TD2K
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Post by TD2K on Feb 1, 2011 18:47:54 GMT -5
Almost through the 500 barrier PoM!!
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Feb 1, 2011 18:58:14 GMT -5
Two differences, primarily: - I requested (and was granted) permission to create the penguincredible.
- The degree of invasiveness between the two pranks was vastly different. One was a series of several dozen threads, disrupting the normal function of the board. The other was a single thread that appeared with a 1.2% probability. Quantitatively, the CL prank was precisely 2,000 times as invasive.
Besides, The J stole all my karma for the prank. CL I bet is swimming in karma.
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Feb 1, 2011 18:59:05 GMT -5
Let's bring her home.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Feb 1, 2011 19:03:00 GMT -5
Two differences, primarily: - I requested (and was granted) permission to create the penguincredible.
- The degree of invasiveness between the two pranks was vastly different. One was a series of several dozen threads, disrupting the normal function of the board. The other was a single thread that appeared with a 1.2% probability. Quantitatively, the CL prank was precisely 2,000 times as invasive.
Besides, The J stole all my karma for the prank. CL I bet is swimming in karma. The normal function of the board??? This is EE, I didn't realize there WAS a normal function of the board.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Feb 1, 2011 19:03:31 GMT -5
::The degree of invasiveness between the two pranks was vastly different. One was a series of several dozen threads, disrupting the normal function of the board. The other was a single thread that appeared with a 1.2% probability. Quantitatively, the CL prank was precisely 2,000 times as invasive. :: I beg to differ on this point.. yes if you are going to look at actual "number" of threads.. however, the complexity of this "prank" led some of us to believe there was a hacker/cloner and/or a computer virus... where as the smurf threads were clearly the work of a bored poster. I was not creeped out nor concerned for the security of my computer with the smurf threads. well, that one picture of that smurf did kind of creep me out....
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moon/Laura
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Post by moon/Laura on Feb 1, 2011 19:13:44 GMT -5
Just out of curiosity, why is this prank ok but CL gets her ass chewed out for goofing around and posting a ton of Smurf threads??? i'm not sure it's fair to say i chewed CL's ass over it. i just questioned the 'why' of it.. and already admitted the fact that apparently i was the only one that had a problem with it.. not to mention, she and i had our own discussion about it and it's all cool.
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Feb 1, 2011 19:20:55 GMT -5
I did take this into consideration. The original concept (whose legacy is still seen in the "VGThread" [Virgil's Ghost Thread] class in the posted code) was for a "Phantom Thread" with a ghosty black motif. However, after Mrs. Virgil pointed out that such a thing popping out of nowhere would scare the snot out of whomever saw it, I converted the whole thing to a ridiculously cutesy-poo "pirate penguin" motif. In addition to the cutesypooness, the fact that an EE-specific "J the Pirate" trope was involved was another excellent indicator of virus-non-be. Finally, contrary to popular belief, you cannot get a virus by simply viewing a web page or interacting with it in ordinary ways. Viruses are acquired by downloading and executing code, or by installing extensions, applets, and ActiveX controls when prompted. Technical articles very deliberately avoid telling readers this because saying "if you get a virus, it's your own darn fault" is bad for readership. "Don't visit dangerous websites" is simpler, just as effective, and much more reader-compatible. Still, I apologize for any distress that may have resulted from ye prank.
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ihearyou2
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Post by ihearyou2 on Feb 1, 2011 19:24:25 GMT -5
I just arrived what happened? Please write for me a synopsis in 100 words or less, mmm whomever, can do the honors...
