Tips For Safer Browsing in USMB

[Toro]

subscribed

 

[longknife]

I have no idea what your problem with this site are but I've NEVER had problems browsing it.

Quite a few of us have had serious problems. If you've had none you obviously are doing something right. So how about telling us what it is.

I have absolutely no idea. I either use Opera - what I'm using now - or Firefox. Nothing special that I remember adding.

 

[mamooth]

It's been my experience that AdblockPlus is mostly redundant if you've got NoScript installed. And AdblockPlus really bogs down Firefox with huge memory usage. For example, this is a test webpage that's designed to use huge amounts of memory (so it might actually lock up your browser if your computer doesn't have a lot of memory.)

VIM Color Scheme Test - C - Sat Sep 26 16:32:23 2009

Without AdBlockPlus, this page takes about 500 megabytes on my PC. With AdBlockPlus, it takes 2000 megabytes. That's quite a difference. So I took AdBlockPlus off of my computer, and I haven't missed it. NoScript still blocks all the ads and all the wonky business.

I also steer clear of SpyBot, since it doesn't work very well, and because using it in "immunize" mode is a huge CPU suck. That is, SpyBot seems like borderline malware itself. Occasional scans with Malwarebytes Free will do everything SpyBot does, and do it much better.

Another browser addon I recommend is BetterPrivacy (for Firefox), which will delete Flash/LSO cookies. Which, to avoid getting too technical, are a another kind of cookie-type thing that could track you, but which aren't visible and don't get deleted if you just say "delete cookies".

And by the way, the more mainstream porn sites tend to be some of the safest websites around. Giving customers viruses is bad for business.

 

[TemplarKormac]

That's the spirit. Use the thread as a knowledgebase.

 

[Meister]

Ghostery cleaned everything up for me.

 

[Wolfsister77]

I have Chrome with AdBlock and I have never, ever had an issue here. Malwarebytes is also excellent. Some sort of firewall, virus protection-take your pick is also recommended.

Great list TK, I'm going to look into some of those others-thank you.

 

[Pogo]

I haven't had loading problems lately -- missed that entire Russian redirect thingy, never saw a thing -- but I'm running AdBlock Plus and it's presenting problems. Not in loading time, but for the last day or two it's taken to blocking any image that anyone posts in a thread. Not the avatars, just images. I had to turn it off to be able to see anyone's images. So far that turnoff hasn't come back to bite me but I'd rather have an ad blocker that works right. This is with Opera 22.0.

 

[Statistikhengst]

Pretty good stuff, TK.

No Script has been replaced the NOTSCRIPT for Chrome and it is somewhat of a journey, for you must first assign the app a password. Otherwise, the rest is easy sailing.

 

[TemplarKormac]

Yeah, I must have been working off of old information with that one. As long as you know the program works in blocking the scripts, use it.

 

[TemplarKormac]

I haven't had loading problems lately -- missed that entire Russian redirect thingy, never saw a thing -- but I'm running AdBlock Plus and it's presenting problems. Not in loading time, but for the last day or two it's taken to blocking any image that anyone posts in a thread. Not the avatars, just images. I had to turn it off to be able to see anyone's images. So far that turnoff hasn't come back to bite me but I'd rather have an ad blocker that works right. This is with Opera 22.0.

Ahh, you have to figure out which images it's blocking, if begins with 'fbcdn' or the like, it's probably an image posted on the thread you're viewing. Also, if you have it blocking everyehere, you could be having the same issue.

 

[Crick]

I'd like to provide a little feedback.

Please get rid of InfoLink. If the owner of this board wants to put advertisements on his screens, he can feel free. However, no one asked me if I wanted to have advertisements linked to MY text. I have been making a point of removing them every time I see them.

 

[Billo_Really]

I don't mean to brag, but does it seem to me that I'm the only one here that rarely if ever experiences issues with this site?

Take it from a computer geek whose been tinkering around with computers since 2006.

TK's High Ground

In order to stop the redirects, the ads, the slow load times and etc, you must first don the armor of the Templar Order, and arm yourself with these defenses and techniques:

1. You need to install Ghostery on your browser. It will stop redirects to unknown sites and blocks trackers. Have it block everything. If you have issues with viewing certain sites, experiment with enabling and disabling certain trackers. Some trackers are essential to your browser's communication with the page you are viewing.

