Is Nothing Safe? BS Ads in Google/Youtube - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2018, 06:38:43 am
content: I've seen a ton of fake "free game" (for paid games) ads that are likely viruses, or if legit then pirate sites.I thought that was already absolutely shameful of Google to allow that!It seems to be getting worse and more frequent. Today I saw straight up free-energy shit on a Youtube ad (Diodegonewild's channel, on mobile so no adblock)! Something like "Tesla Generator, eliminate your electric bill!" (Sidebar ad). REALLY GOOGLE?!...STOP IT! Get your code out of the gutter!I mean I closed it under "not interested" (they don't have "inappropriate" anymore), but if you want to play games Google...I'll just right a script to Google random weird and messed up crap to fill the trackers with garbage, then keep dismissing weird ads that result!(Note: apart from the Dodgey Technology section, I don't expose myself to this crap!)Are we going to have to don our tinfoil hats and duck and cover under or desks/tables for the Nutpocalypse (tm) fallout?

author: Distelzombie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2018, 02:16:53 pm
content: If someone pays, he gets. I guess they have nothing against channel Advertising for themselves. And how is any YouTube employee supposed to know the difference between bullshit and an oddity? Let them waste their money..I may get ridiculed for this, but I always have an ad-blocker active. (And a script-blocker and a user-agent randomizer for all the tracker) Even when watching YouTube. The danger of malware in advertisements is too high today. As long as they don't change something fundamental about advertisements in the web, I'm not turning them off.If I want to go totally under the hood I start my Parrot Security OS in a VM and reroute all traffic through my VPN - and then through TOR for good measure.

author: rob.manderson
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2018, 05:22:14 pm
content: You think that's bad? How about the cognitive dissonance (literally) when one hits play on, say, Richard Wetz second symphony and they blast you with that damn Gigablast ad of some teenager playing air guitar? Bastards!

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2018, 04:34:49 am
content: Quote from: Distelzombie on April 29, 2018, 02:16:53 pmI hate the mobile adblock browser though.It's like a dumbed down version of Chrome.Then they need to get better employees that understand that free energy is nonsense. They also should know that if something says "Play  for free! *dodgey sparkles*" instead of ": free to play" they should check for pirates/viruses. It's not rocket science. What morons do they have working there?

author: Distelzombie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2018, 08:38:07 am
content: I don't think there's even one person looking at these before the sparkly ads are out and shining.

author: Circlotron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2018, 09:44:31 am
content: I use Adblock Plus and a hosts file.Virtually never see ads.http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/# Use this file to prevent your computer from connecting to selected# internet hosts. This is an easy and effective way to protect you from# many types of spyware, reduces bandwidth use, blocks certain pop-up# traps, prevents user tracking by way of "web bugs" embedded in spam,# provides partial protection to IE from certain web-based exploits and# blocks most advertising you would otherwise be subjected to on the# internet.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2018, 10:35:13 am
content: Sounds like a few punters here have been "Yoogled"Remedy:Shut down the PC, have a glass of warm milk, and read a good book in bed (Electronics preferablynot fiction or fake Biography BS)Repeat as necessary

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2018, 10:36:30 am
content: Quote from: Distelzombie on April 29, 2018, 02:16:53 pmI'm willing to look at ads in certain circumstances, but the risk is currently unacceptable. Automated trading practices almost always mean that websites don't even know what ads they're running. When asked about this, they say it's how the online advertising world works nowadays and that it's not viable to change this single handedly. There are many examples of major and otherwise trustworthy sites serving malware through ads.At this point it seems almost naive not to block ads, other than those conciously supporting certain websites of course. It just doens't make any sense to enable ads. I understand this creates a problem for a lot of website owners, but it's a problem of their own making. If they would serve simple image ads from their own server, I would be much more sympatetic.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2018, 10:45:21 am
content: Come on guys, uninstall your troublesome browsers that have been knocked up, and reinstall a fresh copy or try another browser...and beware what you click onOtherwise enjoy the frustration, because it's not going to improve, especially if you believe halfassed patches and updates BS will cure your jacked computer of internet junkeryIt can't be any simpler than that

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2018, 10:53:24 am
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on April 30, 2018, 10:45:21 amWhy do I get the feeling that you're projecting your own woes onto us?

author: llkiwi2006
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2018, 11:37:11 am
content: Quote from: Cyberdragon on April 30, 2018, 04:34:49 amIf you are on android, you can get newpipe for ad free youtube, and also adaway for host file based adblocking that works for most browser and in app ads.