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Feb 1, 2011 19:27:15 GMT -5
I did take this into consideration. The original concept (whose legacy is still seen in the "VGThread" [Virgil's Ghost Thread] class in the posted code) was for a "Phantom Thread" with a ghosty black motif. However, after Mrs. Virgil pointed out that such a thing popping out of nowhere would scare the snot out of whomever saw it, I converted the whole thing to a ridiculously cutesy-poo "pirate penguin" motif. In addition to the cutesypooness, the fact that an EE-specific "J the Pirate" trope was involved was another excellent indicator of virus-non-be. Finally, contrary to popular belief, you cannot get a virus by simply viewing a web page or interacting with it in ordinary ways. Viruses are acquired by downloading and executing code, or by installing extensions, applets, and ActiveX controls when prompted. Technical articles very deliberately avoid telling readers this because saying "if you get a virus, it's your own darn fault" is bad for readership. "Don't visit dangerous websites" is simpler, just as effective, and much more reader-compatible. Still, I apologize for any distress that may have resulted from ye prank. Virgil, I actually enjoy pranks...yours are just a wee bit over my head.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Feb 1, 2011 19:28:43 GMT -5
:;Finally, contrary to popular belief, you cannot get a virus by simply viewing a web page or interacting with it in ordinary ways. Viruses are acquired by downloading and executing code, or by installing extensions, applets, and ActiveX controls when prompted. Technical articles very deliberately avoid telling readers this because saying "if you get a virus, it's your own darn fault" is bad for readership. "Don't visit dangerous websites" is simpler, just as effective, and much more reader-compatible.:: I got a virus on my computer by closing a dialog box that popped up while I was reading an article. I didn't even click "Yes" or "No" I clicked on the "X" to close it. It was a trojan or malware or something. I'm not a computer expert and I don't play one on line.. hell, I'm a half step below computer literate. But I'm calling BS that you can only acquire a virus in the ways that you mention. But, I'll be the first to admit, I don't really "get" computer geek humor. MM, the same thing happened to me....a box popped up that looked like my computer's anti-virus telling me to run a scan...I knew enough not to accept it, but just trying to close the damn box caused it to run. Of course, it was my work laptop and I did get the virus and IT had to clean my computer, which took hours.
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moon/Laura
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Post by moon/Laura on Feb 1, 2011 19:29:26 GMT -5
Virgil pulled a prank that made it appear that J was attempting to oust me.. but, the implementation made people worry about viruses.
i thought it was hilarious. apparently, very few others did.. <shrug>
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Feb 1, 2011 19:30:20 GMT -5
Virgil pulled a prank that made it appear that J was attempting to oust me.. but, the implementation made people worry about viruses. i thought it was hilarious. apparently, very few others did.. <shrug> Which just proves that we all find different things funny...that's ok, if we were all the same it would get boring.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Feb 1, 2011 19:31:48 GMT -5
Just out of curiosity, why is this prank ok but CL gets her ass chewed out for goofing around and posting a ton of Smurf threads??? i'm not sure it's fair to say i chewed CL's ass over it. i just questioned the 'why' of it.. and already admitted the fact that apparently i was the only one that had a problem with it.. not to mention, she and i had our own discussion about it and it's all cool. I wasn't trying to butt into your issue with CL...I was just asking why one prank is ok and not another. The majority of us found CL's prank funny. It's old news so it doesn't really matter.
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Feb 1, 2011 19:33:37 GMT -5
If this is true then you were using IE 5 or IE 6.
Both are infamous for their security flaws.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Feb 1, 2011 19:34:47 GMT -5
If this is true then you were using IE 5 or IE 6. Both are infamous for their security flaws. Dumb question, but how do you know what version you have?
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The J
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Post by The J on Feb 1, 2011 19:36:22 GMT -5
i'm not sure it's fair to say i chewed CL's ass over it. i just questioned the 'why' of it.. and already admitted the fact that apparently i was the only one that had a problem with it.. not to mention, she and i had our own discussion about it and it's all cool. I wasn't trying to butt into your issue with CL...I was just asking why one prank is ok and not another. The majority of us found CL's prank funny. It's old news so it doesn't really matter. I will note I found both funny. Then Sam and I decided to prank Virgil back by pretending to fight.
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moon/Laura
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Post by moon/Laura on Feb 1, 2011 19:39:39 GMT -5
Dumb question, but how do you know what version you have? go to the help menu in your browser and click "About Internet Explorer" (or FF, if that were applicable)
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Feb 1, 2011 19:40:00 GMT -5
MM, the same thing happened to me....a box popped up that looked like my computer's anti-virus telling me to run a scan...I knew enough not to accept it, but just trying to close the damn box caused it to run. Of course, it was my work laptop and I did get the virus and IT had to clean my computer, which took hours. That is EXACTLY what happened to me... and yup.. it took almost the entire day to clean my computer. Me three. I had to sent mine out and they said it had been too badly currupted to fix. We tried 4 times before I gave in. I had to scrap it and get a new one. I lost everything on it.
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moon/Laura
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Post by moon/Laura on Feb 1, 2011 19:41:30 GMT -5
That is EXACTLY what happened to me... and yup.. it took almost the entire day to clean my computer. Me three. I had to sent mine out and they said it had been too badly currupted to fix. We tried 4 times before I gave in. I had to scrap it and get a new one. I lost everything on it. seriously? you couldn't just wipe it (re-image) and start over? you would still lose everything but you wouldn't have had to buy a new one
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on Feb 1, 2011 19:43:59 GMT -5
i'm not sure it's fair to say i chewed CL's ass over it. i just questioned the 'why' of it.. and already admitted the fact that apparently i was the only one that had a problem with it.. not to mention, she and i had our own discussion about it and it's all cool. I wasn't trying to butt into your issue with CL...I was just asking why one prank is ok and not another. The majority of us found CL's prank funny. It's old news so it doesn't really matter. Well, remember, only a few people in this world actually have a sense of humor.
