Messages

401

Non-Windows Software / Re: Debian Tails OS question

« on: May 22, 2014, 01:39 PM »

Edvard I'm glad you answered me here, and 40hz too, b/c I never knew any of this stuff. Thank you once again everyone.  

402

Non-Windows Software / Re: Debian Tails OS question

« on: May 21, 2014, 08:36 PM »

Okay, newbie here; I literally burned the .iso to DVD; didn't work.
Found out how to tell Windows to burn image file; booted in Linux Cinnamon.  

In Linux Cinnamon Desktop (very pretty), clicked on Firefox, got on Internet, checked my IP and it accurately ID'd my actual IP and location.
Looked around but could not find any TOR or Vidalia (this is a 'must have' for me).

Right-clicked on Desktop but could not find how to change teeny-tiny screen resolution almost requiring magnifying glass.

So far, Win7 w/TOR hides my IP and contains AdBlock add-on; Linux Mint doesn't and unless it's in there somewhere this is a 'critical' for me, as in 'fail', because Linux Mint gives away my direct IP and home address and lets in ads.

Otherwise it was very nice, but I absolutely can't live without TOR Vidalia.

403

Living Room / Re: When you make your 100'th Post

« on: May 21, 2014, 07:37 PM »

200!!!!!  

BTW, 40hz is @ 9,997 or 3 posts away from 10,000.

404

Non-Windows Software / Re: Debian Tails OS question

« on: May 21, 2014, 04:32 PM »

Gee, I downloaded the Linux Cinnamon .iso file, burned it to disk, and added an Archives folder with Firefox and some other things, and it wouldn't boot.
I deleted the Archives folder and it still wouldn't boot from the Cinnamon .iso; no 'click on any key to boot from DVD' option.
Is that not the way to do that?

Hey, check it out; my next post will be my 200th, and you (40hz) are 3 posts away from 10,000 so congrats in advance.

405

Non-Windows Software / Re: Debian Tails OS question

« on: May 21, 2014, 12:13 PM »

What I would like to be able to do is to boot in Debian or other Linux flavor, customize my Desktop and other optionals, save the file to HD, then reburn to DVD and boot from that.
But I seem to remember trying that and failing to boot with the modified OS.
So is there a way to do all that, or is it not possible?

406

Non-Windows Software / Re: Debian Tails OS question

« on: May 21, 2014, 09:40 AM »

A 'Live' Linux disk will do no harm at all, as long as you don't do anything that exposes personal info (like check your email through a browser interface) or mount any of the hard disks on the computer.  Once you take the CD out of the computer, it's all gone without a trace, so should be perfectly safe.  

As far as Linux (or most other Unix-like "alternative" OSs besides Apple's), experience has shown them generally safer than other OSs, as far as viruses go (and I won't go into the myriad reasons and arguments behind that claim, thankyouverymuch); browser-based attacks attempting to scrape personal info from cookies and cache are far more common for the average user.  I've been using Linux for 12 years now, and have had exactly 0 viruses.  
'Operator error'  has tanked more of my systems than malware and virii ever could.

-Edvard (May 21, 2014, 12:40 AM)

Thank you very much.
So you're saying to physically unplug my HD before booting from a live Linux DVD?
That would be if I wanted to surf the web I take it; but if I wanted to stay off the web and work on a few text files on my HD I could leave the HD plugged in I suppose.

How would I make a few basic mods to the Linux OS on the DVD, such as adding DimScreen or OpenOffice and burning it to DVD again?

Could I boot from the live Linux DVD, then do a 'hot' plug-in of my SATA HD as needed to transfer a few things like DimScreen, then do a 'hot' unplug of the SATA HD again?

What's the latest and greatest Linux flavor people recommend now?

Gee, my Win7 32-bit can only make use of 3GB of my available 4GB RAM; maybe a live bootable Linux could enable all 4GB.

407

Non-Windows Software / Re: Debian Tails OS question

« on: May 20, 2014, 11:47 PM »

Okay, I already found a clean source of 'Fuurin Kazan' at www.epdrama.com that doesn't provoke any malware warnings.
It's also on youtube, but Ep 21 was goofed up and ran the 'Pt 1' (of 4 parts) 3 times in a row and was missing parts 2 through 4, so epdrama seems best.
But I would still be curious about if it's safe to use disk-bootable Debian Tails without any AV protection, or any other comments about it please.

