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November 2, 2007 5:00 AM PDT

Computer nerds get the last laugh

by Jessica Dolcourt
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Jacob is a nerd and proud of it. But his older siblings seem oblivious to his hardware and software achievements. Even after Jacob flies to the rescue when their shared computer is on a malware-induced fritz do they dismiss his advice. How will he make his siblings gain some respect? Find out in this week's Spyware Horror Story.

>>See all Spyware Horror Stories

Jessica Dolcourt reviews the latest and greatest smartphone apps, in addition to a healthy dose of Windows software. E-mail Jessica and follow her on Twitter.
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It can't be helped
by darkdestiny7 November 3, 2007 1:36 AM PDT
Some teenagers just don't care about securing their surfing ways. To makes the situation worse, they wonder in the cyberworld with a browser called Internet Explorer (correct me if I'm wrong) and the one that really takes the bashing is the computer. Sadly, some websites and ads had long ago turned to ways to make malware infection fun, without the kids noticing. Luckily, a period of time without a computer gives your MySpace-addict siblings a taste of a literally rotten apple.

Several things to take note: parental controls and ad blocking softwares is a must for these young kids, especially when it comes to those who are completely ignorant of the malware that eats the hard drive away.

I have an old computer that I rarely used nowadays, and it's severely packed with lots of stuff, including LimeWire! No thanks to my siblings, who surf around without anything protecting them. Last time (which is the first time) I used CCleaner and more than 1GB of trash and over 600 registry errors (not to mention several trialwares like Photoshop CS2)are found and gotten rid off. Fortunately I got my own laptop.
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HOORAY for Linux
by marine365 November 5, 2007 6:18 PM PST
Very nice story dude. The ignorant brothers passing off the younger brother as a social outcast (classic). They will learn respect in due time. Their weak windows computers will crash and burn in the face of the new hacker revolution. Linux systems will stand tall and strong. With dual active and passive firewalls and apparmor activated only the most uber hackers could even hope to chip the paint of a well built Linux system. It will be us, the so called geeks who will be left picking up the peices for a whining and begging populace. We are the foundation of this technologicly driven society. The reason why you are teased as kids is because they can feel your power and are threatened. Unless windows gets rid of their registry based system they will one day be taken over by the superior *NIX systems.
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by JoMilton January 26, 2008 1:57 PM PST
I feel your pain. It's not just young lads who surf without due care and attention. Middle aged ladies such as myself are equally bad. I have to go help a friend soon. She's getting 150 spam emails a day to her personal address and hasn't a clue why or what to do about it. I mention spam filters, I mention Microsoft Office 2003 Outlook , I suggest restricting acceptance of mail to just people on her approved list - she looks blank. About every six months her entire OS needs reinstalling. A trojan ate it last year. There are always going to be users who just wanna have fun - and people who get to clear up the mess behind them.
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