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moon/Laura
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Post by moon/Laura on Feb 1, 2011 19:48:36 GMT -5
DH has mentioned this possibility to me (back when we used IE). He always told me to close those boxes by right-clicking on the box in the task bar. i have heard this too.. that the coding is made to install the virus/malware as a hidden function of the X in the corner..
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Malarky
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Post by Malarky on Feb 1, 2011 19:53:17 GMT -5
I found the whole thing hilarious, but I thought it was J, not Virgil who set it up. Although, (sorry J) I figured he got someone else to do the coding. I actually saw the thread with all of our replies on it and didn't put it together.
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Feb 1, 2011 19:58:47 GMT -5
Me three. I had to sent mine out and they said it had been too badly corrupted to fix. We tried 4 times before I gave in. I had to scrap it and get a new one. I lost everything on it. seriously? you couldn't just wipe it (re-image) and start over? you would still lose everything but you wouldn't have had to buy a new one I don't know myself but they tried repeatedly and said that the actual OS had been corrupted and the virus was inbeded so to speak in it. Every time we thought they had fixed it it popped up again. I kept trying to use that restore thing. It really was frustrating. ETA it was a few years ago and the computer was using an old version of IE so maybe this wouldn't happen today.
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moon/Laura
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Post by moon/Laura on Feb 1, 2011 20:02:46 GMT -5
i would think that if you had a full OS install disk, you could completely start over that way... or, buy a new hard drive and install the OS on that..
would have been a LOT cheaper...
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Feb 1, 2011 20:09:29 GMT -5
Moon I think the removing the hard drive and replacing it with a new one was an option but it was actually not much cheaper than buying a new one. I can't do it myself so I would have had to pay them plus buy the thing. Like I said it was a pretty old computer too. So we just bought a cheap new one from the Dell outlet for not much more. And it doens't pick up viruses like Charlie Sheen picks up hookers. ;D
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moon/Laura
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Post by moon/Laura on Feb 1, 2011 20:12:22 GMT -5
LOL beach... it's too bad we don't live closer.. i could totally have done that work for you...
but yeah, i guess if it was that old, it was time for an upgrade anyway.. i just get annoyed at places that make it seem like nothing can be done other than replace the machine.. of course, that's how they make their money...
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Virgil Showlion
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Post by Virgil Showlion on Feb 1, 2011 20:18:53 GMT -5
So, summarizing the last three pages: the penguincredible prank was a great success!
Virgil, the lovable prankster, is enshrined in the hearts of all EEers. "Hurrah Virgil," they shout. "Hurrah! Hurrah!"
The noise is deafening.
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Malarky
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Post by Malarky on Feb 1, 2011 20:20:29 GMT -5
Karma for Virgil
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Mad Dawg Wiccan
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Post by Mad Dawg Wiccan on Feb 1, 2011 20:26:25 GMT -5
<<the implementation made people worry about viruses.>>
Well, yes, I was quite worried. You have to consider my position; I have about 140 clients, all of whom are developmentally disabled to the point that they can't manage money. I receive their Social Security benefits (and in some cases administer their Special Needs Trust accounts) and pay their bills. I have for each client a separate bank account, which I access online. I also have stored in my 'puter each client's name, address, SSN, and DOB. The aggregate total of all the accounts is (at least at the beginning of the month) well over $500,000. If someone were to hack into my 'puter and get that information, you can just imagine the potential damage, for which by Social Security regs I can be held personally liable. I am bonded against malfeasance and employee theft, but not cyber theft.
So yes, I had some worries that I had not only screwed the pooch but got her pregnant and married her.
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Feb 1, 2011 20:55:23 GMT -5
"So it's misleading when Virgil says you have to execute or download something. " I agree. I don't keep up on the latest security holes of various Microsoft products but I did catch a virus probably back in the IE5 or IE6 days when I visited an official web-site to track one of the legs of the triple crown. All I remember is clicking through to view web pages and then I had some cleaning to do. Luckily the downloaded fix worked on the first try but since then I'm pretty wary of anything that doesn't look kosher. I didn't visit the thread until after I got a PM back from Virgil letting me know it was a prank. I obviously found it more scary than pranky in the beginning.
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