Two Questions Today

Hello all,

My first question might be better asked in the Malware section (forum) but I'll go ahead and ask here, since I have another question for this (Software) forum anyway.

Does anyone know of (or is anyone willing/able to provide) a list (of sorts) containing (in order) the most important security measures one can take to protect their computer when online? Obviously the top few are well-known and fairly obvious (I think?) - Firewall, Anti-Malware program (not sure which would come first between Antivirus and Anti-spy programs or if they are considered "equally" important), but after those first few (after the first few measures/protections) it seems to get a bit foggy (for me it does anyway).

Specifically I am wondering about how important it is to NOT surf the web as an admin (not access the web/net from an admin account)? I have been practicing this for years now (and have advised others to follow this course), but I find it causing problems with my mothers computer (running XP), as far as programs properly updating etc.

I think I could set hers up so that certain programs would update from her non-admin (standard-user) account, but I have always had trouble understanding the whole "Permissions" and "Task Scheduling" things. Perhaps a SIMPLE tutorial on those would help me.

The other question is in reference to the Google Chrome browser that I've recently been using, and I'm wondering if there is a way to eliminate the annoying little balloon that jumps in on top of the cursor when I'm typing text into certain text boxes (wish I better knew the names of all of these things?) ... I'm thinking specifically of Facebook (which is where I notice it the most), when I'm typing, the little balloon pops-up and gets in the way, and blocks the cursor so that I can't see if I am typing in the correct spot. Does anyone know if there is a way to stop this from happening - I never noticed it in Firefox (or IE or Opera, for that matter), please?

Thanks in advance,
Glenn..

 

Do you mean the little box that says "Write a comment ..."? If that's what you're talking about, just move your mouse pointer away from the text box after you've clicked in the box to put your cursor there.

If that's not what you're talking about, please describe exactly what you mean.

 

Yes, that's what I was referring to, and yes, I do move the mouse away, it just "seems" such an unnecessary hassle/distraction to do that each and every time ... at least when I never recall having to do it in any other browser.

I just thought there might be a method of eliminating those balloons (notifications?), such as there is in Windows for certain tasks? I mean for Goodness sakes, we already know to "Write a Comment..." because that is exactly what we are already in the process of attempting to do, wouldn't you agree?

 

Yes, I would agree it's not necessary and it's a bit annoying. But, I see no way to disable it in facebook settings.

I checked that facebook comment behavior with Chrome, Firefox 3.6.10, and IE8 and they all show the popup box saying "Write a comment ...". I noticed one difference with Firefox; I did not need to move my mouse pointer out of the box to get rid of it; merely move the mouse, even if still in the box, would clear the message.

 

Well, thanks just the same - and thanks for looking into it vs. other browsers. It's really odd, in that now I am noticing it in everything I do, such as when I mouse-over ANY "button" (such as "Quote", below, I get a balloon saying; "Reply with Quote" or over the "Thanks" button, I get a balloon saying; "Thanks"). Duuuuuuh!

Occurs to me as annoying, obnoxious, redundant (a pain in the @$$), and just plain unnecessary.

I suppose this is considered "neat" or "cool" (or whatever) by "the developers" ... and I have been thinking for years that these developers must be getting younger and younger all the time - to the point where it seems that all of our programs, games, systems, etc. are been handed to us (developed) by 10 or 12 year-old KIDS ?!?

Thanks again......