Phoenix.pm: Fwd: Internet Annoyances Needed for New Book

[Scott Walters]

Ahhh, this must have changed at one point, or else my sources are wrong.
Please excuse me =)

-scott

On  0, Jacob Powers <jpowers at ccbill.com> wrote:
> 
> Google's toolbar will actually ask you up front, during installation, if
> you would like to report your usage back to their systems. If request
> that this information not be sent back to their systems they will honor
> this request. I have installed it in this manner and have monitored its
> habits, if you ask it not to call home it won't.
> 
> Jake Powers
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Scott Walters [mailto:scott at illogics.org] 
> Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 10:46 AM
> To: Tran Forsythe
> Cc: phoenix-pm-list at happyfunball.pm.org; marsee at oreilly.com
> Subject: Re: Phoenix.pm: Fwd: Internet Annoyances Needed for New Book
> 
> It's also spyware, which is an annoyance in and of itself. It reports
> your surfing habits back to Google. For the R&D department of a
> corporation, this could be sensitive information, exposed to
> eavesdroppers on the net, not to mention URLs often contain passwords.
> 
> Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I'm just so good at it.
> 
> -scott
> 
> On  0, Tran Forsythe <tran_fors at yahoo.com> wrote:
> > 
> > Re: #9, Google's popup-blocker is quite effective and is toggleable; I
> use
> > it at work where I can't install my own firewall/etc.
> > -Kurt
> > 
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Scott Walters" <scott at illogics.org>
> > To: "Douglas E. Miles" <perlguy at earthlink.net>
> > Cc: "Phoenix.pm" <phoenix-pm-list at happyfunball.pm.org>;
> <marsee at oreilly.com>
> > Sent: Friday, March 19, 2004 5:13 PM
> > Subject: Re: Phoenix.pm: Fwd: Internet Annoyances Needed for New Book
> > 
> > 
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > 1. Installing Flash and Java plugins plugins on Mozilla on
> > Linux/BSD/Solaris/etc.
> > > Lacking Solution: One good FAQ, which I've yet to see, on what files
> need
> > to be
> > > edit to contain what information and why. I'm dependent on pkgsrc
> > (NetBSD's
> > > package system, FreeBSD has a similar package system that fetches
> the
> > right binaries
> > > and shoves them in the right places under control of 'make').
> > >
> > > 2. Sometimes you really need IE on Linux/BSD/Solaris to use an IE
> only
> > plugin or view
> > > a non-standards-compliant page or use NT domain auth to validate on
> > webservers
> > > in a corporate setting.
> > > Solution: IE runs under Wine, the free Windows API implementation
> and
> > binary layer.
> > > Wine, available from winehq.com, supports Linux, FreeBSD and Solaris
> > officially,
> > > though NetBSD and OpenBSD maintain ports.
> > >
> > > 3. 802.11 isn't ubiquitously enough - running to Starbucks or
> searching
> > maps for
> > > area hotspots is too much bother.
> > > Solution: Several cell carries now have fixed rate data pricing with
> > different
> > > fixed prices and speeds. Sprint is reguarded as the fasting with
> > approximately
> > > a 70kbps data rate (compare to 56kbps for a dialup modem) and
> T-Mobile,
> > who
> > > also sells 802.11 in chains such as Starbucks, currently has a
> $20/month
> > > unlimited plan, and throughput is usually between 30kbps and 40kbps.
> > T-Mobile
> > > also has a dedicated unlimited plan that doesn't piggy back on a
> voice
> > plan,
> > > for use with PC-card modems, that is $30/month. You may need to
> speak to a
> > few
> > > customer service representitives before you find someone who
> understands
> > data.
> > > Before purchasing a phone, make sure it is data capable. Don't trust
> the
> > sales
> > > guys, ask to see the instruction manual for the phone. Don't be
> mislead by
> > > phones offering short messages service (SMS) or built-in web
> browsers
> > > (WAP) - you want either a GPRS (general packet radio service) or
> CDPD
> > > (cellular digital packet data) phone, depending on the technology
> your
> > > carrier users.
> > >
> > > 4. Download requires BitTorrent
> > > Solution: How to install BitTorrent on various systems, how to get
> it, a 5
> > cent
> > > view of what it is.
