Yahoo Forum Archive

Hey guys,

One of our liaisons ran into some "fake virus alert" malware at an archive
site last night while working on approving stories. She received a popup ad
that told her that her computer was corrupted and she needed to purchase
some software to fix it. (There's an explanation of these kinds of threats
at http://www.microsoft.com/security/antivirus/rogue.aspx).

We've done a little investigation and it seems there have been incidents in
the past when the adverts shown on some archive sites have included malware
of this kind. In this instance, the story was hosted at fanfiction.net, but
this is by no means the only site where this could happen. It can
potentially happen on any site that displays adverts supplied by one of the
advertising network, and on any story that happens to have that ad served
when it's displayed.

Please be alert to these kinds of scams and do not click on them. (The best
thing is to shut your browser down completely without closing that
particular window on its own if you can.)

You should make sure you have a good anti-virus program installed and keep
it up to date. There are several good free anti-virus solutions available,
for example:

--- AVG: http://free.avg.com/
--- Avast: http://www.avast.com

(Don't forget to have a firewall in place, too!)

You should also consider using adblocking software such as the Adblock Plus
extensions for various browsers, or switching on adblocking and popup
blocking if it's built into your browser (Internet Explorer 8 and Opera both
have some kind of adblocking support) to keep ads at bay.

We sincerely hope that, by taking these steps you can enjoy the 2010 MEFAs
without risking a computer melt-down. Happy nominating!

Marta (MEFA Admin.)

This is a very timely warning, Marta. Some of these adverts can even auto-download malware to your computer without you even touching them! You don't have to click on the ad; you just visit the page and WHAM! your computer is infected. I've had that happen to me twice: once when visiting fanfiction.net, but once when visiting a reputable non-fanfic site (The Atlantic Monthly). Even big-name places like The New York Times, CNN, and YouTube have occasionally hosted these infectious ads. Adblocking software is like a condom for your browser; I can't recommend it highly enough! And if you are using a PC and have Firefox as your browser, you might also consider installing the Firefox plugin NoScript; it preemptively blocks both Flash and Javascript as well as other nasty things from running unless you specifically allow them, allowing you much more control over what's permitted to run on your system.

Ithilwen

-----Original Message-----

From: telperion1

Sent: May 24, 2010 7:35 AM

To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com

Subject: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the MEFAs (Oh, My!)


Hey guys,


One of our liaisons ran into some "fake virus alert" malware at an archive

site last night while working on approving stories. She received a popup ad

that told her that her computer was corrupted and she needed to purchase

some software to fix it. (There's an explanation of these kinds of threats

at http://www.microsoft.com/security/antivirus/rogue.aspx).



We've done a little investigation and it seems there have been incidents in

the past when the adverts shown on some archive sites have included malware

of this kind. In this instance, the story was hosted at fanfiction.net, but

this is by no means the only site where this could happen. It can

potentially happen on any site that displays adverts supplied by one of the

advertising network, and on any story that happens to have that ad served

when it's displayed.



Please be alert to these kinds of scams and do not click on them. (The best

thing is to shut your browser down completely without closing that

particular window on its own if you can.)



You should make sure you have a good anti-virus program installed and keep

it up to date. There are several good free anti-virus solutions available,

for example:



--- AVG: http://free.avg.com/

--- Avast: http://www.avast.com



(Don't forget to have a firewall in place, too!)



You should also consider using adblocking software such as the Adblock Plus

extensions for various browsers, or switching on adblocking and popup

blocking if it's built into your browser (Internet Explorer 8 and Opera both

have some kind of adblocking support) to keep ads at bay.



We sincerely hope that, by taking these steps you can enjoy the 2010 MEFAs

without risking a computer melt-down. Happy nominating!



Marta (MEFA Admin.)

Hi there!

> We've done a little investigation and it seems there have been incidents in
> the past when the adverts shown on some archive sites have included
> malware of this kind. In this instance, the story was hosted at fanfiction.
> net, but this is by no means the only site where this could happen.

That is the major reason why I reset the primary URL for my nominated stories to a different place entirely. Unfortunately, I've heard of several viral infections originating from FFN.

Cuio mae.

Aeärwen

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I know for some stories this just won't work, but would it be possible to
suggest to authors that a story posted at, say SoA and FF.net use the SoA
location as the primary URL, with the FF.net address as a secondary
location? In that way, fewer people will need to be concerned about FF.net's
pesky pop up ads that still sneak through. (Also, if someone has started a
letter writing campaign to FF.net's ad provider, please let me know. I'll be
glad to throw my two cents into a politely worded email.)

And, an idea: Obviously some authors post exclusively to one site (guilty as
charged), but for those now concerned about the security of their host
website, a Blogger or Live Journal account can be a good alternate location
to post short to medium length pieces as well. I'd be happy to talk anyone
wishing to start a Live Journal account through the process of posting and
cuts, etc. and can be reached at this email address.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Letting the folks at ff.net know that their ad provider is serving up a problematic ad is a good idea, but I'm not sure how much it will change things. The problem is, it isn't simply ff.net's ad provider that is the problem - it's ALL the ad providers. Not a single ad service out there is 100% reliable about keeping bad ads off their network. Even Google Ads have served up malware-containing ads on occasion. ANY site, anywhere, that serves the reader ads is a security risk. That includes LiveJournal. And while I certainly agree that it would be nice for folks to use story links that go back to only ad-free sites, I'm not sure how we'd go about suggesting they do it.

The bottom line is, allowing any ads whatsoever to run on your computer is inherently risky. (Heck, allowing any Flash, Javascript, or Java applets served up by a third-party site to run on your computer is a security risk.) If you can install an ad-blocker, a Flash-blocker, or NoScript on your browser, you should definitely do so. Otherwsie it's just a matter of time before your computer is infected. These days, surfing the web without blocking software installed is an online form of Russian roulette.

Ithilwen


-----Original Message-----

From: Neume Indil

Sent: May 24, 2010 4:06 PM

To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the MEFAs (Oh, My!)


I know for some stories this just won't work, but would it be possible to

suggest to authors that a story posted at, say SoA and FF.net use the SoA

location as the primary URL, with the FF.net address as a secondary

location? In that way, fewer people will need to be concerned about FF.net's

pesky pop up ads that still sneak through. (Also, if someone has started a

letter writing campaign to FF.net's ad provider, please let me know. I'll be

glad to throw my two cents into a politely worded email.)



And, an idea: Obviously some authors post exclusively to one site (guilty as

charged), but for those now concerned about the security of their host

website, a Blogger or Live Journal account can be a good alternate location

to post short to medium length pieces as well. I'd be happy to talk anyone

wishing to start a Live Journal account through the process of posting and

cuts, etc. and can be reached at this email address.

Every site on the web is vulnerable to being infected with attacks like this, so just using other sites when possible doesn't solve the problem.... I recently did a paid account for the LJ community I moderate because the ads on LJ are very dangerous, and paid communities don't have ads. Ithilwen's recommendation to use a pop-up blocker and also seriously consider using Firefox (a much safer browser than IE) and getting their "NoScript" plugin which blocks Flash and JavaScript also (another major avenue of attack) is a must in this day and age.

Cactuskim




________________________________
From: Diana Nevins <dlnevins@earthlink.net>
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, May 24, 2010 6:50:28 AM
Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the MEFAs (Oh, My!)


This is a very timely warning, Marta. Some of these adverts can even auto-download malware to your computer without you even touching them! You don't have to click on the ad; you just visit the page and WHAM! your computer is infected. I've had that happen to me twice: once when visiting fanfiction.net, but once when visiting a reputable non-fanfic site (The Atlantic Monthly). Even big-name places like The New York Times, CNN, and YouTube have occasionally hosted these infectious ads. Adblocking software is like a condom for your browser; I can't recommend it highly enough! And if you are using a PC and have Firefox as your browser, you might also consider installing the Firefox plugin NoScript; it preemptively blocks both Flash and Javascript as well as other nasty things from running unless you specifically allow them, allowing you much more control over what's permitted to run on your system.

Ithilwen

-----Original Message-----

From: telperion1

Sent: May 24, 2010 7:35 AM

To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com

Subject: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the MEFAs (Oh, My!)

Hey guys,

One of our liaisons ran into some "fake virus alert" malware at an archive

site last night while working on approving stories. She received a popup ad

that told her that her computer was corrupted and she needed to purchase

some software to fix it. (There's an explanation of these kinds of threats

at http://www.microsoft.com/security/antivirus/rogue.aspx).

We've done a little investigation and it seems there have been incidents in

the past when the adverts shown on some archive sites have included malware

of this kind. In this instance, the story was hosted at fanfiction.net, but

this is by no means the only site where this could happen. It can

potentially happen on any site that displays adverts supplied by one of the

advertising network, and on any story that happens to have that ad served

when it's displayed.

Please be alert to these kinds of scams and do not click on them. (The best

thing is to shut your browser down completely without closing that

particular window on its own if you can.)

You should make sure you have a good anti-virus program installed and keep

it up to date. There are several good free anti-virus solutions available,

for example:

--- AVG: http://free.avg.com/

--- Avast: http://www.avast.com

(Don't forget to have a firewall in place, too!)

You should also consider using adblocking software such as the Adblock Plus

extensions for various browsers, or switching on adblocking and popup

blocking if it's built into your browser (Internet Explorer 8 and Opera both

have some kind of adblocking support) to keep ads at bay.

We sincerely hope that, by taking these steps you can enjoy the 2010 MEFAs

without risking a computer melt-down. Happy nominating!

Marta (MEFA Admin.)




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Ditto that Ithilwen, I was just posting about this and your first comment apparently while you were posting this ;p.

Cactuskim




________________________________
From: Diana Nevins <dlnevins@earthlink.net>
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, May 24, 2010 1:47:54 PM
Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the MEFAs (Oh, My!)