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2018, 11:55:59 am
content: Quote from: Cyberdragon on April 29, 2018, 06:38:43 amYeah, Google is not about what _you_ think it is.

author: Distelzombie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2018, 12:21:16 pm
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on April 30, 2018, 10:35:13 amQuote from: Electro Detective on April 30, 2018, 10:45:21 amDo you have something knowledgeable to add to this thread or are you just trolling?

author: TheWelly888
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2018, 12:57:09 pm
content: I use uBlock extension for my Chrome browser - no ads on any YouTube video I watch!

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2018, 01:00:25 pm
content: uBlock? Never without it , or equivalent!

author: bitwelder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2018, 01:10:49 pm
content: Hopefully it's uBlockOrigin, as there are some fake ad-blockers around, like 'uBlock Plus', that are rather quite malicious:https://adguard.com/en/blog/over-20-000-000-of-chrome-users-are-victims-of-fake-ad-blockers/

author: BillB
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 30, 2018, 03:07:25 pm
content: +1 for uBlock origin. But, my favorite is uMatrix! It allows me to precisely dictate which elements load/run and which don't.

author: Astrodev
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2018, 06:31:11 pm
content: Based on info from a Cybersecurity workshop I was at a couple of months back, it would be a good policy to block ads especially from Google as it has been identified that some of the ransomware gangs are actually paying for ads on Google (they can afford it with their business model) in order to use the often quite innocent looking ads to deliver their payloads to the unsuspecting users.The answer is only to use Google to look up things you already knew!

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2018, 10:32:45 pm
content: Quote from: Astrodev on April 30, 2018, 06:31:11 pmWonderful...I have both ABP and UBO running on desktop. I'll have to try some of that other stuff for mobile.(To those who seem to misunderstand) No, it has nothing to do with the browser or adware infections.We're talking about filth in your ad suggestions for your Google account. I usually use incognito window (not signed in) to search random stuff with, so at least it's narrowed down to just based on my Youtube history.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 01, 2018, 04:44:10 am
content: Quote from: Cyberdragon on April 30, 2018, 10:32:45 pmTurn all that shit off. Of the very few ads I get now (using ABP and Ghostery), they are generic and non-targeted. All my search history is "paused" as well.https://www.google.com/settings/ads

author: drussell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2018, 07:40:22 am
content: If you see ads on YouTube, you need to adjust your AdBlock...

author: Distelzombie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2018, 12:09:38 pm
content: uMatrix is cool, but I don't like it's user interface.I use uBlock Origin, ScriptSafe, HTTPS everywhere and Random User-Agent. Try the last three. They're great!You may have to disable Random user-agent on some website because they break or irritate you with "Why don't you use Chrome? Download here..." in the case of Youtube. But you already use uBlock, so you're familiar with disabling settings on some websites.I have it disabled on this page for example, because it voids my current session ID when it switches user-agents and I have to reload the page before sending a poast all the time..Also try Midnight Lizard if you want to change all websites to being dark, or whatever you set it to, instead.I can't live without ML anymore. (See picture. It says "not secure" in address bar because I was switching extensions on and off while writing this)ScriptSafe is really good! You can also configure it to fake user-agents, but that should really be done randomly. It blocks other kinds of tracking methods. Like, some websites use the speed in which your browser renders a rectangle to track you, or they read your hardware IDs, browser plug-ins, verbose APIs... That's called fingerprints.ScriptSafe is pretty small, so it wouldn't be a hit on performance.I am currently experimenting if I still need it with uBlock Origin. But it has so many options that uBlock doesn't have, so I guess it is necessary.I basically use the same plugins in Parrot security OS. It uses Mozilla instead, though.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2018, 04:53:11 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on May 01, 2018, 04:44:10 amKilled em!Quote from: drussell on May 01, 2018, 07:40:22 amI said I see ads on mobile (android)!

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2018, 05:02:26 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on May 01, 2018, 04:44:10 amI clicked on that link and was denied by uBlock Origin

author: Seph.b
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2018, 05:32:49 pm
content: Quote from: Distelzombie on April 29, 2018, 02:16:53 pmHate to break it to you, but changing your user-agent hasn't worked in a long time. They wised up to it long ago, now the worst ones 'fingerprint' your setup. Pretty much look at every setting that is available to them about you browser and computer to generate a unique ID. I have yet to see anything that is effective vs that approach.Some also play sub or super audible noise that other devices that happen to be using the same system pick up to build a list of devices in the same household. There was a hoopla about this a few years ago and while the company admitted they have many huge clients they would not name any of them.I use NoScript and uMatrix, but there is only so much you can really do to stop tracking. I, for one, really like the UI of uMatrix. I can see how it would be too much for many though.I am forced to be living in an apartment for work where they have an amazon echo on all the time. I would love it if it products like that actually did the processing locally, but I don't buy the record and send to a central server approach.

