OK, What the fuck?

[sspadowsky]

So I come home, turn on the machine, open Mozilla, and then start browsing thru outlook. I open a link from an email that I know is safe. All of a sudden (so fast I didn't notice at first), I have three additional tabs open in Mozilla. One is a google search that I didn't perform, another was E! Online's website (which I would never visit in a billion fucking years), and the other was some business that I've never heard of.

I change my Norton Security settings to prompt me any time another computer tries to connect to an unused port. Now I'm getting bombarded with warnings from Norton every ten seconds that a remote system is attempting to access my computer, and it's not just from one IP address.

However, all of my security info is up-to-date, and Spybot did not detect any spyware. I'm not getting any intrusion alerts, and my Norton firewall is active.

Any thoughts? Anything I should be looking for?

[FartinMowler]

It's really tough to keep away from crap that infest the computer. I wipe mine out everytime I have to use a Kazaa type program. I've had some fucking crap that nothing will remove or remedy. All I can suggest is wipe the computer clean and start again if it gets bad. I have it down to a few hours to reload all my programs.

[DamnthatDavid]

Don't pay attention to the dumbass above.

You do not need to wipe your computer over every little fucking thing.

Have you tried beefing up your firewall to max protection? It could be that you are sharing a bit to much with the world wide web, and someone is taking advantage.

[FartinMowler]

So, you have a problem inside your gates and you want to put the firewall on a higher setting, giving you a prompt every fucking time asking for permission to let in something your really not sure is crap. go eat a donut and dip your head in a vat of hot coffee.

[executioneer]

but its not something inside its another computer connecting to his

[Anonymous]

get SP2 if you haven't already. i dunno if windows has it in their list of updates yet.

oh, and mozilla fucking SUCKS.

[MetalMilitia]

Originally Posted by Chojin

get SP2 if you haven't already. i dunno if windows has it in their list of updates yet.

oh, and mozilla fucking SUCKS.

BLASPHEMER!!

[executioneer]

it totally does

[MetalMilitia]

Ok, lets hear three things IE has over Firefox/mozilla?

[FartinMowler]

but its not something inside its another computer connecting to his

Uh...if it continues then it must have something in his computer. I tried Mozilla two times and gave up on it. It's not stable. Too slow and too many errors.

[sspadowsky]

I like Mozilla quite a bit. I've never had any problems with it. It's fast as hell, and unlike IE, I can have multiple browsers within the same window.

At any rate, the promblem is not with the browser. Someone was able to access my machine, gain control of it, and utilize the programs as though they were sitting at my desk. I highly doubt this is spyware, althoughi t's possible.

We'll see if SP2 helps out. Does anyone have any ideas if there certain ports that I should seal off, or perhaps at least monitor? And is there some sort of monitoring tool out there on the web? I don't mind searching for this stuff, but I'd rather save the time if one of you knows about somethimg that's worth a try.

[MetalMilitia]

You could try using a different firewall like Kerio personal firewall or there are a few free ones such as zoen alarm or i think there is one called avast.

[AChimp]

Fartin has the best advice. Backup all your data and nuke the hard drive. Do a fresh install and make sure you have firewall and security stuff turned on before you start looking at porn on the Net.

It's the only way to make sure that it's completely gone.

[AChimp]

You might also want to try Ad-Aware in addition to Spybot.

[Anonymous]

Mozilla/Firefox/Opera/etc. is gay because:

IE already comes with Windows
IE is already updated automatically with Windows interface updates
IE content is integrated into the OS
IE can read certain stylesheets that Mozilla/Firefox/whatever can't (like the transparent blue tables on my site)
IE doesn't do gay crap with formatting that makes web designers have to waste time pandering to it
IE doesn't have 'tabs' for the windows, but in XP your IE windows are grouped together if you have several open. Additionally, I find it really handy to not have to click on the brower program then go up and click the tab when I can just click on the page in the taskbar. Especially when toggling between a different program and at least two IE windows, as is often the case when web designing.
IE has a much more immediate response to security holes than 3rd party software ever will

[Ninjavenom]

IE is also the most commonly used browser, making it the most susceptible to spy and adware. IE also does not block pop-ups automatically.

[whoreable]

ie now automatically does block popups with sp2.

ie also supports

FTP
Local area network browsing.

[AChimp]

The FTP in IE is shit, though.

