Responded to a computer ministry service call today. The Win7 box was suffering from three types of advertising malware, one of which hijacked some function in the Google Toolbar and caused intermittent Net access problems.
Do you know you can tell a lot about someone from what kind of malware they get on their computers? I assure you, the way the malware acts tells you all you need to know about someone’s surfing habits. This particular client had some generic drive-by installs. Some of the computers I work on are loaded with serious nasty stuff from surfing porn sites. Even video and music download sites have their own signature malware. But I mind my own business.
Honestly folks, use some common sense. The first rule of computer vice: Don’t run Windows on the Internet. At the very least, learn how to use virtual machines so you can delete the system that got trashed by malware and viruses. Then you can still keep your real system pretty clean, so long as you scan everything you download. VMWare is free, but each Windows virtual machine is still subject to licensing unless you know how to get around that issue.
Yes, I do know, but I don’t have room to post all the various tricks and details here on my blog. Most of them aren’t naughty tricks, just industry insider knowledge, taking advantage of what Windows and the big computer manufacturers already have set up. For Win7, it’s all about SLIC, certificates, the built-in utility called “slmgr” and generic manufacturer keys. Also, you can find basic generic retail ISO images provided by MS. They still require activation, and any cracking or hacking you do can be obtained separately. Try places like MyDigitalLife Forums. If you are restoring a system that came with Win7, this is all totally legit and is the only use I have for it.
As things get uglier with various governments using different tricks to control how we use the Net, it’s a good idea to decide soon just how important it is for you. If you gotta have the Net, it’s time to get serious about learning as much as you can. Ask me questions any time. It’s not like the world is coming to an end, but we shall all likely have to make some big adjustments soon.
I still get people asking me if I am somehow trying to prepare for Apocalypse or something — not at all. For example, my workouts at the gym are therapeutic, not aimed at developing or training for anything. Major body movements, not too many sets, high repetitions (12-20 per set), not too much rest time between exercises — this generally prevents arthritis from flaring up while maximizing whatever it is you already have. I’m big enough, thank you. I’m simply obeying what I feel certain is God’s command for me.
The late crop blackberries for this summer are now ripening and they are delicious. I have all the jam I need, but I still can’t resist stopping to pick a handful on my long bike rides. These days I have to use a fully upright position. My shoulders and elbows can’t take the pressure of riding head-down the way most serious cyclists do.
However, my human intuition says, to the degree we are likely to have trouble here in the US, it will be tied to financial and banking stuff. While there are any number of plans to provoke riots and implement martial law or other forms of oppression, I suspect the real pain and sorrow is tied to banking. A few insiders insist the coming January looks really nasty, but I can’t tell you what they know or don’t know.