408

Non-Windows Software / Debian Tails OS question

« on: May 20, 2014, 11:24 PM »

I had been watching a 50-part Japanese historic video drama series at www.drama.net without a problem.
Then today, clicking on the next episode, as the web page came up in Firefox, it was blocked by anti-malware warnings that the actual feed was a known 'attack page'.
Out of curiosity, I tried the same thing in Chrome, which independently gave me very much the same warning.
Just for safety's sake, I ran Adwcleaner, JRT.ext (Junkware Removal Tool), Malwarebytes, and Hitman Pro scans and turned up clean.

My question is; what if I was to insert my Debian Tails OS disk and boot from that, and then try to watch the video drama on the 'attack page' with that.
That is, assuming that Debian Tails will enable me to even see the videos.

I seem to recall glib reassurances that it is supposed to be safe to run without any AV protection at all using something like Debian Tails; which actually sounds a bit suicidal.

Would I be endangering my computer by doing this?
At the moment, my default answer to my own question is 'Don't try it' as too risky.
If nothing else, what if something infected my mobo with a root kit or something?

Anyways, I'll be searching around for a different source of the drama series, which is known as 'Fuurin Kazan'.
Hope to hear back from someone.
And BTW, would any other bootable OS be more advisable instead of Debian Tails?
Or should I update my copy that is several months old?

Or what about using the basic TOR Vidalia Firefox browser (which BTW never allows me to watch any videos at all on its browser).

Thanks in advance for any advice.

409

General Software Discussion / Re: Firefox 29 - soooooo similar to Chrome

« on: May 11, 2014, 12:46 AM »

Classic Theme Restorer got me back on track!  

Yes - I must have my Cat  
 (see attachment in previous post)

-CleverCat (May 06, 2014, 05:11 AM)

Same here. Tnx 1000x, w/o your post I would not have known how to undo some Firefox 29 programmer's delusion that I wanted my Firefox UI rearranged.

BTW, AFAIC the only thing 'fast' about Chrome is how fast I switched back to FF when I found out there's no easy way to set the background color in Chrome the way there is with FF.

410

Living Room / Re: Cute jokes' thread

« on: May 08, 2014, 07:08 PM »

Actually when trapped in places with the wrong level of ambient bustle, getting someone on a cell phone right next to you is really annoying! I've thought about just pulling out my phone and making up a random fake call just to compete in noise-space!

-TaoPhoenix (March 31, 2014, 07:58 PM)

You mean like this?

-Deozaan (March 31, 2014, 08:29 PM)

Yep! Though with the handset phone as an extra prop. But yeah.

-TaoPhoenix (April 01, 2014, 03:53 AM)

^ kudos! So what is this; people can't talk exclusively to themselves out loud?
That's like the neighbor whose noisy live dog is allowed to bark all night, but if you put out a set of speakers and do an equally loud playback of his dog, yours isn't a real dog so you're disturbing the peace.
Actually, though, there's an answer for the dog; throw doggie treats; they can't eat and bark at the same time, and it tends to settle the dog down because now he knows someone out there likes him.
Come to think of it, a corollary would be if the annoyed older guy signalled the waiter and asked him to send the noisy younger guy a complimentary menu item (not sure how it would work out though).
Maybe try to get the noisy guy roaring drunk on free wine or scotch and soda? jk

That reminds me of being stuck in a doctor's office with a loud tv set; it's possibly justifiable when there are others present, but not when I'm the only one in the waiting room.
At times like that, I find myself wishing I had a universal tv remote control hidden in my shoulder bag.

Actually I came here to post about frustration in studying my lessons and forgetting what I learned. Persistence is the key.
Lessons in 'what' is beside the point; the more my neurons try to learn from my lessons, the less they seem to learn, making me feel like a moron.
So the real lesson seems to be that a lack of new neurons when doing less of my lessons is making me more into a moron?

But the more I study, the more I forget, so why not quit studying so I can just become brilliant?

411

General Software Discussion / Re: clickable on-screen links in youtube vids >.<

« on: May 03, 2014, 11:09 PM »

Wow. Awesome. Tnx!!