IE has a much more immediate response to security holes than 3rd party software ever will

Kinda true, but the idea behind Mozilla/Firefox is that they don't have the vulnerabilities to begin with... of course, most of the security flaws come from Microsoft doing stuff to make browsing more convenient for people.

Microsoft publicizes their patches more, but that doesn't mean that the 3rd party people won't fix problems quickly. Firefox is part of the open-source community, so stuff gets patched and scrutinized by many people in a relatively short period of time.

Not that I'm defending switching to other browsers. I haven't seen any benefit for moving to Firefox. All of the arguments don't hold any weight with me.

I work in 1280x1024 with a double-thickness taskbar because of all the stuff I have open when I'm programming; tabbed browsing means nothing to me. Neither does the "Firefox is faster" argument; maybe it's faster if your computer is shit, but IE loads in a split second on my computer (and on my last one).

[MetalMilitia]

Mozilla/Firefox/Opera/etc. is gay because:

IE already comes with Windows

So does Ms Paint but it doesnt mean we shoudl use it to paint stuff

IE is already updated automatically with Windows interface updates

umm, im not sure about that. IE hasnt had a majour update in years and the things you are probably taking abotu are security hole fixes whihc firefox didnt have in the first place.

IE content is integrated into the OS

pfft, so what? that doesnt make it better it just makes it harder to get rid of it when you realise it sucks.

IE can read certain stylesheets that Mozilla/Firefox/whatever can't (like the transparent blue tables on my site)

Im sure there is something that looks almost identical in firefox.

IE doesn't do gay crap with formatting that makes web designers have to waste time pandering to it

So does IE, there have been a few times i have made a site and then found out it doesnt look quite right in IE but works perfectly in firefox.

IE doesn't have 'tabs' for the windows, but in XP your IE windows are grouped together if you have several open. Additionally, I find it really handy to not have to click on the brower program then go up and click the tab when I can just click on the page in the taskbar. Especially when toggling between a different program and at least two IE windows, as is often the case when web designing.


The group similar programs thing sucks, also thats an OS feature, it would work exactly the same with multiple firefox browsers open.

IE has a much more immediate response to security holes than 3rd party software ever will.

Well i think firefox has less security issues to begin with. But there are still regular updates.

Short list of reasons Firefox is better than IE:
- Faster at rendering pages.
- Tabs.
- Huge number of plugins available.
- Lots of skins to choose from.
- Integrated search bar.
- Generally nicer to use.

So in conclusion...

FireFox > Internet Explorer

[MetalMilitia]

Oh fuck i did the < the wrong way round!

[JPR]

I am stuck at 56k and do find Firefox faster, little things like moving backwards and fowards on pages is faster. Although that may have been configurable to not reload with IE? Plus Thunderbird has better offline support and storms Outlook, but thats even further OT. Firefox is just a whole lot nicer for me. I find tabs useful for searches and won't clog up the taskbar. I can also keep nornography hidden under one item in the taskbar, which is preferable to opening lots of IEs until it fills under one taskbar... block (?) and keeping norno' hidden there. That is the real issue anyways.

[Anonymous]

Originally Posted by MetalMilitia

Mozilla/Firefox/Opera/etc. is gay because:

IE already comes with Windows

So does Ms Paint but it doesnt mean we shoudl use it to paint stuff

GOOD POINT. It would even be relevant, too, if paint was anything like Photoshop.

IE is already updated automatically with Windows interface updates

umm, im not sure about that. IE hasnt had a majour update in years and the things you are probably taking abotu are security hole fixes whihc firefox didnt have in the first place.

IE has very regular security updates, and just had a major update a few weeks ago, Mr. Vice President. Firefox doesn't 'have' security holes because people don't bother finding flaws with it since the majority of people use IE; It's the same reason Macs don't have very many viruses. Lucky for you, you'll be finding plenty o' security holes in the future now that Firefox is getting more popular through misinformation.

IE content is integrated into the OS

pfft, so what? that doesnt make it better it just makes it harder to get rid of it when you realise it sucks.

I didn't think you could? But I'm talking about being able to look at offline images, read documents, and browse the web all from the same window (as well as other OS-supported functions and media, but what I'm getting at is that you can type in a webpage from within a folder on your computer and you'll just go there in that window), and the ability to set your desktop to web pages, all of which I'm sure are things that 'suck.'