Letting the folks at ff.net know that their ad provider is serving up a problematic ad is a good idea, but I'm not sure how much it will change things. The problem is, it isn't simply ff.net's ad provider that is the problem - it's ALL the ad providers. Not a single ad service out there is 100% reliable about keeping bad ads off their network. Even Google Ads have served up malware-containing ads on occasion. ANY site, anywhere, that serves the reader ads is a security risk. That includes LiveJournal. And while I certainly agree that it would be nice for folks to use story links that go back to only ad-free sites, I'm not sure how we'd go about suggesting they do it.

The bottom line is, allowing any ads whatsoever to run on your computer is inherently risky. (Heck, allowing any Flash, Javascript, or Java applets served up by a third-party site to run on your computer is a security risk.) If you can install an ad-blocker, a Flash-blocker, or NoScript on your browser, you should definitely do so. Otherwsie it's just a matter of time before your computer is infected. These days, surfing the web without blocking software installed is an online form of Russian roulette.

Ithilwen

-----Original Message-----

From: Neume Indil

Sent: May 24, 2010 4:06 PM

To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the MEFAs (Oh, My!)

I know for some stories this just won't work, but would it be possible to

suggest to authors that a story posted at, say SoA and FF.net use the SoA

location as the primary URL, with the FF.net address as a secondary

location? In that way, fewer people will need to be concerned about FF.net's

pesky pop up ads that still sneak through. (Also, if someone has started a

letter writing campaign to FF.net's ad provider, please let me know. I'll be

glad to throw my two cents into a politely worded email.)

And, an idea: Obviously some authors post exclusively to one site (guilty as

charged), but for those now concerned about the security of their host

website, a Blogger or Live Journal account can be a good alternate location

to post short to medium length pieces as well. I'd be happy to talk anyone

wishing to start a Live Journal account through the process of posting and

cuts, etc. and can be reached at this email address.




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hiya Neume,

As a volunteer, I think it would do more damage than good to start
recommending that authors archive some places and not others. While it is
true that there's been a problem with viruses from FF.net, this isn't tied
to a certain story or even to a certain archive.

*Any* archive that displays ads (and that includes many besides FF.net...)
is vulnerable to these issues. Also, many authors and readers prefer FF.net
to other archives for various reasons, ranging from technical (they simply
like the site's features better) to personal (like, they have their most
polished version there). Perhaps most importantly, I don't want to get in
the business of encouraging people to use one archive over another. Given
this fandom's history, that could make some people think that stories at one
archive are more welcome at the MEFAs than another, which is just begging
for misunderstandings down the road. It's also simply not true.

I think it would be simpler and better (and safer!) in the long run, to just
have everyone take steps to make sure they're protected from viruses like
this.

Of course, you as the reader can make your own choice. Most browsers allow
you to see what URL you are about to click by hovering over it. If you don't
want to read at FF.net, it's okay to see if the story is posted elsewhere
and try to read it there, or to choose not to read it at all.

Marta

> -----Original Message-----
> From: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of Neume Indil
> Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 4:07 PM
> To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the MEFAs
> (Oh, My!)
>
>
>
> I know for some stories this just won't work, but would it be possible
> to
> suggest to authors that a story posted at, say SoA and FF.net use the
> SoA
> location as the primary URL, with the FF.net address as a secondary
> location? In that way, fewer people will need to be concerned about
> FF.net's
> pesky pop up ads that still sneak through. (Also, if someone has
> started a
> letter writing campaign to FF.net's ad provider, please let me know.
> I'll be
> glad to throw my two cents into a politely worded email.)
>
> And, an idea: Obviously some authors post exclusively to one site
> (guilty as
> charged), but for those now concerned about the security of their host
> website, a Blogger or Live Journal account can be a good alternate
> location
> to post short to medium length pieces as well. I'd be happy to talk
> anyone
> wishing to start a Live Journal account through the process of posting
> and
> cuts, etc. and can be reached at this email address.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

On browser safety: Firefox (version 3.x) is certainly safer than IE6, and anyone still running IE6 should definitely look into upgrading to IE8, if for whatever reason they can't/won't switch to Firefox.

Whichever browser you use, /always/ make sure you're running the latest version that you can run (obviously some people on older hardware may not always be able to run the most recent update).

Nath

.............................................~o^=o>
.....................................~o^=o>
..............................~o^=o>
........................~o^=o>

--- On Mon, 24/5/10, kimberli leal <kim@flash.net> wrote:

> From: kimberli leal <kim@flash.net>
> Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the MEFAs (Oh, My!)
> To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Monday, 24 May, 2010, 21:49
> Every site on the web is vulnerable
> to being infected with attacks like this,  so just
> using other sites when possible doesn't solve the
> problem.... I recently did a paid account for the LJ
> community I moderate because the ads on LJ are very
> dangerous,  and paid communities don't have ads.
> Ithilwen's recommendation to use a pop-up blocker and also
> seriously consider using Firefox (a much safer browser than
> IE) and getting their "NoScript" plugin which blocks Flash
> and JavaScript also (another major avenue of attack) is a
> must in this day and age.
>
> Cactuskim
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Diana Nevins <dlnevins@earthlink.net>
> To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Mon, May 24, 2010 6:50:28 AM
> Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses
> and the MEFAs (Oh, My!)
>
>  
> This is a very timely warning, Marta.  Some of these
> adverts can even auto-download malware to your computer
> without you even touching them!  You don't have to
> click on the ad; you just visit the page and WHAM! your
> computer is infected.  I've had that happen to me
> twice: once when visiting fanfiction.net, but once when
> visiting a reputable non-fanfic site (The Atlantic
> Monthly).  Even big-name places like The New York
> Times, CNN, and YouTube have occasionally hosted these
> infectious ads.  Adblocking software is like a condom
> for your browser; I can't recommend it highly enough! 
> And if you are using a PC and have Firefox as your browser,
> you might also consider installing the Firefox plugin
> NoScript; it preemptively blocks both Flash and Javascript
> as well as other nasty things from running unless you
> specifically allow them, allowing you much more control over
> what's permitted to run on your system.
>
> Ithilwen
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> From: telperion1
>
> Sent: May 24, 2010 7:35 AM
>
> To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
>
> Subject: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and
> the MEFAs (Oh, My!)
>
> Hey guys,
>
> One of our liaisons ran into some "fake virus alert"
> malware at an archive
>
> site last night while working on approving stories. She
> received a popup ad
>
> that told her that her computer was corrupted and she
> needed to purchase
>
> some software to fix it. (There's an explanation of these
> kinds of threats
>
> at http://www.microsoft.com/security/antivirus/rogue.aspx).
>
> We've done a little investigation and it seems there have
> been incidents in
>
> the past when the adverts shown on some archive sites have
> included malware
>
> of this kind. In this instance, the story was hosted at
> fanfiction.net, but
>
> this is by no means the only site where this could happen.
> It can
>
> potentially happen on any site that displays adverts
> supplied by one of the
>
> advertising network, and on any story that happens to have
> that ad served
>
> when it's displayed.
>
> Please be alert to these kinds of scams and do not click on
> them. (The best
>
> thing is to shut your browser down completely without
> closing that
>
> particular window on its own if you can.)
>
> You should make sure you have a good anti-virus program
> installed and keep
>
> it up to date. There are several good free anti-virus
> solutions available,
>
> for example:
>
> --- AVG: http://free.avg.com/
>
> --- Avast: http://www.avast.com
>
> (Don't forget to have a firewall in place, too!)
>
> You should also consider using adblocking software such as
> the Adblock Plus
>
> extensions for various browsers, or switching on adblocking
> and popup
>
> blocking if it's built into your browser (Internet Explorer
> 8 and Opera both
>
> have some kind of adblocking support) to keep ads at bay.
>
> We sincerely hope that, by taking these steps you can enjoy
> the 2010 MEFAs
>
> without risking a computer melt-down. Happy nominating!
>
> Marta (MEFA Admin.)
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>     MEFAwards-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>

Just a point of clarification:

"As a volunteer, I think it would do more damage than good to start
recommending that authors archive some places and not others. "

That's not at all what I was suggesting. My point was that *if* someone
posts at more than one site, they have the option now of providing 2
addresses on the nomination form. Why not suggest they provide both since
this problem has arisen for more than one person on more than one occasion?
Iirc, the second web address was suggested after an archive crashed or was
hacked during the awards last year; this might be another use for a feature
that's new to the proceedings, but may not be well-known (yet).

Sorry I wasn't clear before,
Neu

On Mon, May 24, 2010 at 4:38 PM, telperion1 <marta.fandom@gmail.com> wrote:

>
>
> Hiya Neume,
>
> As a volunteer, I think it would do more damage than good to start
> recommending that authors archive some places and not others. While it is
> true that there's been a problem with viruses from FF.net, this isn't tied
> to a certain story or even to a certain archive.
>
> *Any* archive that displays ads (and that includes many besides FF.net...)
> is vulnerable to these issues. Also, many authors and readers prefer FF.net
> to other archives for various reasons, ranging from technical (they simply
> like the site's features better) to personal (like, they have their most
> polished version there). Perhaps most importantly, I don't want to get in
> the business of encouraging people to use one archive over another. Given
> this fandom's history, that could make some people think that stories at
> one
> archive are more welcome at the MEFAs than another, which is just begging
> for misunderstandings down the road. It's also simply not true.
>
> I think it would be simpler and better (and safer!) in the long run, to
> just
> have everyone take steps to make sure they're protected from viruses like
> this.
>
> Of course, you as the reader can make your own choice. Most browsers allow
> you to see what URL you are about to click by hovering over it. If you
> don't
> want to read at FF.net, it's okay to see if the story is posted elsewhere
> and try to read it there, or to choose not to read it at all.
>
> Marta
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com> [mailto:
> MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>] On
> > Behalf Of Neume Indil
> > Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 4:07 PM
> > To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>
> > Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the MEFAs
> > (Oh, My!)
> >
> >
> >
> > I know for some stories this just won't work, but would it be possible
> > to
> > suggest to authors that a story posted at, say SoA and FF.net use the
> > SoA
> > location as the primary URL, with the FF.net address as a secondary
> > location? In that way, fewer people will need to be concerned about
> > FF.net's
> > pesky pop up ads that still sneak through. (Also, if someone has
> > started a
> > letter writing campaign to FF.net's ad provider, please let me know.
> > I'll be
> > glad to throw my two cents into a politely worded email.)
> >
> > And, an idea: Obviously some authors post exclusively to one site
> > (guilty as
> > charged), but for those now concerned about the security of their host
> > website, a Blogger or Live Journal account can be a good alternate
> > location
> > to post short to medium length pieces as well. I'd be happy to talk
> > anyone
> > wishing to start a Live Journal account through the process of posting
> > and
> > cuts, etc. and can be reached at this email address.
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Neume,

You've got nothing to apologize for; I mis-spoke because I was in a hurry to
answer your email before heading out. I meant to say that I think it will do
more damage than good, to encourage people to *link* to one archive over
another. This is for a few reasons.