author: Distelzombie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2018, 06:32:17 pm
content: Quote from: Seph.b on May 01, 2018, 05:32:49 pmDude I know. That's why I also use ScriptSafe, which blocks fingerprinting. Both work in conjunction. There are still user-agent tracker.Hm... did you quote an old version of my post? I edited it quite a bit in the first 10 min.

author: Seph.b
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2018, 06:42:40 pm
content: I'll look at SafeScript, I have not looked at it yet.I had the thread up in my browser for a while before I got too it. Sorry if the context changed.I still stand by user-agent randomization not being worth the effort. From my experience many websites don't like it, thinking you are using an outdated browser and the extra protection seems to be marginal.

author: Distelzombie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2018, 07:02:43 pm
content: Quote from: Seph.b link=topic=109810.msg1510480#msg1510480 date=15Do25200160Do it, it's really a great piece of software.It has so many features!You can customize what browsers to use in the randomizer. And you can of course deactivate it on certain websites, if necessary. If you want to get rid of all tracking methods we know of, you basically have to use it. The 50MB of RAM it uses aren't very much either.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2018, 09:15:16 pm
content: Quote from: rdl on May 01, 2018, 05:02:26 pmI disabled site blocking. It's annoying and over-reactive. It probably just saw the word "ads" and freaked out.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2018, 11:34:59 pm
content: I don't mind the site blocking. For me, it's extremely rare that it happens.Anyway, the less I have to do with Google, the better off I probably am.Quote

author: thermistor-guy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 02:31:09 am
content: I use disconnect.me, ghostery, adblock plus, https everywhere.If a site gets all whiny and refuses to display content, because my browser is blocking ads, then I go elsewhere.The day that sites guarantee under legal contract their ads are malware-free, is the day I reconsider. Until then, they can Foxtrot Oscar.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 03:40:36 am
content: Quote from: thermistor-guy on May 02, 2018, 02:31:09 am"What did you say site?"*inspect element**DELETE...DELETE*"That's what I thought..."(Note: only works on overlays)

author: Distelzombie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 05:44:12 pm
content: Quote from: rdl on May 01, 2018, 11:34:59 pmI have the same filter on. I practically have everything on that uBlock ORIGIN offers. Yet the site is not blocked:Because doubleclick.net is blocked by ScriptSafe, uBlock doesn't even sees it. The site works fine btw. No problems.EDIT: I tested this because I wasn't sure: I don't even see doubleclick.net in ScriptSafe. You sure your DNS is safe and all that? Did you use a different link than what you provided us with?Another thing I forgot to mention: Use a good, secure and private DNS.EDIT: Oh, I was clicking at the link that Halcyon provided, for some reason. Of course there's no doubleclick on that page. xDThe link you provided, rdl, is getting blocked by both extensions: uBlock and ScriptSafe. Though, ScriptSafe doesn't have a page that tells you which extension blocked it and why.Interestingly, uBlock shows me this if I disable ScriptSafe first:QuoteAnd this is ScriptSafe blocking it:QuoteI'm pretty happy about that. Fuck doubleclick. No one needs to let this load for a website to work.

author: Distelzombie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 06:48:00 pm
content: Quote from: thermistor-guy on May 02, 2018, 02:31:09 amI didn't knew about Ghostery. It is cool that you can get a description and the link to the tracker. I'll play around with it. There's still stuff going through though and it's impact on performance is like both uBlock and ScriptSafe combined.If you can use uBlock Origin do it. Adblock plus is not better and it's performance is way worse.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 08:12:09 pm
content: I also use NoScript and a really big hosts file. I don't update the hosts file that often anymore, only when I notice something new getting through.I am somewhat limited in what extensions are available because of using Pale Moon browser whenever possible. I don't like the direction Firefox has taken in recent years. They forced the "australis" interface on users and their attitude just seems to be getting worse.

author: Distelzombie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2018, 09:18:29 pm
content: I haven't used firefox since years. Maybe I should switch because of the potentially higher privacy. (Just because it is not Googles browser) But then again, I use Google Drive backups and would have to have Chrome installed anyway.Meh.I wanted to say more about DNS server. That could be interesting for the who decides he doesn't want his ISP spying on him:Usually you're using the DNS server your internet service provider provides for you. This is neither the fastest solution nor is it private: They ARE logging all the websites you opened and save this information probably for a long time. This also enables the ISP to filter what websites you're seeing.Changeing ones DNS server is very easy. But which one to choose? There's a tool for that:https://www.grc.com/dns/benchmark.htmRun this by their instruction and you'll end up with 50 DNS server you can choose from... But, which ones are truly private - which ones do not log what you do and which ones don't filter the web??The tool doesn't show you, so just use these two DNS servers: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1. They're good everywhere.https://1.1.1.1/I use three more, as backup. But they're more specific to germany: 84.200.70.40, 84.200.69.80, 46.182.19.48To find out how to change, the 1.1.1.1 website tells you, if GRC does not.