IE can read certain stylesheets that Mozilla/Firefox/whatever can't (like the transparent blue tables on my site)

Im sure there is something that looks almost identical in firefox.

I'm sure you're pulling that information out of your ass. But that's part of the problem - that'd mean I'd have to find out what gay little quirks in every browser let me do that and then implement them ALL, all while expanding the filesize and hoping they don't fight and make it look like crap.

IE doesn't do gay crap with formatting that makes web designers have to waste time pandering to it

So does IE, there have been a few times i have made a site and then found out it doesnt look quite right in IE but works perfectly in firefox.

That's great and all, but IE uses web standards and is used by more people, so if you made a site that only works in Firefox, it'd have to be using some pretty wacky shit to begin with. What you've just described isn't a 'good' thing at all; If you're trying to make a web site and see if it works and you're only using firefox, only gay internet nerds are gonna be able to see it right.

IE doesn't have 'tabs' for the windows, but in XP your IE windows are grouped together if you have several open.

The group similar programs thing sucks, also thats an OS feature, it would work exactly the same with multiple firefox browsers open.

In case you haven't noticed, the OS is integrated with IE, meaning that it's six and one-half-dozen to the other. Can you even set Firefox to use multiple windows instead of tabs? I wouldn't know since I don't use the piece of shit, but I'll at least admit when I don't understand what I'm talking about. Regardless, it's still defaulted to using tabs, which is gay. Gay as night, gay as pitch, gay as the evilest witch.

IE has a much more immediate response to security holes than 3rd party software ever will.

Well i think firefox has less security issues to begin with. But there are still regular updates.

For the reasons I stated above. Since the public community does these updates, too, you can count on the following:

- All new, gay bugs in each new version!
- Very delayed responses to anything while the developers watch softcore porn on Cinemax and pet their Akira DVDs!
- Security holes inserted into the browser by malicious CVS updates! Yay open source!
- Most updates won't be in the realm of useful material, but WILL appeal to internet dorks in their enhancements to integrated FTP options and other shit that you should really be using a different program for anyway!

Short list of reasons Firefox is better than IE:

Oh boy! Get ready to be INFORMED, people!

- Faster at rendering pages.

Provided you still use your dad's 486. Which, if you're enough of an internet dork to use Firefox to begin with, would never, ever be the case!

- Tabs.

Next big feature in firefox - A SWIFT KICK TO THE NUTSUCK. ORDER TODAY!

- Huge number of plugins available.

To help you emulate the 'old IE' look with worthless toolbars and the ability to make your browser look like a 'busty anime girl.'

- Lots of skins to choose from.

Browse the internet from within a horse's colon! Preferably from the comfort of your iMac!

- Integrated search bar.

You mean that thing that google offers that is generally considered spyware and whined about?

- Generally nicer to use.

NOW THERE'S AN ARGUMENT!

[MetalMilitia]

Short list of reasons Firefox is better than IE:

Oh boy! Get ready to be INFORMED, people!


Oh boy! you suck!


- Faster at rendering pages.

Provided you still use your dad's 486. Which, if you're enough of an internet dork to use Firefox to begin with, would never, ever be the case!


Nope, my pc is fairly good but IE still takes ages to do anything. Anyway, we all know internet dorks are among the most knowlegeable (fuck, i cant spell) people when it comes to computer stuff. So if all dorks use FF doesnt that tell you something?


- Tabs.

Next big feature in firefox - A SWIFT KICK TO THE NUTSUCK. ORDER TODAY!


Hmm sounds more like a M$ feature to me. Like 'SP2 WITH NEW FEATURES TO FUCK UP YOUR COMPUTER AND MAKE NONE OF YOUR FAVOURITE WEB PAGES LOAD'


- Huge number of plugins available.

To help you emulate the 'old IE' look with worthless toolbars and the ability to make your browser look like a 'busty anime girl.'


Nope you can get useful things to control winamp or block specific ads on websites. Here is one i use - >


It lets me change pause and skip tracks and stuff without the hardship of having to move my mouse all the way to the taskbar or even, god forbid, use the controls on winamp its self.


- Lots of skins to choose from.

Browse the internet from within a horse's colon! Preferably from the comfort of your iMac!


People such as yourself probably would not care but if you spend a while getting a nice shell replacement for winows its good to have a matching web browser... oh christ, im such a geek.