Most importantly: some people are very "territorial" about their favorite
archives. This comes from "fandom wars," where one site is put down and some
fandom members would say that the "good" fic is on a different site. For
many people being told not to use FF.net has some icky associations. (And
these associations probably apply to other sites, too, for different
people.) I'm not being dismissive of these feelings; for some people being
told "Archive [x] isn't welcome here" will be upsetting in a very real way.
Because we are an awards, and that necessarily involves winners and losers,
I think it is important to make everyone feel like they are equally a part
of the MEFA family as much as we can before those winners are announced. It
happens to be true that all authors are welcome, wherever they prefer to
post. I don't want to give people the wrong impression.

I know this isn't what you meant, but I don't want people to associate the
MEFAs with those past events. I think telling authors not to link to a
certain archive would have that association for some people - and fair or
not, accurate or not, that's something I want to avoid.

Also: when I tell someone not to use site [x] because the ads there may have
viruses, to a lot of people that means that other sites I don't list are
safe. But I can't guarantee that. Nobody can. And this isn't limited just to
sites that use ads. Anything that allows embedded content (videos and so on)
isn't safe, either. That's a big part of why I am reluctant to single out
sites to be avoided where possible, because it gives the illusion that sites
not listed are safe. And why I still wouldn't want to do that, even if the
concern I mentioned above, about avoiding memories of past fannish events,
wasn't an issue.

The only way to be really safe is to take safety steps like the ones people
have described in this thread. Have a good anti-virus program; use
ad-blockers; that kind of thing.

Anyway, I hope this clears up some of the confusion. Sorry if I wasn't clear
before.

Marta

> -----Original Message-----
> From: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of Neume Indil
> Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 2:17 AM
> To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the MEFAs
> (Oh, My!)
>
> Just a point of clarification:
>
> "As a volunteer, I think it would do more damage than good to start
> recommending that authors archive some places and not others. "
>
> That's not at all what I was suggesting. My point was that *if* someone
> posts at more than one site, they have the option now of providing 2
> addresses on the nomination form. Why not suggest they provide both
> since
> this problem has arisen for more than one person on more than one
> occasion?
> Iirc, the second web address was suggested after an archive crashed or
> was
> hacked during the awards last year; this might be another use for a
> feature
> that's new to the proceedings, but may not be well-known (yet).
>
> Sorry I wasn't clear before,
> Neu
>
> On Mon, May 24, 2010 at 4:38 PM, telperion1 <marta.fandom@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Hiya Neume,
> >
> > As a volunteer, I think it would do more damage than good to start
> > recommending that authors archive some places and not others. While
> it is
> > true that there's been a problem with viruses from FF.net, this isn't
> tied
> > to a certain story or even to a certain archive.
> >
> > *Any* archive that displays ads (and that includes many besides
> FF.net...)
> > is vulnerable to these issues. Also, many authors and readers prefer
> FF.net
> > to other archives for various reasons, ranging from technical (they
> simply
> > like the site's features better) to personal (like, they have their
> most
> > polished version there). Perhaps most importantly, I don't want to
> get in
> > the business of encouraging people to use one archive over another.
> Given
> > this fandom's history, that could make some people think that stories
> at
> > one
> > archive are more welcome at the MEFAs than another, which is just
> begging
> > for misunderstandings down the road. It's also simply not true.
> >
> > I think it would be simpler and better (and safer!) in the long run,
> to
> > just
> > have everyone take steps to make sure they're protected from viruses
> like
> > this.
> >
> > Of course, you as the reader can make your own choice. Most browsers
> allow
> > you to see what URL you are about to click by hovering over it. If
> you
> > don't
> > want to read at FF.net, it's okay to see if the story is posted
> elsewhere
> > and try to read it there, or to choose not to read it at all.
> >
> > Marta
> >
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>
> [mailto:
> > MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>] On
> > > Behalf Of Neume Indil
> > > Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 4:07 PM
> > > To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the
> MEFAs
> > > (Oh, My!)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I know for some stories this just won't work, but would it be
> possible
> > > to
> > > suggest to authors that a story posted at, say SoA and FF.net use
> the
> > > SoA
> > > location as the primary URL, with the FF.net address as a secondary
> > > location? In that way, fewer people will need to be concerned about
> > > FF.net's
> > > pesky pop up ads that still sneak through. (Also, if someone has
> > > started a
> > > letter writing campaign to FF.net's ad provider, please let me
> know.
> > > I'll be
> > > glad to throw my two cents into a politely worded email.)
> > >
> > > And, an idea: Obviously some authors post exclusively to one site
> > > (guilty as
> > > charged), but for those now concerned about the security of their
> host
> > > website, a Blogger or Live Journal account can be a good alternate
> > > location
> > > to post short to medium length pieces as well. I'd be happy to talk
> > > anyone
> > > wishing to start a Live Journal account through the process of
> posting
> > > and
> > > cuts, etc. and can be reached at this email address.
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Hi Neume,

I'd like to clarify on this that the second URL provided on the nomination form this year is not available to readers (it's only in the "nomination notes"), so even with both URLs provided there is still only one link publicly available for the story.

Next year's site will have both URLs (as links) available to readers (if the author chooses to provide both).

Aranel
MEFA Tech Support

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, Neume Indil <neumeindil@...> wrote:
>
> Just a point of clarification:
>
> "As a volunteer, I think it would do more damage than good to start
> recommending that authors archive some places and not others. "
>
> That's not at all what I was suggesting. My point was that *if* someone
> posts at more than one site, they have the option now of providing 2
> addresses on the nomination form. Why not suggest they provide both since
> this problem has arisen for more than one person on more than one occasion?
> Iirc, the second web address was suggested after an archive crashed or was
> hacked during the awards last year; this might be another use for a feature
> that's new to the proceedings, but may not be well-known (yet).
>
> Sorry I wasn't clear before,
> Neu
>
> On Mon, May 24, 2010 at 4:38 PM, telperion1 <marta.fandom@...> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Hiya Neume,
> >
> > As a volunteer, I think it would do more damage than good to start
> > recommending that authors archive some places and not others. While it is
> > true that there's been a problem with viruses from FF.net, this isn't tied
> > to a certain story or even to a certain archive.
> >
> > *Any* archive that displays ads (and that includes many besides FF.net...)
> > is vulnerable to these issues. Also, many authors and readers prefer FF.net
> > to other archives for various reasons, ranging from technical (they simply
> > like the site's features better) to personal (like, they have their most
> > polished version there). Perhaps most importantly, I don't want to get in
> > the business of encouraging people to use one archive over another. Given
> > this fandom's history, that could make some people think that stories at
> > one
> > archive are more welcome at the MEFAs than another, which is just begging
> > for misunderstandings down the road. It's also simply not true.
> >
> > I think it would be simpler and better (and safer!) in the long run, to
> > just
> > have everyone take steps to make sure they're protected from viruses like
> > this.
> >
> > Of course, you as the reader can make your own choice. Most browsers allow
> > you to see what URL you are about to click by hovering over it. If you
> > don't
> > want to read at FF.net, it's okay to see if the story is posted elsewhere
> > and try to read it there, or to choose not to read it at all.
> >
> > Marta
> >
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com> [mailto:
> > MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>] On
> > > Behalf Of Neume Indil
> > > Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 4:07 PM
> > > To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the MEFAs
> > > (Oh, My!)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I know for some stories this just won't work, but would it be possible
> > > to
> > > suggest to authors that a story posted at, say SoA and FF.net use the
> > > SoA
> > > location as the primary URL, with the FF.net address as a secondary
> > > location? In that way, fewer people will need to be concerned about
> > > FF.net's
> > > pesky pop up ads that still sneak through. (Also, if someone has
> > > started a
> > > letter writing campaign to FF.net's ad provider, please let me know.
> > > I'll be
> > > glad to throw my two cents into a politely worded email.)
> > >
> > > And, an idea: Obviously some authors post exclusively to one site
> > > (guilty as
> > > charged), but for those now concerned about the security of their host
> > > website, a Blogger or Live Journal account can be a good alternate
> > > location
> > > to post short to medium length pieces as well. I'd be happy to talk
> > > anyone
> > > wishing to start a Live Journal account through the process of posting
> > > and
> > > cuts, etc. and can be reached at this email address.
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

I had a good security filter that stopped and deleted the trojan virus after just opening link to a story on fanfiction - but the virus had already infected my computer.

Tanaqui tried to help, but the system was so compromised that I could not even open a gmail link. Linaewen, bless her, helped me add Adblock to my system - hopefully, this will help. However, I can no longer use any of the yahoo services through IE. I keep getting error messages, so I'm using Firefox.

However, and this should be taken into account when one considers whether or not to let other 'readers' know about such problems... There are folks out there as computer-illiterate as I. Only with the help of friends and family was I able to 'save' my computer.

I will NOT read anything on fanfiction or any site that takes ads from now on.... even with the adblock, and a good virus protection system, I will not chance this horror. It took days to get my computer back - after listening to the poor thing hiccup for three days. I do NOT have the funds to use Geek Squad and other such pay-through-the-nose help avenues.

I sorely rue this action, but I cannot chance the loss of my computer.

