No Facebook February

[MeLoVeGhOsTs]

That's exactly what I thought. And no, it's not!

[Deadwood_Zen]

I'm not saying that Facebook is some god or deity, and they're probably doing. People need to read the fine print when they sign up for play FarmVille or Mafia Wars, since most of those games can and will use your 'private' information for public and profiteering use.

[ChobiChibi]

I have however used other sites like My Space before and frankly if you've used one you've used them all.

MySpace was originally made for bands/singers/songwriters to upload their music and advertise... Then it kinda evolved into the social networking site that is it today...

I hate MySpace. It's just not as good as Facebook lol...

[Blademaster]

In any case thoughts on that news story?

No.

...You can leave now.

[Dryk]

It already does this, and it doesnt seem to be much of a problem as long as you ignore this. I also think that FB is different from myspace, as it is slightly easier to move around and view things, and has a generally more open atmosphere on the opening pages, but that is just me.

And for viruses, as long as you never click the accept link, I haven't had any problems, and theyre pretty easy to spot in messages:
"Hey dude, check out this awesome..." (you get the point).

[Deadwood_Zen]

Another Rule of Wrist(Boondock Saints ftw), is that you never 'like' anything on another site. Hey i Like, the heart thing, and LikeMe are all perfect examples.

[Master Rudy]

And for viruses, as long as you never click the accept link, I haven't had any problems, and theyre pretty easy to spot in messages:
"Hey dude, check out this awesome..." (you get the point).

Very common misconception. Viruses can and have been hidden in banner ads and actual websites. They don't require a person clicking on them either. In many cases there is no accept link. All it takes is a mere visit for the files to run and attempt in infect your computer. One website I frequent got infected once but thankfully my scanners were up to date and refused to open the page.

Never think that you're safe just because you don't click on questionable links or accept files that are obviously not kosher.

[Blademaster]

Another Rule of Wrist(Boondock Saints ftw), is that you never 'like' anything on another site.

Even Youtube?

[Dryk]

Very common misconception. Viruses can and have been hidden in banner ads and actual websites. They don't require a person clicking on them either. In many cases there is no accept link. All it takes is a mere visit for the files to run and attempt in infect your computer. One website I frequent got infected once but thankfully my scanners were up to date and refused to open the page.

I know, but those are fairly hard to find, as I'm talking about mostly staying on the main page and not visiting applications sites or looking at different applications. I agree that you can find them there without clicking accept.

[Magmar]

I refuse to join other social networking sites, or to link my Facebook account to anything. I don't link anything to do with Youtube, etc. to my phone or to Facebook or other emails. I don't want my online identity to be melded into one unique thinger that enables my activity to be tracked all over the place. I don't "ping" my itunes or anything like that. Information is the most valuable currency in the world today so I give as little of it as I can to the internets. I don't give stores or companies my information unless absolutely necessary. It's bad enough the internets have decided that my father and I are the same person and that thus I own a house in Melbourne Florida.

[Katie]

Very common misconception. Viruses can and have been hidden in banner ads and actual websites. They don't require a person clicking on them either. In many cases there is no accept link. All it takes is a mere visit for the files to run and attempt in infect your computer. One website I frequent got infected once but thankfully my scanners were up to date and refused to open the page.

Never think that you're safe just because you don't click on questionable links or accept files that are obviously not kosher.

Better not visit any website with ads, ever, then.

Big enough websites employ people whose sole job is to monitor the ads that ad services put onto their site. I don't exactly have evidence but I'm pretty sure Facebook can afford to pay some guys to do that. Exercise common sense and you won't face any more malware than you would on any other site.

[Dark Scizor]

I think I'll pass

[Lady Vulpix]

I run Linux, so I don't have to worry about viruses. But to those of you who run Windows, make sure to disable ActiveX controls on your browser and don't give it direct access to your system. Some ads or web pages may try to install viruses in your computer, but they will only succeed if they have the permissions they need to do so.

[Telume]

Very common misconception. Viruses can and have been hidden in banner ads and actual websites. They don't require a person clicking on them either. In many cases there is no accept link. All it takes is a mere visit for the files to run and attempt in infect your computer. One website I frequent got infected once but thankfully my scanners were up to date and refused to open the page.

Never think that you're safe just because you don't click on questionable links or accept files that are obviously not kosher.

Unless you cast off the evil veil of Microsoft and head off to Linux land, you will never know the world of never having had a virus.

Been using openSUSE for a year and a half or so now and been virus free for that time and counting sooooo... I'm with Gabi on this boat.

Hello my favorite TPM Linux user!

[Blademaster]

Without making my head explode from technical intellect, how is Linux virus-proof? I can't understand how any computer would be virus-proof unless it was coded in a completely different language and said language was never made available to anybody outside of the original programmer...

[Lady Vulpix]

OK, I'll pretend the above post was written by someone who cares and not by a forum troll. If you really want to know, inform yourself about how computer viruses work and you may understand why a program that exploits an operating system's vulnerability isn't likely to work on a different OS.

By the way, the language(s) used to code the OS have very little relation to how it can be exploited (unless the language itself has a vulnerability). It's how it works that matters.

