited for about a week to install on my main computer just make sure (standard procedure for me). And before that, I made a full backup on my external hard drive just to make sure I could completely restore it back to the way it was.

It's things like this that make you want try your hand at Linux. Get rid if windows altogether.

There probably is a micrsoft version of the FBI that watches our every move. Smack down the little guy before he can get out of windoze.

I am probably being watched right now.  

I ordered the CD and got in about three days. So if you have dial up you might want to go that route.


MsGuidedAngel, you started to download the "full network install" for installing on multiple computers. The single user file is about 75 to 80 MB.


The problems with SP2 are that windows firewall blocks some programs from accessing the internet. But if you already have a firewall you will want to turn off windows firewall anyway. Windows firewall is not very good. It is better than nothing, but you should have a third party firewall instead.

I know people that have been using SP2(beta) for a few months and have had no problems. SP2 is a important patch. Everyone should install it when they get a chance.

Shylynne, wise words to a parent that sometimes wonders what to do. Even though I have been greatly blessed with excellent children, it is good to hear these words of wisdom to help remind me of the things I need to do.

Good suggestion. Thank you.

[Oh, I just had I good idea, If you go into your firewall and block IE from accessing the internet when you are not using it and then unblock it when you need it. Sweet, I think I will do that right now.]

I wasn't aware just having IE on your computer was a security hole, but it makes sense now that you bring it up. I am sure you could get rid of it if you really wanted to. But unfortunately it is needed for some things to work right, windows update being the most important.

Oh, I just had I good idea, If you go into your firewall and block IE from accessing the internet when you are not using it and then unblock it when you need it. Sweet, I think I will do that right now.

As far as websites that use ActiveX, using firefox with the ActiveX plug-in would be better than using IE. Although I still would not get the ActiveX plug-in. I would still recommend using IE only when necessary and switching back to firefox when done. This seems to be the safest method at this time.

I have heard that MS is going to fully integrate IE into up coming OS's. So there will be no choice in having it on your system. Unless of course you decide to go with another OS like Linux or the Sun Java OS that is based on Linux.

Just last week I was going to load Linux Mandrake 8.2 on an old system and start learning how to use it. But the old hard drive has to many errors on it. It would not install Linux. I did a surface scan on it using a partition tool and all I got for three hours was errors. Oh well. Maybe I will do a dual boot on my kids computer or my laptop.

I have felt that many times. Just looking at the world and about to give up on it. Totally disgusted with the whole planet. Not just the secular world but Christians as well. I think back to the exodus, when people were just saved by God, miracles everywhere. Only to turn around and build a golden calf at the very foot of the holy mountain. And when everyone was invited to come up on the mountain and talk with God, they refused saying that Moses should be their intercessor because they are to afraid. I just don't understand people sometimes.  

Whew! Sorry. Back to my point.

Then God would show me in the middle of all this evil and sorrow, something very beautiful and righteous happening. Someone stopping to help someone they don't even know. Someone helping just for the sake of helping, no ulterior motive. Broken hearts being mended. Minds and bodies being healed.

There is still good in this world. Even if it is hard to find at times. Don't give up on the world just yet. God has plans.

but since I am the husband (the head of the family) then I have to lead the prayer. Now I am used to it.

Maybe it’s just a matter of initiating a prayer time with our spouse and do it regularly ‘til we get used to it (better late than never).  

Me leading is part of the problem.  I have had a hard time with leading. And it is not my wife, she desperately wants me to lead. While I would rather we pray together, with neither one of us leading. But I know that is not the Lords way. I must lead whether I like it or not.  

You are probably right, I will just have to do it until it begins to feel natural. The Lord is with us, He will see to it that things work out right.

Thank you for your feedback Bobot.  God bless.

Thank you Bobot for your suggestion. I think family prayer is very important as well, but I am searching for that "oneness" before God with my wife. I think this must come first, before the rest of the family.

But that kind of suggestion is exactly what I am asking for. How do you pray with your spouse? What things do you find helpful.

After several years of struggling with this, I am willing to listen to any suggestions.

I have been using firefox for 2 or 3 months. I really like it. It is faster than IE, and more easily customized.  

It does have small glitches from time to time, like getting a "cannot locate web page" once in a while. But this in very minor compared to the security flaws in IE.

NOTE: If you use firefox, do not download the ActiveX plug-in. The ActiveX control in IE is one of it's biggest security flaws. If you go to a website that requires ActiveX (like windows update) then use IE for that website and then go back to firefox when done.