Blessings,
Agape

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "telperion1" <marta.fandom@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Neume,
>
> You've got nothing to apologize for; I mis-spoke because I was in a hurry to
> answer your email before heading out. I meant to say that I think it will do
> more damage than good, to encourage people to *link* to one archive over
> another. This is for a few reasons.
>
> Most importantly: some people are very "territorial" about their favorite
> archives. This comes from "fandom wars," where one site is put down and some
> fandom members would say that the "good" fic is on a different site. For
> many people being told not to use FF.net has some icky associations. (And
> these associations probably apply to other sites, too, for different
> people.) I'm not being dismissive of these feelings; for some people being
> told "Archive [x] isn't welcome here" will be upsetting in a very real way.
> Because we are an awards, and that necessarily involves winners and losers,
> I think it is important to make everyone feel like they are equally a part
> of the MEFA family as much as we can before those winners are announced. It
> happens to be true that all authors are welcome, wherever they prefer to
> post. I don't want to give people the wrong impression.
>
> I know this isn't what you meant, but I don't want people to associate the
> MEFAs with those past events. I think telling authors not to link to a
> certain archive would have that association for some people - and fair or
> not, accurate or not, that's something I want to avoid.
>
> Also: when I tell someone not to use site [x] because the ads there may have
> viruses, to a lot of people that means that other sites I don't list are
> safe. But I can't guarantee that. Nobody can. And this isn't limited just to
> sites that use ads. Anything that allows embedded content (videos and so on)
> isn't safe, either. That's a big part of why I am reluctant to single out
> sites to be avoided where possible, because it gives the illusion that sites
> not listed are safe. And why I still wouldn't want to do that, even if the
> concern I mentioned above, about avoiding memories of past fannish events,
> wasn't an issue.
>
> The only way to be really safe is to take safety steps like the ones people
> have described in this thread. Have a good anti-virus program; use
> ad-blockers; that kind of thing.
>
> Anyway, I hope this clears up some of the confusion. Sorry if I wasn't clear
> before.
>
> Marta
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com] On
> > Behalf Of Neume Indil
> > Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 2:17 AM
> > To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the MEFAs
> > (Oh, My!)
> >
> > Just a point of clarification:
> >
> > "As a volunteer, I think it would do more damage than good to start
> > recommending that authors archive some places and not others. "
> >
> > That's not at all what I was suggesting. My point was that *if* someone
> > posts at more than one site, they have the option now of providing 2
> > addresses on the nomination form. Why not suggest they provide both
> > since
> > this problem has arisen for more than one person on more than one
> > occasion?
> > Iirc, the second web address was suggested after an archive crashed or
> > was
> > hacked during the awards last year; this might be another use for a
> > feature
> > that's new to the proceedings, but may not be well-known (yet).
> >
> > Sorry I wasn't clear before,
> > Neu
> >
> > On Mon, May 24, 2010 at 4:38 PM, telperion1 <marta.fandom@...>
> > wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Hiya Neume,
> > >
> > > As a volunteer, I think it would do more damage than good to start
> > > recommending that authors archive some places and not others. While
> > it is
> > > true that there's been a problem with viruses from FF.net, this isn't
> > tied
> > > to a certain story or even to a certain archive.
> > >
> > > *Any* archive that displays ads (and that includes many besides
> > FF.net...)
> > > is vulnerable to these issues. Also, many authors and readers prefer
> > FF.net
> > > to other archives for various reasons, ranging from technical (they
> > simply
> > > like the site's features better) to personal (like, they have their
> > most
> > > polished version there). Perhaps most importantly, I don't want to
> > get in
> > > the business of encouraging people to use one archive over another.
> > Given
> > > this fandom's history, that could make some people think that stories
> > at
> > > one
> > > archive are more welcome at the MEFAs than another, which is just
> > begging
> > > for misunderstandings down the road. It's also simply not true.
> > >
> > > I think it would be simpler and better (and safer!) in the long run,
> > to
> > > just
> > > have everyone take steps to make sure they're protected from viruses
> > like
> > > this.
> > >
> > > Of course, you as the reader can make your own choice. Most browsers
> > allow
> > > you to see what URL you are about to click by hovering over it. If
> > you
> > > don't
> > > want to read at FF.net, it's okay to see if the story is posted
> > elsewhere
> > > and try to read it there, or to choose not to read it at all.
> > >
> > > Marta
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>
> > [mailto:
> > > MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>] On
> > > > Behalf Of Neume Indil
> > > > Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 4:07 PM
> > > > To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > > Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the
> > MEFAs
> > > > (Oh, My!)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I know for some stories this just won't work, but would it be
> > possible
> > > > to
> > > > suggest to authors that a story posted at, say SoA and FF.net use
> > the
> > > > SoA
> > > > location as the primary URL, with the FF.net address as a secondary
> > > > location? In that way, fewer people will need to be concerned about
> > > > FF.net's
> > > > pesky pop up ads that still sneak through. (Also, if someone has
> > > > started a
> > > > letter writing campaign to FF.net's ad provider, please let me
> > know.
> > > > I'll be
> > > > glad to throw my two cents into a politely worded email.)
> > > >
> > > > And, an idea: Obviously some authors post exclusively to one site
> > > > (guilty as
> > > > charged), but for those now concerned about the security of their
> > host
> > > > website, a Blogger or Live Journal account can be a good alternate
> > > > location
> > > > to post short to medium length pieces as well. I'd be happy to talk
> > > > anyone
> > > > wishing to start a Live Journal account through the process of
> > posting
> > > > and
> > > > cuts, etc. and can be reached at this email address.
> > > >
> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>

Ah! Apparently I missed the part about them not being available this year,
or read that they would be for next year as that they'd be ready for this
year's awards. My mistake.

All settled now. :)

On Tue, May 25, 2010 at 10:06 AM, Aranel <araneltook@gmail.com> wrote:

>
>
> Hi Neume,
>
> I'd like to clarify on this that the second URL provided on the nomination
> form this year is not available to readers (it's only in the "nomination
> notes"), so even with both URLs provided there is still only one link
> publicly available for the story.
>
> Next year's site will have both URLs (as links) available to readers (if
> the author chooses to provide both).
>
> Aranel
> MEFA Tech Support
>
>
> --- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>, Neume
> Indil <neumeindil@...> wrote:
> >
> > Just a point of clarification:
> >
> > "As a volunteer, I think it would do more damage than good to start
> > recommending that authors archive some places and not others. "
> >
> > That's not at all what I was suggesting. My point was that *if* someone
> > posts at more than one site, they have the option now of providing 2
> > addresses on the nomination form. Why not suggest they provide both since
> > this problem has arisen for more than one person on more than one
> occasion?
> > Iirc, the second web address was suggested after an archive crashed or
> was
> > hacked during the awards last year; this might be another use for a
> feature
> > that's new to the proceedings, but may not be well-known (yet).
> >
> > Sorry I wasn't clear before,
> > Neu
> >
> > On Mon, May 24, 2010 at 4:38 PM, telperion1 <marta.fandom@...> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Hiya Neume,
> > >
> > > As a volunteer, I think it would do more damage than good to start
> > > recommending that authors archive some places and not others. While it
> is
> > > true that there's been a problem with viruses from FF.net, this isn't
> tied
> > > to a certain story or even to a certain archive.
> > >
> > > *Any* archive that displays ads (and that includes many besides
> FF.net...)
> > > is vulnerable to these issues. Also, many authors and readers prefer
> FF.net
> > > to other archives for various reasons, ranging from technical (they
> simply
> > > like the site's features better) to personal (like, they have their
> most
> > > polished version there). Perhaps most importantly, I don't want to get
> in
> > > the business of encouraging people to use one archive over another.
> Given
> > > this fandom's history, that could make some people think that stories
> at
> > > one
> > > archive are more welcome at the MEFAs than another, which is just
> begging
> > > for misunderstandings down the road. It's also simply not true.
> > >
> > > I think it would be simpler and better (and safer!) in the long run, to
> > > just
> > > have everyone take steps to make sure they're protected from viruses
> like
> > > this.
> > >
> > > Of course, you as the reader can make your own choice. Most browsers
> allow
> > > you to see what URL you are about to click by hovering over it. If you
> > > don't
> > > want to read at FF.net, it's okay to see if the story is posted
> elsewhere
> > > and try to read it there, or to choose not to read it at all.
> > >
> > > Marta
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com><MEFAwards%
> 40yahoogroups.com> [mailto:
> > > MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com> <MEFAwards%
> 40yahoogroups.com>] On
> > > > Behalf Of Neume Indil
> > > > Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 4:07 PM
> > > > To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com><MEFAwards%
> 40yahoogroups.com>
> > > > Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the
> MEFAs
> > > > (Oh, My!)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I know for some stories this just won't work, but would it be
> possible
> > > > to
> > > > suggest to authors that a story posted at, say SoA and FF.net use the
> > > > SoA
> > > > location as the primary URL, with the FF.net address as a secondary
> > > > location? In that way, fewer people will need to be concerned about
> > > > FF.net's
> > > > pesky pop up ads that still sneak through. (Also, if someone has
> > > > started a
> > > > letter writing campaign to FF.net's ad provider, please let me know.
> > > > I'll be
> > > > glad to throw my two cents into a politely worded email.)
> > > >
> > > > And, an idea: Obviously some authors post exclusively to one site
> > > > (guilty as
> > > > charged), but for those now concerned about the security of their
> host
> > > > website, a Blogger or Live Journal account can be a good alternate
> > > > location
> > > > to post short to medium length pieces as well. I'd be happy to talk
> > > > anyone
> > > > wishing to start a Live Journal account through the process of
> posting
> > > > and
> > > > cuts, etc. and can be reached at this email address.
> > > >
> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Agape,

If you have the installation disk for your Operating system, then you can always reformat your hard drive and get a whole new start and have a completely clean healthy system . You just need to make sure you back up all of your files first (reformatting/re-installing the operating system will wipe out EVERYTHING on your Hard drive) after you re-install the OS, you then install your Anti-virus right away and Update the OS so that it has the latest updates (your installation disk will not have the latest patches from Microsoft). Then add in any other security software you use like Ad-block and re-install all of your other programs, and finally copy your personal files from the back-up back onto your now clean Hard drive.