[Telume]

Click the link in my signature.

[Blademaster]

OK, I'll pretend the above post was written by someone who cares and not by a forum troll.

Ah-hah. Ah-hah.

OK...

Now I'LL pretend that YOUR post was written by someone helpful instead of a snappy old bitch with a cobweb-encrusted twat.

I AM someone who cares, and wouldn't have asked if I wasn't. I just don't understand how viruses and OS programming work, which is something I hope that Telume's link will rectify.

Thank you for your assistance, Telume.

[Telume]

I just don't understand how viruses and OS programming work, which is something I hope that Telume's link will rectify.

Thank you for your assistance, Telume.

It should, let me know if you need anything clarified.

[Deadwood_Zen]

Random question: How well does Linux do with online gaming? MapleStory, would be a nice specificity for that question.

[shazza]

OK, I'll pretend the above post was written by someone who cares and not by a forum troll.

You're a tad bitter than usual, Gabi. I thought Blademaster's question was genuine. I hope everything is alright with you.

Anyway, today has been my first full day without Facebook. When I first realised what I had done, I felt rather melancholy in the morning up until 3pm. But I think this also has to do with post Big Day Out blues and returning to full time work. I found myself during my break, sadly, logging on to my dogs account and checking my page briefly. I then realised what a burden this can be, so I deleted myself off every account I know the password to; now I have no access at all to my page. Now, coming back from work, I am rather more content. I still find myself attempting to check my Facebook on my phone as a reflex, with only a brief moment later I realise what I'm doing. Facebook without thinking is what it had become.

Also, to Barry: What does the k stand for in TPMk? Klan?

[Telume]

Random question: How well does Linux do with online gaming? MapleStory, would be a nice specificity for that question.

WINE: DOES NOT work with Maple Story due to Gameguard and there is no way to fix this yet. ANY game with gameguard will not work.

VirtualBox: It works, plays well. I've tried.

VMware: Works, it plays. In some games you may suffer "Ghost Sprite syndrome" which means your character in game (and likely the other player characters as well) will not render.

For more information check out: http://appdb.winehq.org/ you can search for a specific application or game using the search back. Platinum means it runs flawlessly as if it was on native windows. Gold means it runs almost flawlessly, Silver means it runs but has a few issues that shouldn't affect gameplay/use. Garbage means it won't run/install.

And for information on Virtualbox check this out: http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?t=2525

To Shazza:

Keep at it man, first day is always the hardest. You'll notice the more you do it the less likely you are to go to facebook. It's like quitting smoking cold turkey, you'll always be tempted to go back for that cig. Just keep going, you can do it!

[Lady Vulpix]

I'm OK, shazza. If anyone other than Blademaster - or maybe Andrew - had posted that question (and especially if it had been posted in a different tone) I would have thought the question was genuine, but it's hard to take any post by Blade seriously. Anyway, I still answered the question. If anyone else has any questions, I promise to be nicer.

[Blademaster]

it's hard to take any post by Blade seriously.

Then I'm doing my job.

But my job these days entails less assholery than it used to, so, I apologize for calling you what I did, Gabi. It was rather uncalled for.

[Heald]

Personally I thought it was pretty hilarious, but oh wells.

Anyway it's the 2nd and I've made no active attempt to stay off Facebook. So yeah.

[Blademaster]

Just because something is hilarious doesn't mean that it's appropriate...

Also, why do I keep think the guy in your avatar is Tommy Lee Jones?

(inb4 "because it is Tommy Lee Jones")

[Magmar]

Also, to Barry: What does the k stand for in TPMk? Klan?

the K was a typo.

@Blademaster: I'm not a mod but--please be a little more sensible in posts outside of Mt. Moon that forum was created so we could use language like that in a closed environment.

Anyways, I rarely spend more than 10 minutes on Facebook in a day. I've been more aware of how I use Facebook as a result of this thread, and realized that I hardly use it.

[Lady Vulpix]

But my job these days entails less assholery than it used to, so, I apologize for calling you what I did, Gabi. It was rather uncalled for.

Apology accepted.

And to get back on topic, I hope shazza's FB fasting is going well.

[Heald]

Just because something is hilarious doesn't mean that it's appropriate...

Also, why do I keep think the guy in your avatar is Tommy Lee Jones?

(inb4 "because it is Tommy Lee Jones")

It's Jeremy Clarkson from a UK TV show called Top Gear.

[PNT510]

MySpace was originally made for bands/singers/songwriters to upload their music and advertise... Then it kinda evolved into the social networking site that is it today...

I hate MySpace. It's just not as good as Facebook lol...

You actually have it backwards. MySpace was invited to be a social networking site where you could only see people that you had mutial friends with. That's why everyone started with Tom as a friend so you could remove him if you wanted and only be connected to people in your extended network.

When the site became popular bands started using it as a way to get their music out there which is when MySpace added the music section. And now that the social networking aspect of the site has all by fallen apart they are further focusing the site on music and now games.

[ChobiChibi]

Ooh, okay.

Either way, it still sucks ^^;