Clean Your Computer, Tablet, Phone, etc.

This is a forum for general discussion of dogsled racing, with a special focus on Alaska, and is open to all. It is expected that this area will see the most activity during the months leading up to, and during the annual Iditarod sled dog race. Pictures from races can be posted here. Hosting is provided by the Bering Strait School District (BSSD), and the area is open all year. Care to be one of our volunteer moderators? Contact us!

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Clean Your Computer, Tablet, Phone, etc.

Postby txbennett » Fri Jan 11, 2019 5:21 am

It is race time 2019!! As I have grown to expect each year I pick up a digital bug or two as I rapidly access some unfamiliar sites while attempting to get the "most current" and "most revealing" information about this sport that I follow with vigor.

I just updated my browsers, anti-virus, anti-malware software and my Cleaner software, and then ran a full scan and restarted all my devices. I will do this regularly during racing season, particularly between the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod and then again following the Iditarod. In spite of my best efforts and reliable software, the trolls manage to infect me, so my advice is be diligent in protecting yourself and your data.

Enjoy the races, safely :!: :!: :D :D :D
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Re: Clean Your Computer, Tablet, Phone, etc.

Postby Moose » Mon Jan 14, 2019 3:25 pm

Good advice, TX. Thanks.
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Re: Clean Your Computer, Tablet, Phone, etc.

Postby txbennett » Sun Jan 20, 2019 5:33 am

I deep cleaned again today -- 1 Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP) found and removed. Ready for the Yukon Quest.
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Re: Clean Your Computer, Tablet, Phone, etc.

Postby txbennett » Wed Jan 30, 2019 3:56 am

Bump up for safety!

:!: :!:
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Re: Clean Your Computer, Tablet, Phone, etc.

Postby Mushkraut » Fri Feb 08, 2019 6:14 am

txbennett wrote:In spite of my best efforts and reliable software, the trolls manage to infect me


All those "anti-virus" and cleaner programs don't help as such.
On Windows 10, the built-in Windows Defender is quite capable. I personally do not use any additional anti-virus software because it slows everything down.
What I really recommend is an ad-blocker or a browser with a built-in ad-blocker or, for those who are familiar with using the Windows Explorer, a modified HOSTS file.
This is a Windows system file which has a long list of unwanted web addresses which then get sent into digital nirvana when you stumble upon a link and try to click on it.
The modified file can be downloaded here: http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm. This is quite a robust way of blocking ads, malware and the likes.

It's also useful to NOT use HTML mail view in your mail program, or use a mail program that allows for "plain-text" view. Example in difference:
in a HTML mail, you may click on Iditarod News because you think it's a page with Iditarod News, but in reality you are sent to the Yukon Quest website. In plain-text view, you would see
Code: Select all
<a href="http://www.yukonquest.com">Iditarod News</>
which is ugly, but at least you could see the real link (a href=).

It also helps to have a modern browser. And maybe use a portable installation (Opera portable, Vivaldi portable, Firefox portable) and use different browsers for different purposes. I have one browser for online banking, one browser for online shopping, one browser for only surfing, and one browser for logging into Facebook, if I must. All browsers are cleaned automatically when I close them.

On a smartphone with Android it's much more difficult to stay safe, as many apps don't offer the transparency and functionality of their Windows counterparts. It's more difficult to see whether a link sent in a mail is indeed what it appears to be, which is why I only click on a mailed link on mobile if I absolutely have to.

If you have a personal question regarding this topic, feel free to send me a PM :)
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Re: Clean Your Computer, Tablet, Phone, etc.

Postby flowerpower » Fri Feb 08, 2019 6:33 am

How do you get a browser to clean automatically when you close it? Is any particular browser better for any particular activity? I just tend to do everything in Chrome, but use Firefox once in awhile.
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Re: Clean Your Computer, Tablet, Phone, etc.

Postby Mushkraut » Fri Feb 08, 2019 7:00 am

flowerpower wrote:How do you get a browser to clean automatically when you close it? Is any particular browser better for any particular activity? I just tend to do everything in Chrome, but use Firefox once in awhile.


https://k12parentportal.force.com/k12he ... en-Closing
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Re: Clean Your Computer, Tablet, Phone, etc.

Postby flowerpower » Fri Feb 08, 2019 7:35 am

Done! Thanks!
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Re: Clean Your Computer, Tablet, Phone, etc.

Postby txbennett » Fri Feb 15, 2019 6:17 am

Done following the Quest and ready for Irod! My computer picked up a PUP (appropriate from a dog race) and a Windows 10 "MEMORY MANAGEMENT" problem. All fixed now. My experience is that Irod is more contagious than the Quest!
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