If you go to Microsoft's site, they should have instructions on how to reformat/re-install Windows OS. There are also other members here who have had lots of experience doing this who might be able to help. Sometimes when a system gets hit badly, reformatting is the only way to get it healthy again.

As for using Firefox; I would recommend staying with firefox, it is Much more secure than even IE8... Sorry, I know there are some Die-hard IE users, but it is just a totally unsafe platform because of a combination of it's dependence on 'Active-X' and Microsoft's truly horrid record of not patching potential security problems when they are pointed out until AFTER someone starts to exploit them. I have several people in my LJ group who have been hit repeatedly with Trojans (Monthly) and when they finally switched to Firefox, they were not been hit again. I have read several articles that explaine in great detail what the problem is with all versions of IE, and can probably dig them out if necessary.

BTW, I have been using Firefox, and before that Netscape (also Mozilla) for 8 years, and have NEVER been hit at ff.net, not even once. For a long time I scratched my head and wondered about Why I never had the problems others did, but after researching IE, I'm not scratching my head any more.

Re Antivirus protection; there are lots of places and people that say that the free Antivirus programs are just as good as the paid programs. IMO you get what you pay for. If you are at ground Zero... the small group of people hit with something totally new Before it has been reported to any of the AV groups or MS so that a patch/protection can be made and issued, you are going down *sorry*, no way around that, but the good news it that very few people are in that group... I was ground Zero 7 years ago with Blaster Worm and Sasser Worm . From the time those hit the net, to the time Norton had patches pushed out AND a fix for those who had been hit at ground Zero (like me), was about 36 hours. That's pretty impressive. I use 'Norton 360 Premier addition' (Norton's top of the line suit) it not only has Antivirus, you get an excellent firewall (Microsoft's firewall;especially XP sucks), you also get Anti-spyware and add blocking and other
security features... it is a total security suit. It ALSO will automatically do lots of maintenance that we frequently forget to do that slow down our computers, like scans, de-fraging your Hard drive and it can even be set to do auto back up for you (including 2GB of on-line storage).

I'm not saying that everyone should all run out and get it, but I will say that I have been using Norton 360 premier edition exclusively (no other security programs at all), and Firefox (with the anti-script plug-in) for the last 5 years on an 8 year old computer running XP professional, and I have not been hit with ANYTHING in that whole time dispute the fact that my Hobby (photomanipulation) involves doing searches that tend to dump you into some very high risk places. Will that Always be the case? Naw, I could still get nailed at ground Zero like I did 7 years ago... and with my luck probably will ;p. But keeping top of the line security installed and Backing up obsessively to protect against bad luck or hardware failure, is the best you can do.

Cactuskim









________________________________
From: agape4rivendell <agape4rivendell@gmail.com>
To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, May 25, 2010 12:18:36 PM
Subject: [MEFAwards] Re: Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the MEFAs (Oh, My!)


I had a good security filter that stopped and deleted the trojan virus after just opening link to a story on fanfiction - but the virus had already infected my computer.

Tanaqui tried to help, but the system was so compromised that I could not even open a gmail link. Linaewen, bless her, helped me add Adblock to my system - hopefully, this will help. However, I can no longer use any of the yahoo services through IE. I keep getting error messages, so I'm using Firefox.

However, and this should be taken into account when one considers whether or not to let other 'readers' know about such problems... There are folks out there as computer-illiterate as I. Only with the help of friends and family was I able to 'save' my computer.

I will NOT read anything on fanfiction or any site that takes ads from now on.... even with the adblock, and a good virus protection system, I will not chance this horror. It took days to get my computer back - after listening to the poor thing hiccup for three days. I do NOT have the funds to use Geek Squad and other such pay-through-the-nose help avenues.

I sorely rue this action, but I cannot chance the loss of my computer.

Blessings,
Agape

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "telperion1" <marta.fandom@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Neume,
>
> You've got nothing to apologize for; I mis-spoke because I was in a hurry to
> answer your email before heading out. I meant to say that I think it will do
> more damage than good, to encourage people to *link* to one archive over
> another. This is for a few reasons.
>
> Most importantly: some people are very "territorial" about their favorite
> archives. This comes from "fandom wars," where one site is put down and some
> fandom members would say that the "good" fic is on a different site. For
> many people being told not to use FF.net has some icky associations. (And
> these associations probably apply to other sites, too, for different
> people.) I'm not being dismissive of these feelings; for some people being
> told "Archive [x] isn't welcome here" will be upsetting in a very real way.
> Because we are an awards, and that necessarily involves winners and losers,
> I think it is important to make everyone feel like they are equally a part
> of the MEFA family as much as we can before those winners are announced. It
> happens to be true that all authors are welcome, wherever they prefer to
> post. I don't want to give people the wrong impression.
>
> I know this isn't what you meant, but I don't want people to associate the
> MEFAs with those past events. I think telling authors not to link to a
> certain archive would have that association for some people - and fair or
> not, accurate or not, that's something I want to avoid.
>
> Also: when I tell someone not to use site [x] because the ads there may have
> viruses, to a lot of people that means that other sites I don't list are
> safe. But I can't guarantee that. Nobody can. And this isn't limited just to
> sites that use ads. Anything that allows embedded content (videos and so on)
> isn't safe, either. That's a big part of why I am reluctant to single out
> sites to be avoided where possible, because it gives the illusion that sites
> not listed are safe. And why I still wouldn't want to do that, even if the
> concern I mentioned above, about avoiding memories of past fannish events,
> wasn't an issue.
>
> The only way to be really safe is to take safety steps like the ones people
> have described in this thread. Have a good anti-virus program; use
> ad-blockers; that kind of thing.
>
> Anyway, I hope this clears up some of the confusion. Sorry if I wasn't clear
> before.
>
> Marta
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com] On
> > Behalf Of Neume Indil
> > Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 2:17 AM
> > To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the MEFAs
> > (Oh, My!)
> >
> > Just a point of clarification:
> >
> > "As a volunteer, I think it would do more damage than good to start
> > recommending that authors archive some places and not others. "
> >
> > That's not at all what I was suggesting. My point was that *if* someone
> > posts at more than one site, they have the option now of providing 2
> > addresses on the nomination form. Why not suggest they provide both
> > since
> > this problem has arisen for more than one person on more than one
> > occasion?
> > Iirc, the second web address was suggested after an archive crashed or
> > was
> > hacked during the awards last year; this might be another use for a
> > feature
> > that's new to the proceedings, but may not be well-known (yet).
> >
> > Sorry I wasn't clear before,
> > Neu
> >
> > On Mon, May 24, 2010 at 4:38 PM, telperion1 <marta.fandom@...>
> > wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Hiya Neume,
> > >
> > > As a volunteer, I think it would do more damage than good to start
> > > recommending that authors archive some places and not others. While
> > it is
> > > true that there's been a problem with viruses from FF.net, this isn't
> > tied
> > > to a certain story or even to a certain archive.
> > >
> > > *Any* archive that displays ads (and that includes many besides
> > FF.net...)
> > > is vulnerable to these issues. Also, many authors and readers prefer
> > FF.net
> > > to other archives for various reasons, ranging from technical (they
> > simply
> > > like the site's features better) to personal (like, they have their
> > most
> > > polished version there). Perhaps most importantly, I don't want to
> > get in
> > > the business of encouraging people to use one archive over another.
> > Given
> > > this fandom's history, that could make some people think that stories
> > at
> > > one
> > > archive are more welcome at the MEFAs than another, which is just
> > begging
> > > for misunderstandings down the road. It's also simply not true.
> > >
> > > I think it would be simpler and better (and safer!) in the long run,
> > to
> > > just
> > > have everyone take steps to make sure they're protected from viruses
> > like
> > > this.
> > >
> > > Of course, you as the reader can make your own choice. Most browsers
> > allow
> > > you to see what URL you are about to click by hovering over it. If
> > you
> > > don't
> > > want to read at FF.net, it's okay to see if the story is posted
> > elsewhere
> > > and try to read it there, or to choose not to read it at all.
> > >
> > > Marta
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>
> > [mailto:
> > > MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>] On
> > > > Behalf Of Neume Indil
> > > > Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 4:07 PM
> > > > To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > > Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the
> > MEFAs
> > > > (Oh, My!)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I know for some stories this just won't work, but would it be
> > possible
> > > > to
> > > > suggest to authors that a story posted at, say SoA and FF.net use
> > the
> > > > SoA
> > > > location as the primary URL, with the FF.net address as a secondary
> > > > location? In that way, fewer people will need to be concerned about
> > > > FF.net's
> > > > pesky pop up ads that still sneak through. (Also, if someone has
> > > > started a
> > > > letter writing campaign to FF.net's ad provider, please let me
> > know.
> > > > I'll be
> > > > glad to throw my two cents into a politely worded email.)
> > > >
> > > > And, an idea: Obviously some authors post exclusively to one site
> > > > (guilty as
> > > > charged), but for those now concerned about the security of their
> > host
> > > > website, a Blogger or Live Journal account can be a good alternate
> > > > location
> > > > to post short to medium length pieces as well. I'd be happy to talk
> > > > anyone
> > > > wishing to start a Live Journal account through the process of
> > posting
> > > > and
> > > > cuts, etc. and can be reached at this email address.
> > > >
> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Great post, Cactuskim!

Another useful tip is to get in the habit of backing up all the contents of your computer's hard drive onto a separate, portable hard drive at regular intervals. If you're using a Mac running Leopard or Snow Leopard, the built-in Time machine function makes this easy; I know it can be done with PCs running Windows and Linux as well, although I don't know the details for those systems. If you have a separate up-to-date backup disk, in the event you ever DO have to totally reformat your computer's hard drive, it's not a total catastrophe. You can restore your entire system from the backup hard drive, and lose nothing. It's really cheap insurance against computer disasters such as a nasty virus attack or a hard drive failure. Learn how to back up your own computer's hard drive, and then do it religiously! In the long run, it's worth it.

Ithilwen

-----Original Message-----

From: kimberli leal

Sent: May 25, 2010 8:23 PM

To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Re: Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the MEFAs (Oh, My!)


