Computer/Internet Tech Safety/Privacy, all that junk:
Note: When you read through this, please read thoroughly, completely, and the whole thing. Do not skim it, or else you will not get the full effect or meanings.
BE SURE THAT WHEN YOU GET THESE PROGRAMS TO TELL THEM TO CHECK FOR UPDATES WHEN YOU FIRST GET THEM, AS WELL AS PERIODICALLY AFTER YOU GET THEM!!! Make sure you have, AND KEEP FREQUENTLY UPDATED these things:
A Virus Scanner - I recommend McAfee Viruscan. Don't forget to check for updates EVERY day! (BTW, how does everyone pronounce "McAfee"? I say "MA("A" as in "Apple")-kuh-fee", but I've heard people say, "Muh-KAF-ee".)
A Firewall - I recommend McAfee Firewall. Update it, but it doesn't update near as much as the Virus Scanner.
Program that finds/deletes "Spyware/Adware" (Spyware/Adware are dangerous files that slow down your computer, and can wreak all kinds of havoc) - I recommend "Spybot - Search and Destroy 1.4", "Ad-Aware SE", and "SpySubtract" (SpySubtract is a 30-Day Free Trial)
Other tips after you get these:
Don't use "KaZaA" or any other file-sharing program to download full versions of Virus Scanners/Firewalls, just go spend the 40 - 50 bucks get the programs right--like with the registering and everything. The Spyware/Adware removal programs are free, so I guess you can get them from KaZaA. I wouldn't, though. I'd still go to their websites and get them.
Be sure to run the Spyware/Adware scanner, and the Virus Scanner to scan your computer at least once a week. I'd do the Spyware/Adware Removal program scanner(s) at least once a day, especially before and after using the Internet.
Make sure your Virus Scanner and Firewall are always running, ESPECIALLY if you are on the Internet. MORE ESPECIALLY if you have any sort of an "Always on" Internet connection such as Cable, DSL, Satellite, etc. And MOST ESPECIALLY have them both on if you're using any File-sharing network such as "KaZaA".
Use your "Scandisk" and "Disk Defragmenter" at least once a week.
If you don't need your Cookies, go to all your "Temporary Internet Files" folders, and delete EVERYTHING there. Some cookies are used to remember User Names/Passwords for you on Message Boards and other sites, so if you need some cookies, see if you can find which ones you need and which you don't, and delete the ones you don't need.
If you have ANY programs or files on your computer that you do not want, or do not use, get rid of it! The process you should use to get rid of them/it is this:
A. See of they have an "Uninstall", and use that.
B. Whether it DOES or does NOT have an "Uninstall", (but if it does, do the uninstall first) go to your Start Menu, then "Settings", then "Control Panel", and go into "Add/Remove Programs". Check stuff you want to get rid of there and tell it to get rid of them.
C. After you do both/either of these (Or if neither displays the program you're trying to get rid of) go to "Start", "Find all Files and Folders", and type in the name of the program. Make sure you set it to search "My Computer" so it checks everywhere. When it finds it, delete it, then delete it out of your Recycle Bin, if you have one. As I said, this should only be done after you have uninstalled, and done add/remove; it needs to be a last resort after you have done those things, or if the program(s) you want to get rid of did not have an uninstall/or did not show up on the add/remove list.
D. THIS NEXT PART DEALS WITH THE BACKBONE OF YOUR SYSTEM, SO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WHILE USING THIS METHOD, AND I TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR SYSTEM DAMAGE! Go to "Start", "Run", and type in " regedit " and press "OK". It brings up a little window with a few folders. These folders contain files that are on your computer, ones you might've deleted, and fragments of different programs. Double-click on "My Computer" so it searches everything, click "Edit", then "Find". Type in what you want to search for and press "Find Next". When it finds something matching what you typed in, MAKE SURE IT'S THE EXACT PROGRAM/FILE YOU WANTED TO DELETE, AND THAT IT'S NOT SOMETHING ELSE BEFORE DELETING IT!
E. This particular thing ought to be completely off your system now.
Do not give out your real name on the Internet. Unless it is a extremely, well-known retailer/store that you know will keep it safe. Also, do not give out your e-mail address to anyone or anything on the Internet unless you must. What happens is, people get ahold of your e-mail address, and sell, rent, lease, or distribute it to underground spam, ad, porn businesses that send you e-mails with this junk in them, and these companies make money from exploiting you. Remember that companies like these really couldn't care less about you as a person--they are motivated by $$$. So help that serve as a reason to shy away from any shady company.
Never click on any Ad Banners or Pop-ups on any website. If there is a "Click here to close" button inside the pop-up DON'T CLICK IT EVEN IF IT WOULD REALLY CLOSE IT! Use Windows' "X" in the top right corner to close it.
