SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic - 6 Reasons The Guy who's fixing your computer hates you.

Posted: Aug 22 2011 05:35 pm

Klimbatize wrote:

Yeah, but you missed my point. Don't they have sales quotas to meet? They need to do a certain amount of business to meet budget or something? Pretty sure Geek Squad does.

That's different from a bagger who has no goals to meet.

back in the day, when i worked for AT&T customer service (read: complaints) thru Convergy's, we were required to sell residential long distance to every call. we didnt have a quota, but we had a 'recommendation' we had to meet.

Posted: Aug 23 2011 09:15 am

IT guy Achievement List:
http://evilrouters.net/achievement-unlocked/

Posted: Aug 23 2011 10:57 am

lordsathien wrote:

IT guy Achievement List:
http://evilrouters.net/achievement-unlocked/

Those were pretty good. I laughed at Aerola Bold and Was that so hard?

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Wow... that list hit home.

Posted: Aug 23 2011 11:27 am

GPFontaine wrote:

I cannot stress how much I appreciate the combination of

1. Security Essentials (free antivirus)
2. Chrome (Secure Browser)
3. WOT (mywot.com site security rating extension)

I don't know of anyone who I have setup with this combo that has gotten a virus from browsing the web.

How do you feel about Avast! ?

Also, never heard of WOT. Please educate me.

Posted: Aug 23 2011 01:34 pm

Haha those achievements are pretty good. Luckily I've never had a job in IT, mostly because I get enough shit from friends and relatives to last me a lifetime. Exactly the reason I decided never to get a degree in any computer field no matter how much I enjoy working with them. Atma I use Avast! myself and have never had a problem in the going on 8 or 9 years I've used it, in fact the only person I've ever seen have an issue with it was my step-mom because she chose to ignore the fact that it needed re-registered. Though I'm nowhere near GPF's level so I'll defer to him.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Why I choose MSE instead of Avast!

I used Avast for years when it was the free option. Over time it became slower and eventually when MSE was released I switched. Over time Avast has become better again and is actually faster than MSE. However, it isn't more secure. They are pretty much equals when it comes to security.

So why choose a slower program?

Simple. Microsoft cannot afford to fail with security ever again. They were hurt so badly by Windows XP SP2's vulnerabilities that they have been a security company ever since. If the largest software developer in the world can't secure their own OS correctly, why would another company be able to? When it wasn't a priority, it made sense to go with others, but now that MS can't afford the negative security press, the product has to be rock solid.

Additionally updates occur through the same channels as Windows Updates.

So that is why on personal systems I use MSE.

As for WOT. Wall of Trust is a browser extension that uses collective social information to determine how safe a website is. If people rate a site's security as poor, then you will be alerted before going to the site. While there are some false positives and worse true negatives, about 99% of the time it is spot on. If you enjoy downloading things you shouldn't or browsing for streaming video then you definitely need to be using this extension.

Posted: Aug 23 2011 04:39 pm

Quote:

As for WOT. Wall of Trust is a browser extension that uses collective social information to determine how safe a website is. If people rate a site's security as poor, then you will be alerted before going to the site. While there are some false positives and worse true negatives, about 99% of the time it is spot on. If you enjoy downloading things you shouldn't or browsing for streaming video then you definitely need to be using this extension.

Have it on Google Chrome, definitely haven't had to use it yet but I know to look in the top right corner with every new site I happen upon.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Douche McCallister wrote:

Quote:

As for WOT. Wall of Trust is a browser extension that uses collective social information to determine how safe a website is. If people rate a site's security as poor, then you will be alerted before going to the site. While there are some false positives and worse true negatives, about 99% of the time it is spot on. If you enjoy downloading things you shouldn't or browsing for streaming video then you definitely need to be using this extension.

Have it on Google Chrome, definitely haven't had to use it yet but I know to look in the top right corner with every new site I happen upon.

You may just have good habits.

Also, if you are browsing a bad site, it will warn you beyond the color icon.

Posted: Aug 23 2011 05:06 pm

Yeah I don't have that but I noticed Avast! installed something similar on Chrome during a recent update. Probably isn't as reliable due to it being new and likely not having a huge number of votes up or down for a site.

Posted: Aug 23 2011 08:57 pm

GPFontaine wrote:

Douche McCallister wrote:

Quote:

As for WOT. Wall of Trust is a browser extension that uses collective social information to determine how safe a website is. If people rate a site's security as poor, then you will be alerted before going to the site. While there are some false positives and worse true negatives, about 99% of the time it is spot on. If you enjoy downloading things you shouldn't or browsing for streaming video then you definitely need to be using this extension.

Have it on Google Chrome, definitely haven't had to use it yet but I know to look in the top right corner with every new site I happen upon.

You may just have good habits.

Also, if you are browsing a bad site, it will warn you beyond the color icon.

yeah, a popup will appear asking if you want to continue or not. i have it as well, and its a good tool to avoid BS websites

Posted: Aug 23 2011 10:39 pm

I agree with GPF on all his points, except for #1.

Before I do any work on a new client's PC, I give them a piece of paper with my policies, and they have to agree to them before I touch their PC.

It reads: ("WE" is actually just me. But, I do all my work through my personal company, and "WE" sounds better in official documents.)

***

PRIVACY POLICY:
WE DO NOT INTENTIONALLY INVESTIGATE CONTENTS OF COSTUMERS' COMPUTERS. SOME WORK MAY REQUIRE US TO SCAN THROUGH FOLDERS AND FILES. IF WE DISCOVER ANY UNLAWFUL FILES, WE REPORT THEM TO THE AUTHORITIES.