Hi Agape,

If you have the installation disk for your Operating system, then you can always reformat your hard drive and get a whole new start and have a completely clean healthy system . You just need to make sure you back up all of your files first (reformatting/re-installing the operating system will wipe out EVERYTHING on your Hard drive) after you re-install the OS, you then install your Anti-virus right away and Update the OS so that it has the latest updates (your installation disk will not have the latest patches from Microsoft). Then add in any other security software you use like Ad-block and re-install all of your other programs, and finally copy your personal files from the back-up back onto your now clean Hard drive.

If you go to Microsoft's site, they should have instructions on how to reformat/re-install Windows OS. There are also other members here who have had lots of experience doing this who might be able to help. Sometimes when a system gets hit badly, reformatting is the only way to get it healthy again.

As for using Firefox; I would recommend staying with firefox, it is Much more secure than even IE8... Sorry, I know there are some Die-hard IE users, but it is just a totally unsafe platform because of a combination of it's dependence on 'Active-X' and Microsoft's truly horrid record of not patching potential security problems when they are pointed out until AFTER someone starts to exploit them. I have several people in my LJ group who have been hit repeatedly with Trojans (Monthly) and when they finally switched to Firefox, they were not been hit again. I have read several articles that explaine in great detail what the problem is with all versions of IE, and can probably dig them out if necessary.

BTW, I have been using Firefox, and before that Netscape (also Mozilla) for 8 years, and have NEVER been hit at ff.net, not even once. For a long time I scratched my head and wondered about Why I never had the problems others did, but after researching IE, I'm not scratching my head any more.

Re Antivirus protection; there are lots of places and people that say that the free Antivirus programs are just as good as the paid programs. IMO you get what you pay for. If you are at ground Zero... the small group of people hit with something totally new Before it has been reported to any of the AV groups or MS so that a patch/protection can be made and issued, you are going down *sorry*, no way around that, but the good news it that very few people are in that group... I was ground Zero 7 years ago with Blaster Worm and Sasser Worm . From the time those hit the net, to the time Norton had patches pushed out AND a fix for those who had been hit at ground Zero (like me), was about 36 hours. That's pretty impressive. I use 'Norton 360 Premier addition' (Norton's top of the line suit) it not only has Antivirus, you get an excellent firewall (Microsoft's firewall;especially XP sucks), you also get Anti-spyware and add blocking and other security features... it is a total security suit. It ALSO will automatically do lots of maintenance that we frequently forget to do that slow down our computers, like scans, de-fraging your Hard drive and it can even be set to do auto back up for you (including 2GB of on-line storage).

I'm not saying that everyone should all run out and get it, but I will say that I have been using Norton 360 premier edition exclusively (no other security programs at all), and Firefox (with the anti-script plug-in) for the last 5 years on an 8 year old computer running XP professional, and I have not been hit with ANYTHING in that whole time dispute the fact that my Hobby (photomanipulation) involves doing searches that tend to dump you into some very high risk places. Will that Always be the case? Naw, I could still get nailed at ground Zero like I did 7 years ago... and with my luck probably will ;p. But keeping top of the line security installed and Backing up obsessively to protect against bad luck or hardware failure, is the best you can do.

Cactuskim



________________________________

From: agape4rivendell <agape4rivendell@gmail.com>

To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tue, May 25, 2010 12:18:36 PM

Subject: [MEFAwards] Re: Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the MEFAs (Oh, My!)



I had a good security filter that stopped and deleted the trojan virus after just opening link to a story on fanfiction - but the virus had already infected my computer.



Tanaqui tried to help, but the system was so compromised that I could not even open a gmail link. Linaewen, bless her, helped me add Adblock to my system - hopefully, this will help. However, I can no longer use any of the yahoo services through IE. I keep getting error messages, so I'm using Firefox.



However, and this should be taken into account when one considers whether or not to let other 'readers' know about such problems... There are folks out there as computer-illiterate as I. Only with the help of friends and family was I able to 'save' my computer.



I will NOT read anything on fanfiction or any site that takes ads from now on.... even with the adblock, and a good virus protection system, I will not chance this horror. It took days to get my computer back - after listening to the poor thing hiccup for three days. I do NOT have the funds to use Geek Squad and other such pay-through-the-nose help avenues.



I sorely rue this action, but I cannot chance the loss of my computer.



Blessings,

Agape

--- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com, "telperion1" <marta.fandom@...> wrote:

>

> Hi Neume,

>

> You've got nothing to apologize for; I mis-spoke because I was in a hurry to

> answer your email before heading out. I meant to say that I think it will do

> more damage than good, to encourage people to *link* to one archive over

> another. This is for a few reasons.

>

> Most importantly: some people are very "territorial" about their favorite

> archives. This comes from "fandom wars," where one site is put down and some

> fandom members would say that the "good" fic is on a different site. For

> many people being told not to use FF.net has some icky associations. (And

> these associations probably apply to other sites, too, for different

> people.) I'm not being dismissive of these feelings; for some people being

> told "Archive [x] isn't welcome here" will be upsetting in a very real way.

> Because we are an awards, and that necessarily involves winners and losers,

> I think it is important to make everyone feel like they are equally a part

> of the MEFA family as much as we can before those winners are announced. It

> happens to be true that all authors are welcome, wherever they prefer to

> post. I don't want to give people the wrong impression.

>

> I know this isn't what you meant, but I don't want people to associate the

> MEFAs with those past events. I think telling authors not to link to a

> certain archive would have that association for some people - and fair or

> not, accurate or not, that's something I want to avoid.

>

> Also: when I tell someone not to use site [x] because the ads there may have

> viruses, to a lot of people that means that other sites I don't list are

> safe. But I can't guarantee that. Nobody can. And this isn't limited just to

> sites that use ads. Anything that allows embedded content (videos and so on)

> isn't safe, either. That's a big part of why I am reluctant to single out

> sites to be avoided where possible, because it gives the illusion that sites

> not listed are safe. And why I still wouldn't want to do that, even if the

> concern I mentioned above, about avoiding memories of past fannish events,

> wasn't an issue.

>

> The only way to be really safe is to take safety steps like the ones people

> have described in this thread. Have a good anti-virus program; use

> ad-blockers; that kind of thing.

>

> Anyway, I hope this clears up some of the confusion. Sorry if I wasn't clear

> before.

>

> Marta

>

> > -----Original Message-----

> > From: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com] On

> > Behalf Of Neume Indil

> > Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 2:17 AM

> > To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com

> > Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the MEFAs

> > (Oh, My!)

> >

> > Just a point of clarification:

> >

> > "As a volunteer, I think it would do more damage than good to start

> > recommending that authors archive some places and not others. "

> >

> > That's not at all what I was suggesting. My point was that *if* someone

> > posts at more than one site, they have the option now of providing 2

> > addresses on the nomination form. Why not suggest they provide both

> > since

> > this problem has arisen for more than one person on more than one

> > occasion?

> > Iirc, the second web address was suggested after an archive crashed or

> > was

> > hacked during the awards last year; this might be another use for a

> > feature

> > that's new to the proceedings, but may not be well-known (yet).

> >

> > Sorry I wasn't clear before,

> > Neu

> >

> > On Mon, May 24, 2010 at 4:38 PM, telperion1 <marta.fandom@...>

> > wrote:

> >

> > >

> > >

> > > Hiya Neume,

> > >

> > > As a volunteer, I think it would do more damage than good to start

> > > recommending that authors archive some places and not others. While

> > it is

> > > true that there's been a problem with viruses from FF.net, this isn't

> > tied

> > > to a certain story or even to a certain archive.

> > >

> > > *Any* archive that displays ads (and that includes many besides

> > FF.net...)

> > > is vulnerable to these issues. Also, many authors and readers prefer

> > FF.net

> > > to other archives for various reasons, ranging from technical (they

> > simply

> > > like the site's features better) to personal (like, they have their

> > most

> > > polished version there). Perhaps most importantly, I don't want to

> > get in

> > > the business of encouraging people to use one archive over another.

> > Given

> > > this fandom's history, that could make some people think that stories

> > at

> > > one

> > > archive are more welcome at the MEFAs than another, which is just

> > begging

> > > for misunderstandings down the road. It's also simply not true.

> > >

> > > I think it would be simpler and better (and safer!) in the long run,

> > to

> > > just

> > > have everyone take steps to make sure they're protected from viruses

> > like

> > > this.

> > >

> > > Of course, you as the reader can make your own choice. Most browsers

> > allow

> > > you to see what URL you are about to click by hovering over it. If

> > you

> > > don't

> > > want to read at FF.net, it's okay to see if the story is posted

> > elsewhere

> > > and try to read it there, or to choose not to read it at all.

> > >

> > > Marta

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > > -----Original Message-----

> > > > From: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>

> > [mailto:

> > > MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>] On

> > > > Behalf Of Neume Indil

> > > > Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 4:07 PM

> > > > To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>

> > > > Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the

> > MEFAs

> > > > (Oh, My!)

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > I know for some stories this just won't work, but would it be

> > possible

> > > > to

> > > > suggest to authors that a story posted at, say SoA and FF.net use

> > the

> > > > SoA

> > > > location as the primary URL, with the FF.net address as a secondary

> > > > location? In that way, fewer people will need to be concerned about

> > > > FF.net's

> > > > pesky pop up ads that still sneak through. (Also, if someone has

> > > > started a

> > > > letter writing campaign to FF.net's ad provider, please let me

> > know.

> > > > I'll be

> > > > glad to throw my two cents into a politely worded email.)

> > > >

> > > > And, an idea: Obviously some authors post exclusively to one site

> > > > (guilty as

> > > > charged), but for those now concerned about the security of their

> > host

> > > > website, a Blogger or Live Journal account can be a good alternate

> > > > location

> > > > to post short to medium length pieces as well. I'd be happy to talk

> > > > anyone

> > > > wishing to start a Live Journal account through the process of

> > posting

> > > > and

> > > > cuts, etc. and can be reached at this email address.