author: thermistor-guy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2018, 01:21:26 am
content: Quote from: Distelzombie on May 02, 2018, 09:18:29 pmHighly recommend Steve Gibsons' GRC site, his Spinrite s/w and his free tools like the DNS one above.To verify exactly where your DNS lookups go, usehttp://ipleak.net, which is run by the folks behind AirVPN (which I also recommend). That URL also shows other information that your browser is leaking.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 03, 2018, 01:28:04 am
content: Quote from: Distelzombie on May 02, 2018, 09:18:29 pmIt's important not to fall into a false sense of security, you're right, ISPs do log what you access (in many countries, this is mandated by federal law) and their DNS servers aren't always the fastest. However merely changing where your DNS requests go won't prevent metadata and other logs being captured by your ISP. They are still able to determine what traffic and what sites you're accessing, even though the response didn't come from their DNS servers. At the end of the day, the traffic is still going via their servers and networks.

author: buck converter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2018, 02:49:39 am
content: just a note that teens who grew up around these BS ads and ignore them. They will most likely die out in the next 20 years.

author: Distelzombie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2018, 10:51:15 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on May 03, 2018, 01:28:04 amYes, that's right.They can't do that if you're using a VPN, though. And I am using one and I recommended using one in this thread: ProtonVPN. (You can still use your own DNS server.)Because even with the most extreme setup, speed-wise, I still get 50Mbps down and 12Mbps up. That is my connection going through TOR before going through the Free version of that VPN. (Or the other way around, but I'm unsure about that. You can't traceroute it and I'm not a linux-boy. It's how my ParrotSec OS is set up) Might have also been a good day or time, though.Quote from: thermistor-guy on May 03, 2018, 01:21:26 amUh, a cool site.Interestingly, my Geo-Location seems to be in Kyrgyzstan. Don't ask me why. No server I connect to is there and I'm not spoofing my location intentionally. It's not the location of any of my IPs either. I guess it's one of my extensions.Ok... don't use ProtonVPN!It leaked my real ipv6 ip to this site if I use the torrent function. And that is with their "SecureCore" thing enabled, that routes through their hyper-secure Icelandian server.Woa... have to talk to them about that!EDIT: They have a support page about that. But is one supposed to know about that?https://protonvpn.com/support/prevent-ipv6-vpn-leaks/

author: thermistor-guy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2018, 12:14:19 am
content: Quote from: Distelzombie on May 03, 2018, 10:51:15 amIPv6 address leaks is a known issue (for frequent VPN users, at least). I disable IPv6 on my home network wherever possible.

author: DG41WV
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2018, 01:23:31 am
content: I've been using Blokada for mobile adbolcking. haven't tested it on youtube but it can even block ads on apps. only works on android. kind of looks legit.https://blokada.org/index.html

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2018, 01:25:50 am
content: Also be aware that Windows 10 can leak your address in the name of performance.https://www.bestvpn.com/privacy-news/warning-windows-10-vpn-users-big-risk-dns-leak/

author: Distelzombie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2018, 10:31:52 am
content: Yea, but ProtonVPN claims they block IPv6 traffic. But they don't, obviously. So there's definitely something wrong on their side. I'm already talking with them.Thanks for the link, scram.EDIT: I asked my ISP to deactivate IPv6 on my account. Apparently you need a business contract with them so that they can give you a static IPv4 address. Makes no sense technically, imo. Good that I have business contract.EDIT: Now they say it is impossible. I asked them again because nothing happened. I really h8 them.Use this:https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/929852/how-to-disable-ipv6-or-its-components-in-windows

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2018, 12:12:01 am
content: I'm amazedsome of the Yoogle victims here get any good surfing in with all that privacy cloak n dagger and securityclogging their computersInstall a fresh browser and go through all the Preferences and Options/whatever, to give yourselves half a chance for junk free or less junk internet useOTOH, if people frequent pussy sites, install craaked software, and open email attachments like they do a maccas meal bag,hey, good luck with that

author: Distelzombie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2018, 02:01:05 am
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on April 30, 2018, 10:35:13 amQuote from: Electro Detective on April 30, 2018, 10:45:21 amQuote from: Electro Detective on May 05, 2018, 12:12:01 amOh my Ass...You have absolutely no clue about our intentions, the philosophy behind it and why it is important to fight them, huh?Did you read what you wrote? Let me tell you: You wrote like a 80 year old guy who overhears a conversation of a group of young guys. He hear so many new words that he gets frustrated with the youth of today, and decides to show them his generation is mode of! And oh! Look at all your experience and all the wisdom you got!You, like many old guys do - because they gave up of themselves, you hold your head so low that the flat floor is all your cranium ever gets to sensate. But we, Mister; We populate the clouds.It is only natural to get left behind when you're old. No need to apologize. (From our side)Now tell me: Did you get the response you'd hoped for, Troll?