> > >
> > > 5. Users are usually the larger Internet Annoyance. Back in *my*
> day,
> > there were
> > > writeups on "netiquette" all over the place, and new users were sent
> there
> > and
> > > ignored until they've obviously read it. Any book on Internet
> Annoyances
> > *must*
> > > include a brief writeup on network etiquette. Specifically, the
> Internet
> > is
> > > largely staffed by volunteers. By paying $16 a month to use AOL,
> everyone
> > isn't
> > > magically obligated to you. There are a lot of users on the net and
> places
> > > providing help aren't adequately able to deal with all problemx,
> > especially
> > > complex ones and ones where the user themselves hasn't done their
> reading.
> > > Don't publicly disclose peoples email addresses or other
> information, but
> > > especially email addresses and hone numbers. This generates spam for
> them.
> > > Don't cc people whom you haven't introduced. Don't forward email
> messages
> > >
> > > 6. On avoiding spam: Hotmail, after Microsoft purchased it, start
> selling
> > not
> > > only their the email addresses of the people with free accounts
> there, but
> > > also the email addresses of people who mailed people with free
> accounts
> > there.
> > > Posting to Usenet, chatting on IRC from a machine that email can be
> > addressed
> > > to, and posting messages on most online bulletin boards will earn
> you
> > spam.
> > > Several commercial services such as pobox.com offer excellent spam
> > filtering
> > > in a mailbox with a web interface as well as POP access for programs
> like
> > > Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla, Eudora, and so on.
> > > See also 7, the frequently changing email address.
> > >
> > > 7. Frequently changing email address
> > > Because of spam or because of ISP changes, email addresses
> frequently
> > change.
> > > This is a huge annoyance. You can't stop your friends from changing
> > > email addresses (except perhaps by buying them a copy of this book
> for
> > > their birthday) but you can do something about it for yourself.
> > > pobox.com offers strong spam filtering standard and the email boxes
> > > may be accessed in the same ways that your ISP's boxes may be. That
> is,
> > > through the web and through Microsoft Outlook, Eudora, Mozilla, and
> > > so forth. Best of all, you can keep your email address when you
> finish
> > > school, change jobs, or get a new ISP.
> > > Most domain name registrars will give you a mail box and a small
> amount
> > > of space on a webserver when you buy purchase a domain name from
> them.
> > > Start at icann.org and read through the various offerings.
> > > If you have a Hotmail or Yahoo account and you're really happy with
> it
> > > except for the spam, Mozilla, available from mozilla.org, has
> > > Bayeseon spam filtering which takes a statistical approach to word
> usage
> > > in spam and non spam email address to adaptively learn the
> difference
> > > between the two given the kind of email you receive. Most users
> > > report it to be almost 100% effective. To use this, you must upgrade
> > > to a paid account at Hotmail or Yahoo with POP or IMAP access to
> your
> > > email.
> > >
> > > 8. Your machine has been hijacked by a spammer and now you're
> sending
> > spam!
> > > Don't open attachments sent to you unless it is both something
> you're
> > > expecting and from someone you know. Most email-borne worms steal
> names
> > and
> > > email addresses from the address book and then fake the sender
> > information,
> > > appearing to come from someone you know, so it is never out of place
> to
> > reply
> > > to the message and ask your friend or associate if they meant to
> send you
> > > an attachment. This is a mark of an experienced network user, not a
> > novice.
> > > Don't trust what you see. Especially be suspicious of emails that
> are
> > threatening
> > > in tone, demand you open it immediately, or it promises to fix a
> problem
> > > you supposedly have. Microsoft and other venders and ISPs never mass
> > > mail binary attachments but instead send you a URL to go to download
> > > the file. This is far more secure, though IE has had bugs which
> allowed
> > > deceptive URLs.
> > > Keep your software up to date, especially any network applications
> such
> > > as P2P clients, web browsers, email programs, and
> especially-especially
> > > the operationg system itself. Microsoft is able to trigger your
> computer
> > > to download updates through IE, so all you need is a trip to
> > microsoft.com.
> > > Keep your anti-virus software up to date on Windows!