2. You'll want to install AdBlockPlus on your browser. This add-on stops ads in their tracks. Ads can slow down load times. If ads start reappearing, hover over them, right click them and select 'create filter.' It blocks the ad right then and there. It is a fool proof measure to ensure you never see ads anywhere on the internet again.

3. Install NoScript for Firefox or ScriptSafe for Chrome. These programs work to disable javascript, or Java flash content from playing automatically in your browser.

4. Install DNTme (Do Not Track Me) from Abine. This program essentially blocks trackers from tracking the information you enter and what sites you visit.

5. Install Spybot Search & Destroy. It will remove any adware or spyware you may have acquired from any redirects to malicious websites. Run the scan and apply immunization.

6. Install Malwarebytes Free. (Clicking on the link will take you to a download.) It runs an in depth scan of your machine to root out any malware that may have infiltrated your system via any redirects.

7. Make sure you have a proven internet security program on your machine--a firewall like ESET, or Webroot (those are the two I use). If you can't afford those, I suggest you try Avast, AVG, or ZoneAlarm. If you like, you can also run Windows Defender. It's pretty decent for an OEM's firewall. Schedule your scanner(s) to scan your machine daily for threats.

I run two firewalls on purpose. Redundancy is key. I have not caught a virus or any other type of malicious program on this machine for the time I have owned it.

8. Install AdwCleaner by xplode. (Clicking on the link will take you to a download.) It goes deeper than any program I know, down to the hexadecimal level to root out and destroy malware and adware. It sure beats having to delve into your registry editor. PLEASE NOTE: Running this program will require a restart of your machine when it finishes. Do it if it becomes necessary.

9. Install CCleaner. Run it (Clicking on the link will take you to a download). It will clean your browser's cache and defragment your registry. Malicious programs will use weaknesses in your registry and exploit them. Another program I recommend is Auslogics RegistryDefrag. You can never be too certain with just one defrag program. If you choose the Auslogics version, schedule it to defrag your registry on a daily basis.

10. Defragment your hard drive regularly. For the same reason as explained in 9, malicious programs will also exploit any weakness in your file system to attack you and your information. For that, I suggest you install Auslogics DiskDefrag. Set it to defragment your hard drive daily. Fragmentation in my 1.5 TB drive has not exceeded 0.1% for the time I have owned this machine. Thusly, I have encountered little to no file integrity issues.

11. Be aware. Do not click on suspicious links. I repeat, do not let your curiosity get the best of you.

You'll want to keep your machine's operating system **** and span. I have rarely encountered an issue with this site for the duration of my membership here while employing these methods. So I can personally vouch for their effectiveness.

DISCLAIMER: I will not be held responsible for those individuals who manage to damage their machines/devices by failing to follow these tips properly.

I had so many problems when I first got a computer, that my favorite command when I was running Windows 98, was f-disk!

 

[Crick]

If you put up a post and notice that some of your text is inexplicably red, the problem is that InfoLinks has attached itself to you writings and you are now barking for the mercantile set.

Just hit the EDIT button and then turn right around and hit SAVE. The links will be removed.

 

[Crick]

I don't mean to brag, but does it seem to me that I'm the only one here that rarely if ever experiences issues with this site?

The ONLY one.

Take it from a computer geek whose been tinkering around with computers since 2006.

2006?!?!? Wow.

I learned FORTRAN on an IBM 360 mainframe in 1968. I built my first PC in 1983. Yet I have had problems with this site. I'm not sure the correlation is as tight as you seem to think it is.

DISCLAIMER: I will not be held responsible for those individuals who manage to damage their machines/devices by failing to follow these tips properly.

NO ! ! ! You are entirely responsible for everything bad that ever happens to everyone whose ever read your advice. You are ethically required to force us to take your recommendations. Always.

 

[TemplarKormac]

Well crick, when you've been sitting around doing nothing for years like I have, I had plenty of time to learn these things on my hands. My dad has been working with computers since the mid 1980's, so he passed his knowledge on to me. I built every computer I have ever owned, save this one. I took on the effort of learning more. Computers in my house are rarely if ever infected with viruses and malware.