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2018, 09:44:51 am
content: Dude, what are you smoking?"Day 11083 without a scope:I am starting to lose weight. My eyes are bleeding from all the expectations.Improve ALL your electronics! Up to +200%-character using googly eyes!"

author: Distelzombie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2018, 12:10:13 pm
content: Back to topic: I use ExpressVPN now because it works with Netflix.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2018, 12:43:43 pm
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on May 05, 2018, 12:12:01 amNO, STOP. Get your cursor off that button!Here's a cane and we'll walk you through this step-by-step.https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/32050?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=enWait, if we give him a cane he might hit us with it! Cane revoked!

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2018, 01:02:02 am
content: Gents, if it's your choice to waste your lab time playing with complicated ways (temporary patchwork at best) to keep your browsers behaving, and fend off popups, junkware, ads, keyloggers etc,and buy into mainstream geek BS and 'security forum' gab hoping for the 'cure' > good luck and happy eventual reformattingI had those issues once upon a time and no more, same deal with many clients computers serviced.My apologies for mistakenly assuming that some members here may want to think outside the box regarding their box

author: Distelzombie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2018, 03:15:41 pm
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on May 06, 2018, 01:02:02 amI'm sorry for your clients. Sounds like you actively remove all security software from their devices before giving them back.You don't even know if you have a keylogger on your PC. Because you have no software capable of detecting it.For more concerned or interested ppl in Windows security, take a look at this website:http://hardenwindows10forsecurity.com/index.htmlI am just done with doing most of what is advised there. Made no real difference to how I use my Computer, but now I am able to see if something happens that shouldn't happen.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2018, 11:19:42 pm
content: Quote from: Distelzombie on May 06, 2018, 03:15:41 pmok I'll bite before beddie timeYour assumptions come BS guesses are wrong about how I run computers,and your trolling is similar to a member that got the arse here a while back, your 'style' matches his/her/trannie? to the letter.I doubt you are from Germany, they are an intelligent pleasant and experienced group here, where are you really from DistilledZombie? Let me guess...Back for another pointless romp huh?Back on topic > That link you posted to Windows 10 ( ?! > LOL, begging for issues right off the bat) tells me how much you know about 'safe' computing.By the time you scroll down to infinity and beyond on the page and perform all those sideshow acts to 'secure' your puter,you will break something, have connection issues, nore crapware, and sooner than later render your troll vending box to an unusable state,lucky if you can offload your shitified data off to a USB device before reformatting (again),assuming the USB drivers haven't been nuked or Folder password protections/permissions or some silly File Vault BS hasn't gone southThe ad junkware and malware script kiddies know all the moves that amateurs make to keep them out, buy a clueBesides, anyone who can understand half the routines on that page should not waste their time, but better off learning Server Managementand getting a cruisy paid job, as well as maintaining one's own 'secure' computer/sSo if you think you know something I don't, then enjoy the sluggish computer optimized by a few placebo tick box selections, monitored by invasive frenemy 'sec00rity' software,...and have that credit card handy, in case some ransomware comes a knockin during an unstable surfing session

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2018, 11:32:21 pm
content: A decently protected computer runs faster than one that's not, due to not running all sorts of scripts and other unwanted junk. If you have trouble with stability after installing software you should probably be mindful of what you install.

author: Nominal Animal
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2018, 12:31:53 am
content: FWIF, I use NoScript, uBlock Origin with EasyList (in addition to defaults), cookies only allowed via a whitelist, andmedia.autoplay.enabled=falsewith Firefox 52.8 in Linux. No ads, no media autoplay whatsoever. There are a few Youtube channels I browse regularly, and if I could, I would support via e.g. Patreon.I don't do this for privacy per se; it is just worth that much effort for me tonothave to see the ads.Some sites like Twitter do not function at all (the way I'd like to) so I do not use them; some need extra permissions or customizations to work for me. I do need to customize the settings for most new sites I decide to visit. I perfectly understand the need of revenue for maintaining a site, but if the sites existence is dependent onmeviewing ads, then the site will go down the drain.If the options really were either an ad-filled internet, or no internet at all, I'd have to pick the latter. However, as long as I can customize and compile my own software, if I need to, those two are not the only options. For sites where I participate as a member, I expect either to compensate by contributing positively, or be banned due to my anti-ad stance. Both suit me fine.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2018, 12:39:50 am
content: Script stoppers, ad blockers, maintained hosts files, etc. all do work. I base that observation on the fact that I haven't seen any significant advertising, anywhere on the internet, in years. The last time I suffered a malware incident was using "Internet Explorer" in 2003. That was also the last time I used a Microsoft browser.I haven't had any stability problems with Windows 7 in years. I do try to use my brain when on the internet and I'm pretty sure failure to do so is what causes most people's problems, but making the effort to run a reasonable secure system does help.