412

General Software Discussion / clickable on-screen links in youtube vids >.<

« on: May 02, 2014, 10:11 PM »

[click here to see super whats-it] x       [click here for super whats-it #2]x

I am so sick of on-screen links partially blocking the view of videos on youtube, with a stupid little tiny 'x' to click on to make them go away.
Sometimes there are 6 of more of them; sometimes new ones keep popping up as soon as you make earlier ones go away by finding and clicking on the tiny little 'x's on random corners of each one.

In Firefox, is there an add-on to make them automatically go away, or not even show up?
Would some humanitarian code-writing genius be interested in creating one? (please 1000x)?

[click here to watch my super fantastic whats-it #3]x
        [click here to watch my new upgraded whats-it #4]x
                                      [click here to 'like' my channel on Faceplant]x

413

Living Room / Re: WinXP is officially dead!

« on: April 28, 2014, 12:09 AM »

the day has arrived! support for the persistent WinXP has officially ended. anyone here going to defy microsoft and keep using winxp?
• http://www.microsoft...n-us/xp/default.aspx

-lanux128 (April 08, 2014, 12:18 AM)

My WinXP works just fine; but I only use it for programs that won't work on my newer Win7; I keep them on separate HDs, and when one is plugged in, the other is not.

Oh, and BTW, I cannot tell you how many times WinXP crashed and wrecked its MBR, forcing me to run a complete backup restore from a backup HD to get it back.
OTOH, 99% of the time when Win7 crashes it retains its MBR and reboots in less time than it took me to type this.

414

Living Room / Re: A good gift for a 10yr old: Wreck This Journal

« on: April 26, 2014, 01:04 AM »

Sounds like a truly awesome 'thinking outside the box' approach.

I would absolutely say to go for a new copy, especially in this case; unless you could somehow manage to get a used copy from -for instance- a trusted friend or acquaintance whom you know intimately (and probably not even then).
Otherwise you risk polluting the creative processes of yourself or your gift recipient's impressionable and juvenile mind with the unscreened ravings of an unknown and potentially harmful quantity.

415

General Software Discussion / Re: Malwarebytes v2.0 - Gripe

« on: April 26, 2014, 12:53 AM »

I use the Pro version.

416

Living Room / Re: TOR Vidalia - newest update has no control panel

« on: April 26, 2014, 12:22 AM »

I don't totally understand heartbleed (nowhere near it), but I see no reason to discard TOR Vidalia just on a whim or a hunch, when it stops my ISP and the scumsuckers where I live from tracking me.
And while I realize using an older version of TOR Vidalia may not be logical, and perhaps the newest version may contain updates making it immune to heartbleed, I do have other protections in the form of Norton 360, Adwcleaner, Desinstaller, JRT.exe, Malwarebytes, Hitman Pro, and CryptoPrevent, and at least the slightly older TOR Vidalia still allows me to have a TOR control panel so I can switch identities at will.

I have to be able to switch identities for times when youtube says "This video is not available in your country" (will they never learn their 'region/country' cherade makes them look like idiots?).
I mean, Google/YouTube's entire mighty multi billion-dollar globe-spanning empire presumes to block me, and one click on freeware little TOR Vidalia's control panel to change identities has them changing their tune with about as much AI as a compass with a magnet stuck to it.

I only posted here in case anyone might have an idea what's going on with the new TOR Vidalia not having a control panel window so I can change identies as needed; the newest version shows a 5-second pop-up on Desktop and connects faster, but doesn't even show an icon in the lower right system tray when active, so I don't know what the deal is with it.

417

Living Room / Possible rootkit attack

« on: April 22, 2014, 10:15 PM »

I ran the newest update of TOR Vidalia, and it shows no control panel console, and no icon in the lower right corner when in operation; this gives me no way to change identities at will.
As a temporary 'fix', I uninstalled the newest version, and reinstalled the older one that gives me the control panel.
Then I have Firefox set up to connect through it, and keep Firefox updated instead.

418

Living Room / Re: How is youtube tracking me?

« on: April 16, 2014, 10:57 PM »

I 'may' have got back my anonymity and freedom by resetting Firefox to dump all cookies every time it closes; I can add the few exceptions I need as required.