 

[MaryL]

Very useful information! Kudos.

 

[Chuckt]

I don't mean to brag, but does it seem to me that I'm the only one here that rarely if ever experiences issues with this site?

Take it from a computer geek whose been tinkering around with computers since 2006.

Since this was posted, Adblock post says that it blocked 101,552 Ads on my browser so that is a lot and there is no way that anyone could humanly do that much business and I'd rather leave the internet than watch that much advertising.

 

[Delta4Embassy]

I don't mean to brag, but does it seem to me that I'm the only one here that rarely if ever experiences issues with this site?

Take it from a computer geek whose been tinkering around with computers since 2006.

TK's High Ground

In order to stop the redirects, the ads, the slow load times and etc, you must first don the armor of the Templar Order, and arm yourself with these defenses and techniques:

1. You need to install Ghostery on your browser. It will stop redirects to unknown sites and blocks trackers. Have it block everything. If you have issues with viewing certain sites, experiment with enabling and disabling certain trackers. Some trackers are essential to your browser's communication with the page you are viewing.

2. You'll want to install AdBlockPlus on your browser. This add-on stops ads in their tracks. Ads can slow down load times. If ads start reappearing, hover over them, right click them and select 'create filter.' It blocks the ad right then and there. It is a fool proof measure to ensure you never see ads anywhere on the internet again.

3. Install NoScript for Firefox or ScriptSafe for Chrome. These programs work to disable javascript, or Java flash content from playing automatically in your browser.

4. Install DNTme (Do Not Track Me) from Abine. This program essentially blocks trackers from tracking the information you enter and what sites you visit.

5. Install Spybot Search & Destroy. It will remove any adware or spyware you may have acquired from any redirects to malicious websites. Run the scan and apply immunization.

6. Install Malwarebytes Free. (Clicking on the link will take you to a download.) It runs an in depth scan of your machine to root out any malware that may have infiltrated your system via any redirects.

7. Make sure you have a proven internet security program on your machine--a firewall like ESET, or Webroot (those are the two I use). If you can't afford those, I suggest you try Avast, AVG, or ZoneAlarm. If you like, you can also run Windows Defender. It's pretty decent for an OEM's firewall. Schedule your scanner(s) to scan your machine daily for threats.

I run two firewalls on purpose. Redundancy is key. I have not caught a virus or any other type of malicious program on this machine for the time I have owned it.

8. Install AdwCleaner by xplode. (Clicking on the link will take you to a download.) It goes deeper than any program I know, down to the hexadecimal level to root out and destroy malware and adware. It sure beats having to delve into your registry editor. PLEASE NOTE: Running this program will require a restart of your machine when it finishes. Do it if it becomes necessary.

9. Install CCleaner. Run it (Clicking on the link will take you to a download). It will clean your browser's cache and defragment your registry. Malicious programs will use weaknesses in your registry and exploit them. Another program I recommend is Auslogics RegistryDefrag. You can never be too certain with just one defrag program. If you choose the Auslogics version, schedule it to defrag your registry on a daily basis.

10. Defragment your hard drive regularly. For the same reason as explained in 9, malicious programs will also exploit any weakness in your file system to attack you and your information. For that, I suggest you install Auslogics DiskDefrag. Set it to defragment your hard drive daily. Fragmentation in my 1.5 TB drive has not exceeded 0.1% for the time I have owned this machine. Thusly, I have encountered little to no file integrity issues.

11. Be aware. Do not click on suspicious links. I repeat, do not let your curiosity get the best of you.

You'll want to keep your machine's operating system **** and span. I have rarely encountered an issue with this site for the duration of my membership here while employing these methods. So I can personally vouch for their effectiveness.

DISCLAIMER: I will not be held responsible for those individuals who manage to damage their machines/devices by failing to follow these tips properly.

Be taking out an insurance policy next huh. I just use Firefox, NoScript, and set things to prompt/ask me. Never seen an ad, been redirected, or anything else here. Course I'm using Windows 98 and not the latest greatest shiny thing so maybe all the malware sorta stuff isn't coded to run on retro OS?