LOST DATA/FILES/INFORMATION:
WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST DATA/FILES/INFORMATION THAT MAY RESULT FROM REPAIRS AND WORK. IT IS THE CUSTOMER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO BACKUP ALL DATA ON THEIR COMPUTERS. (WE ALSO OFFER BACKUP SERVICES FOR A FEE.)

***
That first section scares some people, but I tell them "I don't give a shit about your 1000GBs of downloaded MP3s and Movies. But, if I stumble upon something like child porn on your PC, then I am turning your sick ass in to the cops."

The second section covers me, when I have to reformat their system, and they complain that I erased five years of pictures that they dumped from their camera and never made hard copies of. To be fair, I also notify the client if a wipe is necessary before I perform it, and make sure they don't want to save anything before I begin.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Knyte wrote:

I agree with GPF on all his points, except for #1.

Before I do any work on a new client's PC, I give them a piece of paper with my policies, and they have to agree to them before I touch their PC.

It reads: ("WE" is actually just me. But, I do all my work through my personal company, and "WE" sounds better in official documents.)

***

PRIVACY POLICY:
WE DO NOT INTENTIONALLY INVESTIGATE CONTENTS OF COSTUMERS' COMPUTERS. SOME WORK MAY REQUIRE US TO SCAN THROUGH FOLDERS AND FILES. IF WE DISCOVER ANY UNLAWFUL FILES, WE REPORT THEM TO THE AUTHORITIES.

LOST DATA/FILES/INFORMATION:
WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST DATA/FILES/INFORMATION THAT MAY RESULT FROM REPAIRS AND WORK. IT IS THE CUSTOMER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO BACKUP ALL DATA ON THEIR COMPUTERS. (WE ALSO OFFER BACKUP SERVICES FOR A FEE.)

***
That first section scares some people, but I tell them "I don't give a shit about your 1000GBs of downloaded MP3s and Movies. But, if I stumble upon something like child porn on your PC, then I am turning your sick ass in to the cops."

The second section covers me, when I have to reformat their system, and they complain that I erased five years of pictures that they dumped from their camera and never made hard copies of. To be fair, I also notify the client if a wipe is necessary before I perform it, and make sure they don't want to save anything before I begin.

I can't disagree with the logic there.

It depends on the client. I will always backup my parents/sisters/mother-in-law's shit because they asked me to even if they didn't ask me to. For a paying customer I would always explain the risk and be clear about the risk. I don't get into privacy stuff too much because contract work isn't my primary job. As side work I am working with clients that I am familiar with.

Still, I suppose you are right, some legal defense might not be a bad idea.

Posted: Aug 24 2011 12:09 am

Knyte wrote:

WE DO NOT INTENTIONALLY INVESTIGATE CONTENTS OF COSTUMERS' COMPUTERS.

I hope it says CUSTOMER on the actual sheet. Razz

(Unless your clientele is strictly cosplayers and furries)

Banned Joined: Sep 13 2008 Posts: 3129

Heh, I always find it funny when people think I can fix their computer in less than an hour.

I went through this whole list (save the dinner part) only to walk out and say it's done then come back in a few minutes later to find the user doing the exact stuff that slows it... My grandparents do not know how to use a computer...

GPFontaine wrote:

Why I choose MSE instead of Avast!

I used Avast for years when it was the free option. Over time it became slower and eventually when MSE was released I switched. Over time Avast has become better again and is actually faster than MSE. However, it isn't more secure. They are pretty much equals when it comes to security.

So why choose a slower program?

Simple. Microsoft cannot afford to fail with security ever again. They were hurt so badly by Windows XP SP2's vulnerabilities that they have been a security company ever since. If the largest software developer in the world can't secure their own OS correctly, why would another company be able to? When it wasn't a priority, it made sense to go with others, but now that MS can't afford the negative security press, the product has to be rock solid.

Additionally updates occur through the same channels as Windows Updates.

For the record, MSE and Avast do not work hand in hand at all. I spent a good week trying to fix the mess those two programs together caused

Posted: Aug 24 2011 01:53 am

Never run 2 anti-virus at the same time. They always end up fighting each other for control of resources, and the only who loses is you.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Knyte wrote:

Never run 2 anti-virus at the same time. They always end up fighting each other for control of resources, and the only who loses is you.

Someone had to repeat that.

Posted: Aug 24 2011 11:48 am

As Bum said, Avast! has something similar attached to it now where users rate the sites you go to with a Green, Yellow, or Red Color Scheme. It also has "categories" for what the site falls under. Gaming, Shopping, News, Piracy, Adult, blah blah. But I'll check out WOT.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Atma wrote:

As Bum said, Avast! has something similar attached to it now where users rate the sites you go to with a Green, Yellow, or Red Color Scheme. It also has "categories" for what the site falls under. Gaming, Shopping, News, Piracy, Adult, blah blah. But I'll check out WOT.

WebRep vs WOT

I like WOT because it means I don't need Avast! I don't have any stats about which one of the programs is actually better, but I know I am not changing my AV product.

Posted: Aug 25 2011 10:46 am

I, too, am this guy. :/ Just like all the rest of you, I usually get a powerful feeling inside my body, something that tells me to flip over the dinner table and crack some skulls with a chair or two. God, this shit is so fucking true, but at least I get paid occasionally to do it. Also, for most everyone who needs the help, they sure as hell don't know how to fucking Google search for a solution on their own. Half the time they have some obscure problem with their PC that makes me go WTFhowdidthishappen, so I just Google it and find the answer, usually in 3-5 minutes. "PCs ARE TOO HAAAAAAARD!!!" Would you like wood or cold steel served with your facial reconstruction?