419

General Software Discussion / Re: Password Managers

« on: April 16, 2014, 10:43 PM »

This link says to use an OS called 'Tails', and that Tails includes a password manager called KeePassX.
At this link, it says KeePassX is compatible with Mac OS X, and Windows 2000, XP, Vista and 7, as well as Linux.
However, at this link, it says autotype is currently supported on Linux only; I presume 'autotype' means 'autofill'?

BTW, my main problem with OSs like Tails is that they don't allow you do easily modify them to change the browser background color to an off-white; and pure white background color burns my eyes out; which is why I use DimScreen as a stop-gap measure; but I prefer to change background color to something like 'light gray' which saves enormous eye strain.
IOW, Tails would be great if I could set it up to always run with light gray background in browser, and also if I could get it to play youtube and other vids.

That's a gripe for TOR Vidalia's built-in modified Firefox browser; it won't play youtube and refuses to be modified to do so.

420

Living Room / How is youtube tracking me?

« on: April 10, 2014, 08:18 AM »

I use Tor Vidalia and Adblock Plus with Firefox, and youtube keeps 'suggesting' videos to me similar to past videos.
I used to be able to block this, but something in my setup has changed and now I can't seem to block it anymore and wonder if anyone has any idea what to check? Thank you.

421

Living Room / Re: Hulu streaming entire Criterion Movie collection for free on Feb 16th and 17th

« on: April 08, 2014, 10:08 AM »

^CORRECTION: With Media Hint enabled in Firefox, it disables all proxy settings and reverts Firefox to what amounts to 'direct unencrypted mode', or something like that (not sure exactly).
I discovered this because my home page for all my browsers is www.tracemyip.org which tells me immediately if the browser is running through a VPN or got accidentally switched back to 'no proxy' mode, as was the case with Media Hint, and told me exactly where my actual location is.
I reset the proxy to TOR Vidalia, closed Firefox, reopened it, and it was still set to 'no proxy' mode, and www.tracemyip.org unerringly told me my actual exact location again.
Only when I disabled Media Hint and reset my proxy to TOR Vidalia, did Firefox again work through TOR Vidalia properly, and give me a random 'location' again as TOR VIdalia is supposed to do.

422

Living Room / Re: Hulu streaming entire Criterion Movie collection for free on Feb 16th and 17th

« on: April 07, 2014, 04:13 PM »

Okay, Media Hint add-on to Firefox allows it to play through TOR Vidalia.
I was interested in something else on hulu, and got it to work with Media Hint.

There are various hulu downloaders, and my main concern is not to pick up a PUP from the wrong one.

423

Living Room / Re: Hulu streaming entire Criterion Movie collection for free on Feb 16th and 17th

« on: April 07, 2014, 10:51 AM »

Time to catch up on all those serious, artsy, and weirdo cult movies you meant to rent and watch someday.

This weekend only Hulu is providing free access to its entire Criterion Collection list.

Bergman films, Samauri classics, art house, vintage horror, sci-fi...there's something there for every taste.

And unfortunately, it's geo-restricted to US viewers although there are faitly easy ways of getting around that which have been discussed previously in other DoCo threads.

-40hz (February 17, 2013, 07:58 AM)

Hulu won't allow downloads outside the US, and it won't allow downloads via proxy either, so what would you suggest, please?

And if I can view it at all, what is a safe downloader to use?
Some might want to spring a surprise install of PUP crapware, so I don't know which to choose.

424

General Software Discussion / Re: Nice blog post on the parasitic software hosting sites bundling junkware

« on: April 04, 2014, 07:43 PM »

Who else should I add?

-bit (April 04, 2014, 05:25 PM)

Brothersoft (unless they've changed their ways since I last checked).

And what's that one that shows a Sergeant icon?

-bit (April 04, 2014, 05:25 PM)

MajorGeeks was clean last I knew.

-skwire (April 04, 2014, 05:45 PM)

Thank you. I always get confused over which source is clean or not, so I'm creating a Desktop text file as a sort of 'sticky note' so I can keep track of them until I get them properly memorized. Yes, I find it amazing that Google allows the 'scum' to consistently 'float' to the top of the results like that.

425

General Software Discussion / Re: Nice blog post on the parasitic software hosting sites bundling junkware

« on: April 04, 2014, 05:25 PM »

Okay, so far I've got Softonic on my crapware list.
Who else should I add?
CNET?
Who else, plz?

And what's that one that shows a Sergeant icon? That seems okay, or what do you think.
Tnx!