 

[TemplarKormac]

I don't mean to brag, but does it seem to me that I'm the only one here that rarely if ever experiences issues with this site?

Take it from a computer geek whose been tinkering around with computers since 2006.

TK's High Ground

In order to stop the redirects, the ads, the slow load times and etc, you must first don the armor of the Templar Order, and arm yourself with these defenses and techniques:

1. You need to install Ghostery on your browser. It will stop redirects to unknown sites and blocks trackers. Have it block everything. If you have issues with viewing certain sites, experiment with enabling and disabling certain trackers. Some trackers are essential to your browser's communication with the page you are viewing.

2. You'll want to install AdBlockPlus on your browser. This add-on stops ads in their tracks. Ads can slow down load times. If ads start reappearing, hover over them, right click them and select 'create filter.' It blocks the ad right then and there. It is a fool proof measure to ensure you never see ads anywhere on the internet again.

3. Install NoScript for Firefox or ScriptSafe for Chrome. These programs work to disable javascript, or Java flash content from playing automatically in your browser.

4. Install DNTme (Do Not Track Me) from Abine. This program essentially blocks trackers from tracking the information you enter and what sites you visit.

5. Install Spybot Search & Destroy. It will remove any adware or spyware you may have acquired from any redirects to malicious websites. Run the scan and apply immunization.

6. Install Malwarebytes Free. (Clicking on the link will take you to a download.) It runs an in depth scan of your machine to root out any malware that may have infiltrated your system via any redirects.

7. Make sure you have a proven internet security program on your machine--a firewall like ESET, or Webroot (those are the two I use). If you can't afford those, I suggest you try Avast, AVG, or ZoneAlarm. If you like, you can also run Windows Defender. It's pretty decent for an OEM's firewall. Schedule your scanner(s) to scan your machine daily for threats.

I run two firewalls on purpose. Redundancy is key. I have not caught a virus or any other type of malicious program on this machine for the time I have owned it.

8. Install AdwCleaner by xplode. (Clicking on the link will take you to a download.) It goes deeper than any program I know, down to the hexadecimal level to root out and destroy malware and adware. It sure beats having to delve into your registry editor. PLEASE NOTE: Running this program will require a restart of your machine when it finishes. Do it if it becomes necessary.

9. Install CCleaner. Run it (Clicking on the link will take you to a download). It will clean your browser's cache and defragment your registry. Malicious programs will use weaknesses in your registry and exploit them. Another program I recommend is Auslogics RegistryDefrag. You can never be too certain with just one defrag program. If you choose the Auslogics version, schedule it to defrag your registry on a daily basis.

10. Defragment your hard drive regularly. For the same reason as explained in 9, malicious programs will also exploit any weakness in your file system to attack you and your information. For that, I suggest you install Auslogics DiskDefrag. Set it to defragment your hard drive daily. Fragmentation in my 1.5 TB drive has not exceeded 0.1% for the time I have owned this machine. Thusly, I have encountered little to no file integrity issues.

11. Be aware. Do not click on suspicious links. I repeat, do not let your curiosity get the best of you.

You'll want to keep your machine's operating system **** and span. I have rarely encountered an issue with this site for the duration of my membership here while employing these methods. So I can personally vouch for their effectiveness.

DISCLAIMER: I will not be held responsible for those individuals who manage to damage their machines/devices by failing to follow these tips properly.

Be taking out an insurance policy next huh. I just use Firefox, NoScript, and set things to prompt/ask me. Never seen an ad, been redirected, or anything else here. Course I'm using Windows 98 and not the latest greatest shiny thing so maybe all the malware sorta stuff isn't coded to run on retro OS?

With all due respect, you're opening yourself up to being hacked just by running Windows 98. Simply upgrading to XP would solve that problem. Malware and viruses can be coded to exploit weaknesses in coding, no matter the age of the operating system.

 

[Delta4Embassy]

Have been on computers since about '82. In my considerable experience, best way to avoid icky things is not go to icky websites or use dodgy apps. More stuff you rely on to secure your machine, more likely you're not using common sense trusting that stuff will protect you (like modern cars with auto-brakes and radar so drivers can focus on things other than driving.)

If a hacker wants to hack you, me or someone they're gonna do it and no add-on is gonna prevent it.