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Topic: I got two little blinking computer screens in the lower... |
erik
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Posted 15 Aug 2001 1:49 pm |
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... left corner of my computer. I moused over and it says bytes sent/ bytes received @ yadayada. Has someone taken over my computer? Also my cursor is blinking frantically. I have downloaded the last Windows update (Aug 2, Acrobat 5.0 reader, and some mp3.com garbage that i could never get working. Any ideas?
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erik
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Posted 15 Aug 2001 1:57 pm
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It's actually in the lower right corner. Apparently it has to do with the internet connection. Is this normal? I still don't know why my cursor is spazin'.
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Ernie Renn
From:
Brainerd, Minnesota USA
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Posted 15 Aug 2001 2:41 pm
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erik;
Cursor flashing: First I'd do a thorough Scan Disk, (in Win98: Start-Accessories-System Tools.) Make sure the fix errors box checked. It might take a while, depending on the size of your hard drive, (mine takes about 4 hours,) but needs to be done from time to time. After that has finished running, then do a Disk Defragment.
The other "problem" you describe, I believe to be normal. In the corner of my screen I have the little two monitors connected graphic and when you put the mouse over it it say about what you said. It's your internet connection. I don't think it's anything to worry about.
Jack can fill you in on getting a Firewall. If there is anything strange going on, it would probably catch it.
Good luck! (The graphic at the top of the page says it all!)
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My best,
Ernie
The Official Buddy Emmons Website
www.buddyemmons.com
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 15 Aug 2001 2:52 pm
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That's your modem connector indicators. One is for send data and the other is for receive data. When you go off line the indicators should go away.
If you're concerned about someone accessing your computer, you can download ZoneAlarm firewall program for free. It's rated as one of the better firewall programs. www.zonelabs.com |
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erik
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Posted 15 Aug 2001 4:42 pm
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Thank you both. The cursor problem only happened in this forum. Maybe it is related to the animated .gif.
I'm posting now with WebTV so i don't know if it's still a concern.
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David Pennybaker
From:
Conroe, TX USA
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Posted 16 Aug 2001 6:04 am
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I highly recommend ZoneAlarm.
I've got a hardware firewall built into my router, but I still use ZoneAlarm, too.
Why?
Because it notifies you anytime a program tries to connect to the internet, and let's you decide if it should or not. That way, if you're ever infected with a Trojan, you'll know about it.
Even after you've updated a program, ZoneAlarm recognizes the new update, and asks again if you want to let it access the net (and tells you the program has changed).
Some Trojans are sneaky, and call themselves a normal file that should have access to the net. But ZoneAlarm catches them, too, as described above.
This is THE best piece of freeware software out there.
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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons
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Craig Allen
From:
BEREA, KENTUCKY, USA
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Posted 16 Aug 2001 12:53 pm
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Eric, I was gonna tell ya, but then I somehow knew that you'ld figure it out.. LOL.
Now Mr.Stoner.
I found a cute little jewel called Black Ice.
It too is free. I like this better than that annoying Zone Alarm. Don't get me wrong, ZA, is very, very, good, and to be free, it's great. But this Black Ice Is better!! Download it; run it; and set it to "Paranoid" and you're in business.
Now, to trojans.
Firewalls like ZA, do NOT stop trojans from getting onto your machine. They TRY to stop them from sending your stuff back across the net. That's when ZA is supposed to catch it and stop it.(You know, the dog was real friendly to the burler, and let him in...........but when he tried to leave, he ate the burglers leg off.)
Download a prog. called ADWARE. It will keep spyware off of your machine.
And run disk cleanup regularly!
Finally, keep your Anti-Virus UP TO DATE!!!!
And then USE it.
I prefer to not load any of these progs. at start up, but load them manually. I feel more in control of what's happening that way, and can easily isolate a problem, if I find one.
Bon Chance |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 16 Aug 2001 2:20 pm
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| According to some real life reviews, Black Ice failed miserably. There was a link on here about 2 months ago about a guy that had a denial of service and he documented everything. One of the things he did, among other things, was to test various Firewall's. The Black Ice did not stop anything . Zone Alarm did. Although he was deeper into trojans and broke the code for the trojan that was causing the D.O.S. on his server he did some in depth testing of various firewall programs. |
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