NFR Tech, computer, and internet support and questions

Non-fishing related
Evan B

Evan B

Bobber Downey Jr.
Staff member
Admin
Through lots of PMs and a few threads, I've done quite a bit of answering tech support and general internet usage info questions. Figured having an ongoing thread could be helpful.

While I feel I can help a lot to those less savvy (or nerdy), there's definitely some here who could school me a hundred times over.

We're all here on the internet, so may as well teach each other some things to help others understand better. One thing I've learned over the years is how little most know about how to use the internet in a safe, more private manner, or how to use it to its potential.

I'll work on making a few helpful posts in here too, but figured I'd start the thread to open up to any questions first.
 
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One quick and easy thing anyone can do that surprisingly few do is install a good ad blocker. This is in my opinion the one to do. There's others that are pretty questionable, but this is the consensus good one. Very easy to install on your browser.

ublockorigin.com

uBlock Origin - Free, open-source ad blocker extension

uBlock Origin is a free, open-source ad blocker extension and content blocker. Block ads on YouTube, Twitch, and across the web with low CPU and memory usage. Available for Firefox, Edge, Opera, and Chrome via uBlock Origin Lite.
ublockorigin.com ublockorigin.com
 
I'm the worlds worst on using a computer. For some odd reason I just can't learn anything new, because I''ll forget it in about 5 minutes after I learn it. I can turn it on and off. Fix a few problems that my wife makes. But after that I'm at a loss. But I'm still happy.
 
Old Man said:
I'm the worlds worst on using a computer. For some odd reason I just can't learn anything new, because I''ll forget it in about 5 minutes after I learn it. I can turn it on and off. Fix a few problems that my wife makes. But after that I'm at a loss. But I'm still happy.
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the fact you can even get to this website and post means you're beyond the abilities of a lot more people than you probably think.
 
Protecting Yourself: By having your real name and general location someone can do a reverse lookup to find your phone number and address. Then by announcing you are going on vacation you set up yourself to get robbed while away. They call, no answer and then break in.

Chicken little? NO! It happens all the time with people on Facebook. Even celebrities'.

One of the easiest ways to rob someone.
 
Protecting Yourself: Information in Conversations aka PM's (mail icon at top left of the page) what you provide/write is only visible to you and the addressee(s). No one else. Great for providing phone numbers and addresses when inviting/invited over for a fishing trip or shipping information. Another great feature on this forum is you can delete this information from the Conversation/PM any time in the future to further protect your information.

I have seen fellow members provide shipping/tracking information in Profile Posts. This is not a good idea. Anyone can see this information. By putting 2 and 2 together they know what is being shipped. Gosh a nice, new Sage rod I need. If additional information about you is on the board that can identify you they then know where it is being shipped. Using the shipment info they can then track the shipment, know what day it will arrive and if it has been delivered. Perfect way to get a new rod they want...
 
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Protecting one's privacy is an individual choice. But do not think stealing your identity or your stuff will not happen to you. It happens all the time when least expected!

Each step one takes is one step more someone else has to do to figure out who you are and where you live. Make it hard for them to do it.

I like to have a separate email account for each forum I am a member of. If I start getting spammed on one, then I know I have been compromised on that site. Time to change, information, password, and even email account on that one.
 
RCF said:
Protecting one's privacy is an individual choice. But do not think stealing your identity or your stuff will not happen to you. It happens all the time when least expected!

Each step one takes is one step more someone else has to do to figure out who you are and where you live. Make it hard for them to do it.

I like to have a separate email account for each forum I am a member of. If I start getting spammed on one, then I know I have been compromised on that site. Time to change, information, password, and even email account on that one.
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I should copy the email relay tutorial I posted on another thread. Great tool for signing up for things online.
 
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Evan B said:
I should copy the email relay tutorial I posted on another thread. Great tool for signing up for things online.
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Here it is copy pasted

Let's say, hypothetically, you left another forum but your account is still there. To make sure your email address and name aren't compromised, here's one thing you can do. Many forums are owned by large corporations who sell your data.

Go to: https://relay.firefox.com/
Have it create/generate a new email address for you. This address will automatically forward to the email you signed up with on the first page.

Go to the forum or other site you don't want having your info

Update your profile with this new email address

It will send you a confirmation email - go to your real email account, open this confirmation email, and click the confirmation link.