Everyone on the Internet has an "IP address". Think of it this way: think of your house as a computer. Think of outside/street as the Internet. Think of your door as way of traffic going in and out from your house to the street. When you, from your computer (house), connect to the Internet (outside), you go through a door (Internet Service Provider). You go in and out (Connecting, going to websites, then closing your connection). That is obvious. But, there is also traffic coming INTO your computer. Now, lowlife hackers can track your "IP Address", or guess at IP addresses in an attempt to get into your house (computer) through the door. This is called "Port Scanning". Think of it as a burglar walking down the street checking the locks on the doors of peoples' houses to see if they're unlocked, so that they can get inside and wreak God only knows what kind of havoc. But, this is why you need a "Firewall" to stop these losers. Read up above, it's one of my tips. If you want another layer of protection, you can buy a router that comes with a Firewall. But you should do some Google searches for more info on stuff like that.
Good luck with your computer, and stay tuned in case I think of any more tips/hints! And if you need help or have any questions regarding this, feel free to ask on the Message Board.
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Why I left the "Tales of..." series for a while:
Lol, nothing horrible or ghastly happened, it's all good. It's just that, God has a plan for every life on this earth, and He showed me that year (the year I left) how I was obsessed with these games. Now, I believe it is okay to have secular hobbies, there's nothing wrong with having fun with our short stay on earth (we shouldn't act stupid though, lol). But, I was getting out of hand with my obsession. No matter where I was: school, church, playing sports, hanging out with friends, etc. etc., ALL I thought about was this series. I was and had always been brought up in a Christian home (not "religious"; but Christian) and I knew all the basics, like what we're "supposed to" believe, and I went to church basically 'cuz my parents made me, and all that. But like I said earlier, that year, God showed me how He needs to be the focus of my life and that I was spending too much time wasting away with this stuff. So, rather than tell everyone "Bye, I gtg for awhile, and I don't know when/if I'm coming back." and have people keep saying "no, don't leave, stay!" and give me reasons to stay and make me stay around talking about why I was leaving rather than leave, I stopped EVERYTHING at once: took down my sites, boards, guestbook, usernames from other "Tales" boards--stopped it all. That summer, I went to a summer youth camp with my church, 'cuz I felt God calling me. He had to get my attention by whacking me in the back of the head with a 2x4 (It's just a figure if speech, that didn't literally happen, lol), but He got my full and undivided attention. "Ironically" (Though it wasn't actually irony, it was God), the theme of the camp that year was having a base of our lives consisting of God, and we at the camp were challenged to think about what was "driving" the vehicle of our lives. Obviously if you knew me then, the "Tales of..." video game series was driving my life, and I started to feel it was wrong. Also, I did not like how the "Tales" series was making more and more female characters with more and more skin showing, such as Nanaly Fletch and Shihna/Sheena Fujibayashi--which is why you will not find any full-body pictures of them on this site other than maybe battle sprites. But now, I have grown in my Faith and my walk with God, and NOTHING can ever break the bond I have with Him. He is driving my life, and it will stay that way forever, and I want to serve Him. (Buy "The Passion of the Christ" and watch it, please) I have also asked Him to help me not fall in the trap and become obsessed again while making this site. Basically, this was a drug for me. It was for me, maybe not for everyone else, but for me--definitely. I spent all my money on it, I wasn't focused on life or God, I found excuses to get out of taking part in real-life activities to do stuff with this, I was on message boards 24/7, etc. to the point where it was sin in my life. So, I AM back now with my site and interest in regards to the series and everything, but I will not be going to message boards and talking as much as I was before. I do have a job, go to school, and have lots of other stuff going on in my life. Even though I made those last couple of points, this is not to say I'm not going to work hard on this site, because I am going to work hard on it. It's like I said earlier, it's perfectly fine to have secular hobbies, and that's what this is. I just don't want to get out of hand, again. I am going to keep up a non-ad/banner site, and so I will not be getting any money off this site, this is just for fans.
So, now I'm at the point where I ask "Do I need to apologize for leaving without explanation?" because you see, while I know some of you are going to be steaming mad at me, I am glad I left. *dodges tomatoes* because I discovered my true purpose in life (Buy and read the book "The Purpose-Driven Life" by "Rick Warren") . So, I am sorry if any of you actually worried to the point of sadness; please know that I didn't mean to tick you off, make you sad, or play sick games or anything like that. If you want to talk more about this, go to the Message Board and I'll be more than glad to talk to you about this, if you'd like. Also, if you want to discuss Christianity, my own personl faith, your faith, or if you have any questions, confusion, or misconceptions about Christianity or whatever--just anything about this, I not only permit your posting them on the Message Board, but I truly welcome any such posts; and I pray that I, or another board member, could help you get a clearer understanding on having a relationship with the loving, living God of our universe.