> > > >

> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> >

> >

> >

> > ------------------------------------

> >

> > Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/

> > Yahoo! Groups Links

> >

> >

> >

>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Definitely a good suggestion to back up, Ithilwen! In fact, I just kicked
off a backup after reading your post.... I back up my data files every day
or two, and my entire system maybe once a month.

I used to have the Norton security suite, but it was expensive to renew
every year and noticeably slowned down my pc. So, I did some research last
year, and found some useful -- and free -- security software for Windows,
and thought I'd share what works for me, in case anyone else is
interested....

Malware Detection:
*Ad-Aware Free* by Lavasoft, at <www.lavasoft.com>
download free edition, currently version 8.2, at <
download.cnet.com/Ad-Aware-Free-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10045910.html>

Firewall:
*Outpost Free* 2009 by Agnitum, at <www.agnitum.com>
download free edition, currently version 2009, at <free.agnitum.com>

Antivirus:
*Avira AntiVir Personal - Free* by Avira, at <www.avira.com>
download free edition, currently version 10.0.0.567, at <
download.cnet.com/Avira-AntiVir-Personal-Free-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-10322935.html

>

I am sure there are also other good free utilities for the above functions.

However, I would like to highly recommend one more free utility, which keeps
track of security vulnerabilities for very commonly-installed programs and
utilities, such as browsers and plug-ins, Adobe Flash, Java Run-time,
Shockwave, Quicktime, etc. For example, within hours after a serious
security vulnerability in the Opera browser was patched, I was prompted to
upgrade. It also either tells you where to get the updated versions, or
often includes a link that you can simply click on to upgrade. A
knowledgeable techie I know called this program "worth its weight in
platinum":

Personal Software Inspector:
*Secunia PSI* from Secunia, at <www.secunia.com>
download free edition, currently version 1.5.0.1, at <
secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/personal/>

Hope this helps!

- Barbara

On Tue, May 25, 2010 at 5:58 PM, Diana Nevins <dlnevins@earthlink.net>wrote:

>
>
> Great post, Cactuskim!
>
> Another useful tip is to get in the habit of backing up all the contents of
> your computer's hard drive onto a separate, portable hard drive at regular
> intervals. If you're using a Mac running Leopard or Snow Leopard, the
> built-in Time machine function makes this easy; I know it can be done with
> PCs running Windows and Linux as well, although I don't know the details for
> those systems. If you have a separate up-to-date backup disk, in the event
> you ever DO have to totally reformat your computer's hard drive, it's not a
> total catastrophe. You can restore your entire system from the backup hard
> drive, and lose nothing. It's really cheap insurance against computer
> disasters such as a nasty virus attack or a hard drive failure. Learn how to
> back up your own computer's hard drive, and then do it religiously! In the
> long run, it's worth it.
>
> Ithilwen
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> From: kimberli leal
>
> Sent: May 25, 2010 8:23 PM
>
> To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>
>
> Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Re: Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the MEFAs
> (Oh, My!)
>
> Hi Agape,
>
> If you have the installation disk for your Operating system, then you can
> always reformat your hard drive and get a whole new start and have a
> completely clean healthy system . You just need to make sure you back up all
> of your files first (reformatting/re-installing the operating system will
> wipe out EVERYTHING on your Hard drive) after you re-install the OS, you
> then install your Anti-virus right away and Update the OS so that it has the
> latest updates (your installation disk will not have the latest patches from
> Microsoft). Then add in any other security software you use like Ad-block
> and re-install all of your other programs, and finally copy your personal
> files from the back-up back onto your now clean Hard drive.
>
> If you go to Microsoft's site, they should have instructions on how to
> reformat/re-install Windows OS. There are also other members here who have
> had lots of experience doing this who might be able to help. Sometimes when
> a system gets hit badly, reformatting is the only way to get it healthy
> again.
>
> As for using Firefox; I would recommend staying with firefox, it is Much
> more secure than even IE8... Sorry, I know there are some Die-hard IE users,
> but it is just a totally unsafe platform because of a combination of it's
> dependence on 'Active-X' and Microsoft's truly horrid record of not patching
> potential security problems when they are pointed out until AFTER someone
> starts to exploit them. I have several people in my LJ group who have been
> hit repeatedly with Trojans (Monthly) and when they finally switched to
> Firefox, they were not been hit again. I have read several articles that
> explaine in great detail what the problem is with all versions of IE, and
> can probably dig them out if necessary.
>
> BTW, I have been using Firefox, and before that Netscape (also Mozilla) for
> 8 years, and have NEVER been hit at ff.net, not even once. For a long time
> I scratched my head and wondered about Why I never had the problems others
> did, but after researching IE, I'm not scratching my head any more.
>
> Re Antivirus protection; there are lots of places and people that say that
> the free Antivirus programs are just as good as the paid programs. IMO you
> get what you pay for. If you are at ground Zero... the small group of people
> hit with something totally new Before it has been reported to any of the AV
> groups or MS so that a patch/protection can be made and issued, you are
> going down *sorry*, no way around that, but the good news it that very few
> people are in that group... I was ground Zero 7 years ago with Blaster Worm
> and Sasser Worm . From the time those hit the net, to the time Norton had
> patches pushed out AND a fix for those who had been hit at ground Zero (like
> me), was about 36 hours. That's pretty impressive. I use 'Norton 360 Premier
> addition' (Norton's top of the line suit) it not only has Antivirus, you get
> an excellent firewall (Microsoft's firewall;especially XP sucks), you also
> get Anti-spyware and add blocking and other security features... it is a
> total security suit. It ALSO will automatically do lots of maintenance that
> we frequently forget to do that slow down our computers, like scans,
> de-fraging your Hard drive and it can even be set to do auto back up for you
> (including 2GB of on-line storage).
>
> I'm not saying that everyone should all run out and get it, but I will say
> that I have been using Norton 360 premier edition exclusively (no other
> security programs at all), and Firefox (with the anti-script plug-in) for
> the last 5 years on an 8 year old computer running XP professional, and I
> have not been hit with ANYTHING in that whole time dispute the fact that my
> Hobby (photomanipulation) involves doing searches that tend to dump you into
> some very high risk places. Will that Always be the case? Naw, I could still
> get nailed at ground Zero like I did 7 years ago... and with my luck
> probably will ;p. But keeping top of the line security installed and Backing
> up obsessively to protect against bad luck or hardware failure, is the best
> you can do.
>
> Cactuskim
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: agape4rivendell <agape4rivendell@gmail.com<agape4rivendell%40gmail.com>
> >
>
> To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>
>
> Sent: Tue, May 25, 2010 12:18:36 PM
>
> Subject: [MEFAwards] Re: Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the MEFAs (Oh,
> My!)
>
> I had a good security filter that stopped and deleted the trojan virus
> after just opening link to a story on fanfiction - but the virus had already
> infected my computer.
>
> Tanaqui tried to help, but the system was so compromised that I could not
> even open a gmail link. Linaewen, bless her, helped me add Adblock to my
> system - hopefully, this will help. However, I can no longer use any of the
> yahoo services through IE. I keep getting error messages, so I'm using
> Firefox.
>
> However, and this should be taken into account when one considers whether
> or not to let other 'readers' know about such problems... There are folks
> out there as computer-illiterate as I. Only with the help of friends and
> family was I able to 'save' my computer.
>
> I will NOT read anything on fanfiction or any site that takes ads from now
> on.... even with the adblock, and a good virus protection system, I will not
> chance this horror. It took days to get my computer back - after listening
> to the poor thing hiccup for three days. I do NOT have the funds to use Geek
> Squad and other such pay-through-the-nose help avenues.
>
> I sorely rue this action, but I cannot chance the loss of my computer.
>
> Blessings,
>
> Agape
>
> --- In MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>,
> "telperion1" <marta.fandom@...> wrote:
>
> >
>
> > Hi Neume,
>
> >
>
> > You've got nothing to apologize for; I mis-spoke because I was in a hurry
> to
>
> > answer your email before heading out. I meant to say that I think it will
> do
>
> > more damage than good, to encourage people to *link* to one archive over
>
> > another. This is for a few reasons.
>
> >
>
> > Most importantly: some people are very "territorial" about their favorite
>
> > archives. This comes from "fandom wars," where one site is put down and
> some
>
> > fandom members would say that the "good" fic is on a different site. For
>
> > many people being told not to use FF.net has some icky associations. (And
>
> > these associations probably apply to other sites, too, for different
>
> > people.) I'm not being dismissive of these feelings; for some people
> being
>
> > told "Archive [x] isn't welcome here" will be upsetting in a very real
> way.
>
> > Because we are an awards, and that necessarily involves winners and
> losers,
>
> > I think it is important to make everyone feel like they are equally a
> part
>
> > of the MEFA family as much as we can before those winners are announced.
> It
>
> > happens to be true that all authors are welcome, wherever they prefer to
>
> > post. I don't want to give people the wrong impression.
>
> >
>
> > I know this isn't what you meant, but I don't want people to associate
> the
>
> > MEFAs with those past events. I think telling authors not to link to a
>
> > certain archive would have that association for some people - and fair or
>
> > not, accurate or not, that's something I want to avoid.
>
> >
>
> > Also: when I tell someone not to use site [x] because the ads there may
> have
>
> > viruses, to a lot of people that means that other sites I don't list are
>
> > safe. But I can't guarantee that. Nobody can. And this isn't limited just
> to
>
> > sites that use ads. Anything that allows embedded content (videos and so
> on)
>
> > isn't safe, either. That's a big part of why I am reluctant to single out
>
> > sites to be avoided where possible, because it gives the illusion that
> sites
>
> > not listed are safe. And why I still wouldn't want to do that, even if
> the
>
> > concern I mentioned above, about avoiding memories of past fannish
> events,
>
> > wasn't an issue.
>
> >
>
> > The only way to be really safe is to take safety steps like the ones
> people
>
> > have described in this thread. Have a good anti-virus program; use
>
> > ad-blockers; that kind of thing.
>
> >
>
> > Anyway, I hope this clears up some of the confusion. Sorry if I wasn't
> clear
>
> > before.
>
> >
>
> > Marta
>
> >
>
> > > -----Original Message-----
>
> > > From: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com> [mailto:
> MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>] On
>
> > > Behalf Of Neume Indil
>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 2:17 AM
>
> > > To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com>
>
> > > Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the MEFAs
>
> > > (Oh, My!)
>
> > >
>
> > > Just a point of clarification:
>
> > >
>
> > > "As a volunteer, I think it would do more damage than good to start
>
> > > recommending that authors archive some places and not others. "
>
> > >
>
> > > That's not at all what I was suggesting. My point was that *if* someone
>
> > > posts at more than one site, they have the option now of providing 2
>
> > > addresses on the nomination form. Why not suggest they provide both
>
> > > since
>
> > > this problem has arisen for more than one person on more than one
>
> > > occasion?
>
> > > Iirc, the second web address was suggested after an archive crashed or
>
> > > was
>
> > > hacked during the awards last year; this might be another use for a
>
> > > feature
>
> > > that's new to the proceedings, but may not be well-known (yet).
>
> > >
>
> > > Sorry I wasn't clear before,
>
> > > Neu
>
> > >
>
> > > On Mon, May 24, 2010 at 4:38 PM, telperion1 <marta.fandom@...>
>
> > > wrote:
>
> > >
>
> > > >
>
> > > >
>
> > > > Hiya Neume,
>
> > > >
>
> > > > As a volunteer, I think it would do more damage than good to start
>
> > > > recommending that authors archive some places and not others. While
>
> > > it is
>
> > > > true that there's been a problem with viruses from FF.net, this isn't
>
> > > tied
>
> > > > to a certain story or even to a certain archive.
>
> > > >
>
> > > > *Any* archive that displays ads (and that includes many besides
>
> > > FF.net...)
>
> > > > is vulnerable to these issues. Also, many authors and readers prefer
>
> > > FF.net
>
> > > > to other archives for various reasons, ranging from technical (they
>
> > > simply
>
> > > > like the site's features better) to personal (like, they have their
>
> > > most
>
> > > > polished version there). Perhaps most importantly, I don't want to
>
> > > get in
>
> > > > the business of encouraging people to use one archive over another.
>
> > > Given
>
> > > > this fandom's history, that could make some people think that stories
>
> > > at
>
> > > > one
>
> > > > archive are more welcome at the MEFAs than another, which is just
>
> > > begging
>
> > > > for misunderstandings down the road. It's also simply not true.
>
> > > >
>
> > > > I think it would be simpler and better (and safer!) in the long run,
>
> > > to
>
> > > > just
>
> > > > have everyone take steps to make sure they're protected from viruses
>
> > > like
>
> > > > this.
>
> > > >
>
> > > > Of course, you as the reader can make your own choice. Most browsers
>
> > > allow
>
> > > > you to see what URL you are about to click by hovering over it. If
>
> > > you
>
> > > > don't
>
> > > > want to read at FF.net, it's okay to see if the story is posted
>
> > > elsewhere
>
> > > > and try to read it there, or to choose not to read it at all.
>
> > > >
>
> > > > Marta
>
> > > >
>
> > > >
>
> > > >
>
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
>
> > > > > From: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com><MEFAwards%
> 40yahoogroups.com>
>
> > > [mailto:
>
> > > > MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com> <MEFAwards%
> 40yahoogroups.com>] On
>
> > > > > Behalf Of Neume Indil
>
> > > > > Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 4:07 PM
>
> > > > > To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com <MEFAwards%40yahoogroups.com><MEFAwards%
> 40yahoogroups.com>
>
> > > > > Subject: Re: [MEFAwards] Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the
>
> > > MEFAs
>
> > > > > (Oh, My!)
>
> > > > >
>
> > > > >
>
> > > > >
>
> > > > > I know for some stories this just won't work, but would it be
>
> > > possible
>
> > > > > to
>
> > > > > suggest to authors that a story posted at, say SoA and FF.net use
>
> > > the
>
> > > > > SoA
>
> > > > > location as the primary URL, with the FF.net address as a secondary
>
> > > > > location? In that way, fewer people will need to be concerned about
>
> > > > > FF.net's
>
> > > > > pesky pop up ads that still sneak through. (Also, if someone has
>
> > > > > started a
>
> > > > > letter writing campaign to FF.net's ad provider, please let me
>
> > > know.
>
> > > > > I'll be
>
> > > > > glad to throw my two cents into a politely worded email.)
>
> > > > >
>
> > > > > And, an idea: Obviously some authors post exclusively to one site
>
> > > > > (guilty as
>
> > > > > charged), but for those now concerned about the security of their
>
> > > host
>
> > > > > website, a Blogger or Live Journal account can be a good alternate
>
> > > > > location
>
> > > > > to post short to medium length pieces as well. I'd be happy to talk
>
> > > > > anyone
>
> > > > > wishing to start a Live Journal account through the process of
>
> > > posting
>
> > > > > and
>
> > > > > cuts, etc. and can be reached at this email address.
>
> > > > >
>
> > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> > > > >
>
> > > >
>
> > > >
>
> > > >
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > > ------------------------------------
>
> > >
>
> > > Visit our website: http://www.mefawards.net/MEFA2009/
>
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On top of all the good advice (yes, Firefox, Adblock, NoScript + AV and a firewall), this sounds like a good time to remind people about Dreamwidth (http://www.dreamwidth.org/) and OTW's Archive Of Our Own (http://archiveofourown.org/) as possible archiving alternatives.