Go back to https://relay.firefox.com/ and turn the switch "off" - this way no more emails that get sent through that will ever make it to you
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Done! The step-by-step should get you to the promised land
 
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I have 20 years in IT (networking and cybersecurity). Happy to help if I can.

#1 home user tip? When logged on to your computer, always do it as a user without administrative rights. Lots less hassle. Use elevated rights when needed to install stuff, but not when surfing your forums and porn. Your PC will thank you. And always patch your OS. And Applications. Do that and you're mostly there.
 
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Evan B said:
Here it is copy pasted

Let's say, hypothetically, you left another forum but your account is still there. To make sure your email address and name aren't compromised, here's one thing you can do. Many forums are owned by large corporations who sell your data.

Go to: https://relay.firefox.com/
Have it create/generate a new email address for you. This address will automatically forward to the email you signed up with on the first page.

Go to the forum or other site you don't want having your info

Update your profile with this new email address

It will send you a confirmation email - go to your real email account, open this confirmation email, and click the confirmation link.

Go back to https://relay.firefox.com/ and turn the switch "off" - this way no more emails that get sent through that will ever make it to you
View attachment 4557


Done! The step-by-step should get you to the promised land
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Here is another temporary mail service to register for stuff.


I'm not sure its the same one I have used in the past, but it does a similar thing. Great idea you have.
 
David Dalan said:
I have 20 years in IT (networking and cybersecurity). Happy to help if I can.

#1 home user tip? When logged on to your computer, always do it as a user without administrative rights. Lots less hassle. Use elevated rights when needed to install stuff, but not when surfing your forums and porn. Your PC will thank you. And always patch your OS. And Applications. Do that and you're mostly there.
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I think a lot of our target audience may not even know what administrative rights are ;)

in Linux land, we call this root or sudo user. I log in as a regular user, but when I need to install things, terminal makes it easy to grant administrative rights for that one command to install. I'm not entirely sure how to do it on Windows if I'm honest.
 
One of the great ways to steal your shit is to find out you use the same passwords for more than one website/service. I can find leaks of your information, which usually contain a password and an e-mail and see what else I can get into with the combination.

Worried about your e-mail getting loose? There are lots of services to tell you your stuff has been jacked, but https://haveibeenpwned.com/ is a great one.

Type in your e-mail and see if there are any hits. If there are, you'll probably want to make sure you have refrehed your passwords.

Not as useful now that lots of sites use Multifactor Authentication, but still handy.
 
Protect Yourself:

Do not post when you are going away on vacation or a picture of the dinner you are having. Post a picture after you return. The memories can still be shared - just at a safer time.

Consider what links you have identifying what sites you are a member of and a link to that identity. For example if you have a safe ID on PNWFF (Billy G) but have a link to your Facebook/Twitter/Skype account here and it provides Personally Identifiable Information (PII) you have just help compromise your identity.

It is all about putting the pieces of the puzzle together to create a picture and compromising yourself. That is why all these data collectors are in business. It is also why places, like the conglomerate that bought WFF, buys sites. To make money!

I can remember getting a quote for a roof cleaning recently. Email quote of course. Within a couple of days I was getting spammed by other, somewhat related, businesses. This small business was selling my information - both my phone number and email account! Sheesh!! Lesson Learned. I should of provided my email account that I use for junk email.
 
Evan B said:
I think a lot of our target audience may not even know what administrative rights are ;)

in Linux land, we call this root or sudo user. I log in as a regular user, but when I need to install things, terminal makes it easy to grant administrative rights for that one command to install. I'm not entirely sure how to do it on Windows if I'm honest.
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Fair :)

Yep - sudo, "run as", etc.

I'm happy to explain in human words if anyone is interested.
 
David Dalan said:
Fair :)

Yep - sudo, "run as", etc.

I'm happy to explain in human words if anyone is interested.
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Explain away. I was hoping we'd get some questions based on the number of related PMs I've been getting since starting this forum. But I feel like many may not know what questions to even ask. So priming the discussion with any helpful tips is definitely useful.
 
About not knowing . . . I thought I would go change my email on WFF, but I can't even find it in my profile, or how to change my name there or most anything. Apparently I need SBS like for tying a complicated fly pattern.
 
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