author: Distelzombie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2018, 01:13:03 am
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on May 06, 2018, 11:19:42 pmGreat... I don't now where to start. Let's just ignore this whole piece of shit, because why not? No reason to go against that philosophy so far.Of course, shutting down services that windows runs in the background AND ARE unnecessary - like DCOM, SMB and NetBios - increases security without doubt. If you doubt that, you are an idiot! Simply as that. I even shut down down IPv6 entirely without any problems what-so-ever.Even after my ISP guys told me: "You would have no internet afterwards, Idiot! We don't do that." - just tells how much they really know.You are the only one who knows how to use your computer. Just make sure you really know how.Ok, one thing,Mr. Electro Detective: I don't even run anti-virus-software beneath Windows Defender - or a personal-firewall! (Except, again, Windows Firewall, and the NAT in my router) You know why? BecauseA:Iknowwhat to do in the internet, andB:I have one other piece of software that uses only 25MB RAM: NoVirusThanks EXE Radar Pro. It blocks everything. Literally. (I mentioned RAM because Of your "sluggish computer" remarks)I didn't read all you wrote, because fuck you. Simple as that. Get manners.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2018, 09:48:10 am
content: Quote from: Distelzombie on May 08, 2018, 01:13:03 amI know how to use computers and assemble, troubleshoot and fix the pos, no matter what the client has let in,that's why I commented earlier for the benefit of members getting taken for a ride,computers and the internet should be an easy straightforward affair in 2018,not a shtf street survival exercise laced with paranoia.I read your geek wannabee BS reply and bonus insult, but if you didn't read all I wrote, then what are you flapping on about ?upset that GF or BF isn't picking up ?it happens, get over it, don't take it out on others

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2018, 10:01:04 am
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on May 08, 2018, 09:48:10 amIt honestly doesn't sound like you know what's up with the internet in this decade. The internet has changed from a place where a few jokesters and idiots wrote annoying software into a place where there's large scale coordinated attacks happening on anyone and everyone. Crime has shifted from the physical world into the digital one. This doens't coincide with "an easy and straightforward affair". It's quite the opposite. Security researchers call the constant attacks and hostile scans being done "the noise of the internet". That's before we even get into how the world has changed into a place where everone is trying to get rich by collecting your data.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2018, 10:38:19 am
content: As I stated earlier, if people want to do it the hard and long way and buy into the security 'industry' and it's promisesprotection racketrather than spending some time to learn how computers, browsers and 'security' really workhey, all power to themIn the meantime I'll avoid the latest Intel processors, Windows 10 and Mac High Sierra,till they get their s*** together