Both are, and are committed to remaining, ad-free. Dreamwidth, while not an archive per se, is fan-friendly, and is like LJ but without the ads and other recent ickiness. Whereas Archive of Our Own is of course *built* with fannish needs in mind. Both are still in Open Beta, but that hasn't stopped me from enjoying the hell of out them.

If anyone's interested, I have invite codes for Dreamwidth available (contact me off-list), while Archive of Our Own has currently all of 6 people on its waiting list...!

For the record, while I'm a Translation volunteer for AO3, I have no connection to Dreamwidth other than being a Very Happy User.

Amanda.

P.S. Can I use this opportunity to ask that people trim the posts they're replying to to the important bits? I'm on digest, and it's kinda hard to find the actual messages among the copies of copies of copies.... Thanks!

Cactuskim said: BTW, I have been using Firefox, and before that Netscape (also Mozilla) for 8 years, and have NEVER been hit at ff.net, not even once. For a long time I scratched my head and wondered about Why I never had the problems others did, but after researching IE, I'm not scratching my head any more.


Not to down Firefox, but I've been using it for almost three years now and have been REPEATEDLY hit by viruses and trojans and have had to reformat my harddrive THREE TIMES the past year. And that's running No Script and anti-virus as well as ad blocker protection. So sorry, but Firefox is NOT a sure bet that you'll be safe. I actually had LESS issues with IE, but do not want to have to relearn a browser again (Hey, I'm lazy like that! =D) I also have ongoing hiccup issues with Firefox that I never had with IE. I really don't know why everyone praises it so much. I don't think it is any better. :(

NiRi

One contributing factor to that might be that Firefox and other Mozilla
products are becoming more popular every day. Once a program becomes
popular, it's more susceptible to hits by the kind of people that think
Trojans, worms, etc. are fun/funny/prove their virility. This is why "Macs
get fewer viruses"; they actually get viruses they're exposed to at the same
rate as a Windows system, there are just fewer people coding Mac viruses
because there are fewer Mac users.

More people using Firefox etc. means more of those people want to throw a
wrench in the works. :(

On Wed, May 26, 2010 at 3:42 PM, nierielraina <equineinclined@yahoo.com>wrote:

>
>
> Cactuskim said: BTW, I have been using Firefox, and before that Netscape
> (also Mozilla) for 8 years, and have NEVER been hit at ff.net, not even
> once. For a long time I scratched my head and wondered about Why I never had
> the problems others did, but after researching IE, I'm not scratching my
> head any more.
>
> Not to down Firefox, but I've been using it for almost three years now and
> have been REPEATEDLY hit by viruses and trojans and have had to reformat my
> harddrive THREE TIMES the past year. And that's running No Script and
> anti-virus as well as ad blocker protection. So sorry, but Firefox is NOT a
> sure bet that you'll be safe. I actually had LESS issues with IE, but do not
> want to have to relearn a browser again (Hey, I'm lazy like that! =D) I also
> have ongoing hiccup issues with Firefox that I never had with IE. I really
> don't know why everyone praises it so much. I don't think it is any better.
> :(
>
> NiRi
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Nothing offers sure protection from attack; the major reason so many people have been recommending Firefox over IE is that Firefox offers more protective plugins than IE does. It's also less vulnerable to cross-scripting attacks and Active-X exploits. Websurfing has become markedly less safe over the past couple of years, whatever browser you use. The folks who used to spread their viruses via email have largely switched over to spreading malicious code via websites, to the detriment of everyone's browsing experience. (At least in the earlier days, you were fairly safe if you knew enough not to open an unsolicited email or an odd email attachment!)

Ithilwen

-----Original Message-----

From: nierielraina

Sent: May 26, 2010 2:42 PM

To: MEFAwards@yahoogroups.com

Subject: [MEFAwards] Re: Admin - Online Adverts, Viruses and the MEFAs (Oh, My!)

Cactuskim said: BTW, I have been using Firefox, and before that Netscape (also Mozilla) for 8 years, and have NEVER been hit at ff.net, not even once. For a long time I scratched my head and wondered about Why I never had the problems others did, but after researching IE, I'm not scratching my head any more.

Not to down Firefox, but I've been using it for almost three years now and have been REPEATEDLY hit by viruses and trojans and have had to reformat my harddrive THREE TIMES the past year. And that's running No Script and anti-virus as well as ad blocker protection. So sorry, but Firefox is NOT a sure bet that you'll be safe. I actually had LESS issues with IE, but do not want to have to relearn a browser again (Hey, I'm lazy like that! =D) I also have ongoing hiccup issues with Firefox that I never had with IE. I really don't know why everyone praises it so much. I don't think it is any better. :(

NiRi