> > > Linux distributions and the BSDs all have upgrade procedures where
> you
> > > download the latest version of the OS and then boot into the
> installation
> > > program and request an upgrade to an existing system.
> > > Linux doesn't require anti-virus software for various reasons, but
> > > Lindows (lindows.com) sells it for private use if you must have it.
> > >
> > > 9. Pop-Up Window Floods
> > > Mozilla can block these, giving you an icon to click on to easily
> unblock
> > sites
> > > you wish to accept pop-ups from. Opera does an exceptionally good
> job at
> > > this as well and many people swear by it for that reason alone.
> > > (Konq? Safari?)
> > >
> > > Good luck, and best wishes!
> > > -scott
> > >
> > > On  0, "Douglas E. Miles" <perlguy at earthlink.net> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Dear User Group Leader:
> > > >
> > > > Thanks for the great response to our call, over the last month or
> two,
> > > > for annoyances, gripes, and complaints about Excel and PC
> hardware. The
> > > > email we got was very useful and a lot of your members not only
> > > > sent annoyances, but fixes! As always, many thanks for the input.
> > > >
> > > > This time around, we have yet another book in the wings--this one
> > focusing
> > > > on Internet annoyances. Some of the annoying areas: Email (and
> spam),
> > > > connecting to the Net (via dialup, DSL, cable, configuration and
> all
> > > > that), wireless annoyances (from WiFi hassles to hotspots to
> fiddling
> > with
> > > > WEP), web sites (namely creating, hosting, and maintaining your
> own web
> > > > site), browsing and browsers (Internet Explorer, Netscape, and
> others),
> > > > AOL, instant messaging, using search sites, security annoyances,
> and of
> > > > course, shopping and auctions.
> > > >
> > > > Got Internet gripes/annoyances/kvetches? Send 'em our way by
> having your
> > > > members email me (marsee at oreilly.com) with "Internet Annoyance" in
> the
> > > > subject line and we'll put our author on the job.
> > > >
> > > > As thanks for sharing, we'll make sure to get copies of "Internet
> > > > Annoyances" sent to your group shortly after publication.
> > > >
> > > > --Marsee
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ***
> > > >
> > > > An example:
> > > >
> > > > Pictureless Pages Predicament
> > > >
> > > > THE ANNOYANCE: There are some great pictures available on the Web,
> but
> > > > certain pictures don't appear on web pages I visit. Instead I see
> a red
> > X
> > > > or a funny little icon where the picture is supposed to be.
> > > >
> > > > THE FIX: Several circumstances can keep pictures from appearing:
> > > >
> > > > * There's a logjam at the web server or somewhere along the miles
> of
> > wires
> > > > between the web server and your browser. Try refreshing the page
> (press
> > > > F5 or click the Refresh button on the toolbar). But you probably
> already
> > > > tried that.
> > > >
> > > > * Something's wrong with the web server. The picture might not be
> on the
> > > > server, or the programmer who created the web page might have put
> in the
> > > > wrong path to the picture.
> > > >
> > > > * Internet Explorer may be configured so that it doesn't show
> pictures,
> > > > a common setup for those with slow dialup connections who don't
> want
> > > > to waste time downloading pictures. (If this option is set, you
> can
> > > > selectively display pictures by right-clicking the X or the icon
> and
> > > > choosing Show Picture.) To undo this setting in Internet Explorer,
> > choose
> > > > Tools-->Internet Options. Click the Advanced tab, and in the
> Multimedia
> > > > section, check the Show Pictures box to make your pictures appear.
> > > >
> > > > * An invalid value in the Windows Registry is preventing pictures
> from
> > > > appearing. It's an easy fix, even for those who are squeamish
> about
> > poking
> > > > around in the Registry. (Before you mess around with the Registry,
> back
> > it
> > > > up as per the instructions in the sidebar on page 47.) Select
> > Start-->Run,
> > > > type in regedit, and hit Enter. In Registry Editor, navigate to
> > > > \HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.gif. In the right pane, click the Content Type
> item;
> > > > its value should be image/gif. Then check \HKEY_CLASSES_
> ROOT\.jpg;
> > > > Content Type should be set to image/jpg or image/jpeg. For more
> > > > information about this fix, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article
> 307239.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ***
> > > >
> >