- Integrated search bar.

You mean that thing that google offers that is generally considered spyware and whined about?


No it has one so you dont have to download one of the shitty spyware ones.



Its just saves you the hassle of having to go to type www.google.com.


- Generally nicer to use.

NOW THERE'S AN ARGUMENT!


Well its true, using IE is horrible once your used to FF.

[AChimp]

Just to see what all the fuss was about, I installed Firefox this afternoon. Guaranteed, I use a computer more than anyone else on this board, and I still don't see anything that's so great about this.

Tabbed browsing? Meh. You can do a CTRL+N to open a new window or CTRL+T to open a new tab. The only way I can see this coming in handy is if you're running in 640x480 res and items take up half your screen in the task bar. Netscape 6 had tabs and everyone hated them. Now that Firefox has tabs everyone has a raging hard-on for it. WTF?

If IE is taking a long time on your machine to do stuff, that means that there's something else wrong or your computer is ass. Firefox is no faster than IE.

I also don't give a shit about the plugins. Browser plugins were all the rage back in 1995 so you could listen to the lame MIDIs that people put on their sites. I associate plugins with spyware and other bullshit. If I want to control Winamp while I'm browsing, I'll open Winamp.

People who use shell replacements are fags who also think neon lights make their computers go faster.

In other news, I decided to check out my latest web project in Firefox, only to spend the rest of the afternoon trying to figure out why it wasn't fucking showing up properly. It turns out that the absolute, up-to-the-minute CSS specifications have changed, so Firefox is supporting only the standard, with no back support. Fucking pain in the ass. I have better things to do than redesign my site whenever some dickheads at W3 decide to upgrade the specs needlessly.

My O'Reilly HTML book was published LAST YEAR, and it makes no mention of this attribute, even though it's a complete text listing of the HTML 4.0 standard... but wait! We're on 4.01 now... fuckers.

[Anonymous]

>Oh boy! you suck!

okay now come on there was no call for hurting my feelings like that c'mon what the hell man what the hell i want an apology man come on you owe me an apology man man what the hell man

>Nope, my pc is fairly good but IE still takes ages to do anything.
>Anyway, we all know internet dorks are among the most
>knowlegeable (fuck, i cant spell) people when it comes to
>computer stuff. So if all dorks use FF doesnt that tell you
>something?

Internet dorks like Counterstrike, too. Oh, wait.

Try updating IE. You just might find that it works.

>Hmm sounds more like a M$ feature to me. Like 'SP2 WITH NEW
>FEATURES TO FUCK UP YOUR COMPUTER AND MAKE NONE OF
>YOUR FAVOURITE WEB PAGES LOAD'

...what?

Why would none of my 'favorite web pages' load when IE is the internet standard, anyway, and Firefox is the one that is constantly fucking up pages? And using a dollar sign when referring to Microsoft? It's like you're being careful to touch all of the bases required to not have the other fags mock you at a lan party.

>Nope you can get useful things to control winamp or block specific
>ads on websites. Here is one i use

Personally? I use Winamp to control Winamp. This is what I was talking about with all the useless features it has before. Firefox is like a swiss army knife with a rusty blade.

>It lets me change pause and skip tracks and stuff without the
>hardship of having to move my mouse all the way to the taskbar
>or even, god forbid, use the controls on winamp its self.

You are aware that Winamp 5 has global hotkeys, right? You can set a key combination to control it from within any application.

>People such as yourself probably would not care but if you spend
>a while getting a nice shell replacement for winows its good to >have a matching web browser... oh christ, im such a geek.

its good that we have these candid conversations buddy im glad we got over that first response but im still waitin on that apology man man man apology man what the hell

>No it has one so you dont have to download one of the shitty
>spyware ones.

"Integrated search bar. For those of you that just can't go to google, even though that's where this takes you anyway." If you're gonna use google? And NEED a gay bar for it because you search SO MUCH that it's really worth the wasted space? Why not go ahead and get the one that GOOGLE PROVIDES? FOR IE?

>Well its true, using IE is horrible once your used to FF.

I imagine it's hard to regain a palette for real food after being fed dogshit for years as well. Just because 'FF' has crippled your good taste doesn't mean it's better in any way at all. Ask a serious web designer what they think of Firefox if you want to hear this same opinion again.