author: Distelzombie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2018, 04:16:58 pm
content: Quote from: Mr. Scram on May 08, 2018, 10:01:04 amYou're absolutely right. It sounds like he's running Linux: No Anti-Virus, no Firewall, stock Browser. Because Linux is safe.̵̨̢̧̛̬̲͔͈͍̼͖̦̺̘̝͈͇͇̭̦̫̻̱͈̰̟̺̙͇͍̦͕͖͍̾͋̂̓͂̽̀͗̒͋̐́́̈́͒́̈́̿͛͒̊̓́̓̕̕̚͝͠͠͝͝͝W̸̢̢̡̧̛̦̞̫̝̼̝͔̗̮̦͚̻̱͚̣̭̬̬͖̥̗̬̲̦̞̺̗̗̦̱͐̑̈̏͑̒̄̋̈́̄̇̑̎̽̌̅͛͗͂̏̀̀̋̔͌̆̆̕͘͘͠͝͝͝ͅe̴̢̡̤͎̟̟̠̖̺̤̱͕͈̪̗̹͕͙̤̿̓̌̈́̓͂̅̆̅̓̀͑͊̎͐͐͂̈́̓̀̅̚͘͝͝͝l̵̡̢̛͖͓̲͓̮̥̤̹̣͕̣̹̣͉̙͇̹͎̮͍̤̜̣͇̲̼̙͕͉͍͎̀͊̈́̒̓͒̾̈́́͋̋̂̅̃̀̎̀̈́͗̋̈́̃̎̀̏͑̎̑͘̚͘͝͝c̸̛̛̠̦̥̀̂̓̔̿̈́̈̇͌̑̎̃̀͌̆̽̀̓̃̀̈̃̆̅̾͗̀̑͘̕̕͝ô̵̡͖͉̯̳̬̲̣̦̮̰͎̥͇̳̖͎̲̝̖̼̳̟̭̝̒̃͊̈́̋́͛̈́͂̑͂̄̓̔̄̋́͗͘͜͜͠ͅͅm̸̡̻̬͕̳̮̰̺̬̮̜̙̖̦̪͚̥̌̄̐́̓̀̀̈́̎̑̒͘ę̶̫̻̫̲͎̰͉̳̯͍̠̙̤͙̭̬̠͉̳̱͍̄́͌͛̈̿̈͐̏̈̆͊́̀̍̈̈͂̍͂̅͑̑̈́͑̐͂́͘͘͘͝͝ ̸̡̧̢̯̻̫̞͇͔̦̬͎̳͖̝͓͎̗̙̼̳̩̖͍̩̗͘ĩ̵̛̯̭̱̲̞͉͖͉̗͖̠̻̩̤̩͒̾̈́̀̆̂̒͌́͋̐͗̓̇̒̎̀̈́͗̀̀̀̉̌̾̌͂̓̀̇̒̕̕͝ͅn̸̨̢̛̙̣̟̱̼̥̐̊̈́̒̐͒̔̍͆̍̀̓̈̓̃̚͘͝ ̸̣̼̬̟̞̭̯̣̫̞͔͔͕̀̎͑̓͋́̃̀̑̋́̅̓͑́̕̚̕̕͘͝ţ̸̨̛̛͎̮͈̲͙͚̞͈̪̦̫̲̱̞̦͉̩̣̤͚̼̥͎̭̲̝̜͉̅͒̄̅̇̾̆͂̂̈́̇̀͊̄̀͐̕ͅh̴̝̽̽̒̅ë̵̢̢̧̧̼̻͈̙̗̰̬̲͉̫̞̰̰͕͇͔̙̣̮̳̩́̓͋̑̃̑̑͆̇̉͂̉ͅͅ ̷̨̹̩̫͖͇̭͍͍̹͇̲͔͕̬̪̬͚̪̤̪͓̞͎̼̟͖̭̆̋̉͂͛̔̊͒̊̒́̀̒̌͒̽̅̿̎̎͐̃̔̌̈́̕͘͜͜͜͠͠͝͝͝ͅB̷̤̣̲͍̞̥͍̪̰̥̼̜̳̥͙̦̙̖̎͗̀̈̍̋̎̔̈́͘͜͠͝ơ̶͚̮̖̜͉͚̲̺̲̖͇̲̳͓̭̄̄̃̽̿͂͗͛̌̍̄̊̽͛̈́́̀̓̓̓͐̌̿́̊̈́̔̒̈́̀̌̿͜͠ͅt̴̩̜̜̖͕̹̜͈̬͍͍͚̥̥̻̱͇́͋͌̄̋̎̑̋͐͛͝͝͠n̶̨̪̖̩̗̠͎̑̊̽̓͐͊̓̓͑ẽ̷̝͓̯̗͎͓̱̻͇̦͕̖ͅt̸̨̧̨̛͖͈̜̰̤̯̖͓̱̟͔͓̯͎͙̰̘̀͊̒̔̊͋̑͗̔̃̿̏̍̃̓̋͌́̏͗̃̿̔͊͐͑̅̏͝!̷̢̢̧̤͙̮̗̫̮̞̮̺͕̗̫̗̥̗̠͙͉̪̜̱̯̅̆̾̅̌͌̈̍̇̀͂̔́̈́̌̈̑͑̿̔̍͌̊̕͘͘͜ ̴̧̛͙͇̺̼͙̺̤̟̘̠̣̣̤͓͉̽͒̑͊͐̃́̈́̊̂́̄̈̆̃̾̈̿̈́͗͑̓́͘͝ͅͅHe is talking about "buying into the security 'industry' and it's promises". I wonder if he instead "bought" into some Botnets...Don't you find "buying into the security industry" better than getting your hard disk encrypted, mining coins for website administrators while visiting,DDOSing random sites for someone too, Scram?He kind of sounds like he was a Zone-Alarm user back in the early XP-days. Getting frustrated with this shitty software ... not being able to trust any security software again...

