Kill IE spyware (sort of)

[neo_x500]

This little trick I found does have some negative effects, it makes downloads tricky, but I thought it was cool. The trick is simple, you make a play on windows inability to have two files with the same name in the same directory. First delete the content.ie5 folder, and then (if you can find it) rename the desktop.ini folder to content.ie5 and mark it as read only. Windows will be unable to create a new content.ie5 folder because a file exists with the same name. the .ie5 at the end is read as a file extension on the file you name content.ie5. The download thing is kind of a problem. most sites load without any problem though. Downloads stay stuck at the connection stage and never start downloading. The problem is fixed by swapping the file out when you need to download. Of course this is no substition for a spyware free browser. I would take mozilla, or opera, or any other browser of this, but for those who insist on using it... Neat trick though.

[ June 10, 2003: Message edited by: Neo_Linux_User ]

[Faust]

Nice one.  

[Calum]

for those who insist on using IE i hope it enables their entire filesystem to be trashed and their work to be irretreivably lost. i'd use IEradicator or similar to uninstall IE, then install MozillaFirebird instead to be honest.

nice trick though as you say.

[neo_x500]

I've been gone from these forums for a while now, a few months. When did we get the zero tolerance policy on the "trolls"? I feel kinda left out. I've been in visiting the forums for two years and I've only gotten 30 something posts in. I guess I like to keep my mouth shut and try not to repeat things- like everytime somebody asks for windows help I can always expect to see about 500 posts telling him to switch to linux. That kinda irritates me about this forum, but everything else is cool in here. I found this site on at techtv.com that lets you unhide things in the add/remove programs folder, I don't remember where it was or what I searched to find it though. I'll dig through there sometime, maybe they will have a way to uncover ie6 in it- we could kill it then. This post is getting kind of long and I'm kinda rambling-sorry btw-so I will shut up now.

[mushrooomprince]

Zero tolerance ?


We need to get troll-seeking missiles

[neo_x500]

Sorry, last rambling message (for tonight). Calum, I believe a while ago the bobs (I don't remember which one) said I should become one. I decided to go against that idea, but you also said I should become an integrational polytheist (sorry for spelling if it's wrong). I think I will take you up on that.  :cool:

[TheKnifeThrower]

quote:Originally posted by Calum:
for those who insist on using IE i hope it enables their entire filesystem to be trashed and their work to be irretreivably lost. i'd use IEradicator or similar to uninstall IE, then install MozillaFirebird instead to be honest.

nice trick though as you say.

Don't use IE eradicator. I know it removes internet explorer but it also makes the windows interface look butt ugly. All we have to do is delete the icon from the deskop/start menu and go to the options dialog in mozilla to change the file associations. And we also need to reboot to dos to wipe the IE5 cache. And if we are still worried about spyware then we can use a firewall to prevent IE from even accessing the internet.

[ June 08, 2003: Message edited by: TheKnifeThrower ]

[Calum]

okay two things:

firstly, with that solution you would still have IE on your computer. the point is to stop it even existing so it cannot act as spyware. I have not found a single open source firewall for windows so i do not think it is safe to leave IE on there. How does deleting an icon contribute towards computer security? maybe this is obvious to windows users, perhaps i have been away from ms windows too long (however i don't think so!)

secondly:    

quote:everytime somebody asks for windows help I can always expect to see about 500 posts telling him to switch to linux.

there is NOTHING wrong with that so long as there is a good reason to do so. There are countless good reasons to do so and very few (and getting fewer) why you shouldn't switch to linux. i have said it before and i'll say it again. in this day and age there is NO excuse for a windows machine not to dual boot with linux. see this page for my general answer to ANY windows problem that anybody has. If you find anything wrong with it please let me know, by the way as i do not wish to come across as a zealot.

edit: and just for the record, you'll notice i at no point in this thread told you to use linux until you brought it up. however that said, i think you should use linux.  

[ June 09, 2003: Message edited by: Calum ]

[neo_x500]

Calum man, I swear I'm working on it, just a few more days till this download is finished, than I will be in the open source community, I'll be free. Maybe when I get the cd's burned I can have fun trashing the windows registry, that would be interesting, to see a windows operating system with no registry keys in it.
"It's time to take Mr. Gates out for a little swim with the fishes. *evil laugh*" *End mobster version of self*