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Solution number one
Get rid of Internet Explorer.

Really: This program has some features you won't like to have active all the time, believe me:

-It assumes by default that users are dumb, so it takes charge of oh-so-many tasks a user "might not know how to do well" (like installing plugins and downloading "enhancement" code) that it now automatically installs code given to you by rogue webs sites

-It runs with much higher levels of access to your computer that a more "standard" (and modern) broser like Mozilla Firefox ot Opera (remember: Microsoft has gone to great lenghts to "integrate" the browser into your OS, or do you really think the Windows Update site could make so many deep changes into your OS if it were acessed off Mozilla? There is a reason: the control IE has of your machine, more than the OCXs you download from there -more on that later)

- It not only pops-up windows, it can be tricked into opening windows "off-screen" so many sites download software you wouldn't want to run in tyour machine (gator, anyone?) and can be tricked into accepting the downloads, as if it were you.

-Many of the seeds you mention in your article are dormant in your %windir\%system32 directory or in your internet downloads folder. I'm pretty sure you'll find some very interesting OCX code there. Since an OCX can do all a normal program can (and then some) Many spyware installers come in the form of an OCX so IE will happily run them (it wouldn't if they ended as .EXE or .MSI files or had EXE or MSI entry points)

So there you have it. Pay a visit to http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/ and then go to http://www.intraplanar.net/projects/ if you miss the IE looks and give it a try (but don't forget to carefully review those OCX's in your windir -although many are legit code so don't get rid of them all, just right-click and review them carefully-)

HTH
Posted by: kennethsf   Posted on: 04/08/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Another reason to move  MkIIISupra | 04/08/04
Strange ...  Ardian Daka | 04/08/04
bogus suggestion...  DarbyOhara | 04/08/04
Feelings vs facts  Sunny Jalolly | 04/08/04
you didn't read...  DarbyOhara | 04/09/04
tell me about Linux  valrock | 04/09/04
Trying Linux  gafisher@... | 04/10/04
Here are some things for you  MkIIISupra | 04/10/04
it's ashame....  DarbyOhara | 04/08/04
Make an image...  Confused by religion | 04/08/04
It really is a shame...  Mack DaNife | 04/09/04
Why your real machine?  rpmyers1 | 04/08/04
Solution number one  kennethsf | 04/08/04
Even simplier ...  Ardian Daka | 04/08/04
Don't trust it  rpmyers1 | 04/08/04
That's why ...  Ardian Daka | 04/08/04
Except  rpmyers1 | 04/08/04
There's a solution to getting the stuff off permanently.  Anton Philidor | 04/08/04
Also...  NemesisNL | 04/08/04
Hiding threats on Windows boxes  bbaston | 04/08/04
Removing the partitions prior to reformating will solve  DragonBRockin | 04/09/04
Not So Easy  niolonra | 04/08/04
Easier than you think  rpmyers1 | 04/08/04
Not so hard either  Mack DaNife | 04/09/04
Oh but it is so easy  toadlife | 04/09/04
Protection has to be layered  jfrankcarr | 04/09/04
So, what were the products?  wpope | 04/09/04
Techies, You Are Missing the Point  ldelpizzo@... | 04/09/04
Missing which point?  gafisher@... | 04/10/04
This story is eerily familiar  mreilly19 | 04/09/04
Your going about it all wrong  toadlife | 04/09/04

What do you think?

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