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2018, 04:24:42 pm
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on May 08, 2018, 10:38:19 amI thought you wanted easy? Avoiding that doesn't sound easy. It sounds like you're actually taking some steps to harden your environment. Just like the other steps do.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2018, 04:44:15 pm
content: You don't seriously believe in the Intel spying thing? We've explained how that's impossible. Also, Intel makes among the best processors (some of the low end ones are crap though, but beside the point).As for Windows 10, Spybot Anti-beacon, as well as uninstalling/disabling built-in stuff and editing the registry takes care of most of it. Not all of it of course, but it gets rid of a lot of the spying and improves performance some (Windows 10 is still crap, but it can be made tolerable with tinkering).Don't be an anti-vaxxer of computers, the internet is dangerous, as the title of this thread shows, not even big corporations are safe from crap on the internet (some do cause it though, this is kind of karma with Google's ad tracker biting them in the ass). Linux is not totally safe, while viruses for it are rare, some can sneak in and destroy your PC. It is hard to find good anti-virus between the ones that cause poor performance to ones that nag you to buy extra stuff and upgrade, but there are decent ones out there. Beside the performance degrading ones, anti-virus does work, you just have to separate the flowers from the weeds.https://www.linux.com/learn/myth-busting-linux-immune-virusesIf you're really worried about spying, get a packet tracker and watch the net traffic.P.S. Some websites will straight up tell you they're running mining code on you, they aren't ashamed.EDIT: How did distel do that distorted text effect? (or is that a bug)

author: Nominal Animal
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2018, 09:38:33 pm
content: Quote from: Distelzombie on May 08, 2018, 04:16:58 pmAs a decades-long Linux user and developer, no, it/he does not, and I take heavy offense at that characterization.Quote from: Distelzombie on May 08, 2018, 04:16:58 pmYeah, no, unless you mean that reasonable safety only costs a little bit of effort, when using Linux.I use the built-in firewall -- the Linux built-in firewall being of excellent quality --, managing it with ufw and fail2ban, to block ssh connection attemps. In my browser, I use uBlock Origin with extra lists, and NoScript. I've got automatic security updates enabled, too.I do recommend a similar config to all Linux users.Typical Linux users do understand it is up to them to be safe or not. The optimum security vs. effort balance varies between users, and in my experience, it is only the formerly-Windows users who think Linux is inherently safe out of the box. I believe they initially think so, because they find the no-effort base security level (which is not that great, but not trivially vulnerable, either) sufficient at the time.Quote from: Cyberdragon on May 08, 2018, 04:44:15 pmIt's just Unicode: combined combining diacriticals and such.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2018, 12:30:06 am
content: FWIW I'm a user of win, mac, linux and can state with the replies here thus far that many are making unnecessary work for themselves,and justify it with that's how things go in 'today's computing' and no other methods, basic preventative measures, common sense and -you know the blah- workYou're not closet __Flat Earthers__ too I hope

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2018, 12:43:11 am
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on May 09, 2018, 12:30:06 amCan you be more specific? Because for all the keyboard bravery displayed and egos stroked on both sides, there's very little to actually go on. We need more content and less hot air on all sides.What exactly are you opposing? Basic hardening? Where's the line according to you and why?

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2018, 01:13:46 am
content: It's pointless to repeat my earlier comments, and aplogies to hardcore doubters and any that didn't understand,I realize now, before any further typingthat it's no business of mine if people prefer to stick to 'the devil they know' products/updates/patches/virtual rabbits foot subscriptions etcand buy into halfassed geek heresay no matter what I suggestso I'll stick to what 'magically' works for me, and let others roll with what they will.i.e. Happy computing guys, I'm bowing out gracefully on this oneand leave youz to itMultiple working apps, email, Ebay, Youtube, and general internet surfing on multiple tabs await, with little to no impact on the task manager,...without the generally accepted security dramas, cloak n dagger BS, and semi placebo solutions to stress and waste ones computing time and lab/repair activities

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2018, 01:35:28 am
content: I still don't know what your method is or what you're advocating against. I had honestly hoped to learn something, but I guess you figured your position isn't defensible?

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2018, 03:39:35 am
content: Sorry mate, the bait tin is already fullcompliments of DistilledZombie

author: Distelzombie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2018, 12:27:49 pm
content: Quote from: Nominal Animal on May 08, 2018, 09:38:33 pmHehe, I meant it sarcastically. Because ...Quote from: Cyberdragon on May 08, 2018, 04:44:15 pmQuote from: Nominal Animal on May 08, 2018, 09:38:33 pmYea, it's just "combined combining diacriticals and such". It says: "Welcome to the botnet" if you highlight it.It's funny. It could run over the whole page if the site was implemented differently.Quote from: Electro Detective on May 09, 2018, 01:13:46 amI dito that.Quote from: Mr. Scram on May 09, 2018, 12:43:11 amWell, the article I linked should harden your windows quite substantially. Then the use of private DNS and VPN services, while browsing only with the mentioned brower extension/plugins... What could you possibly want more?Well, OK: I ran an IPCop with SNORT and some other extensions years ago. It was basically an IPS. (Normally it's just an IDS.) It's discontinued today and I never used anything else after it so I can't tell you whats good to use today.