Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2012 March 23

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March 23

How do find a website on Alexa?

I need to find Op7 on Alexa.--UserWOLfan112 Talk 17:11, 23 March 2012 (UTC)

Are proxy servers legal in the UK?

Every time I ask these question I get a very confused answer. Please try to give a detailed answer with lots of references to UK law?

We cannot offer legal advice. Please see the legal disclaimer. Contact a lawyer. RudolfRed (talk) 20:15, 23 March 2012 (UTC)

This question isn't asking for advice though, it's asking for information in a general sense. That is perfectly acceptable, although if you feel that it is not you can bring the issue up on the talk page 82.45.62.107 (talk) 20:23, 23 March 2012 (UTC)

I assume you mean Open proxy. Cyberlaw is still in a state of ever changing flux so I don't think I can add anything different to the fist answer. Richard O'Dwyer has found that just having a proxy in Sweden with a dot com address turned out to be sufficient to get United States extradition papers served on him. So, its no good asking here – I don't know of any authority, other than to point you in the direction of a lawyer. --Aspro (talk) 21:11, 23 March 2012 (UTC)

One of the reason you get a very confused answer is because as explained in previous answers, the question itself is rather confused. Your question is not that different from 'are web servers legal in the UK' or 'is the internet legal in the UK' or even 'are banks legal in the UK'. In fact, as these examples illustrate, even the very basic 'legal in the UK' is rather confusing given the fact the UK has 3 different legal jurisdictions in a number of matters so the answer could depend on what jurisdiction you're referring to. Nil Einne (talk) 15:37, 25 March 2012 (UTC)

How do I get a dynamic IP address

How do I get a dynamic IP address? And how does wikipedia deal with dynamic ip vandalism? — Preceding unsigned comment added by WOLfan112 (talk • contribs) 17:16, 23 March 2012 (UTC)

Whether you have a fixed or dynamic IP address depends on your internet service provider and the contract you have with them. Most large ISP's catering to home users offer both, with a fixed IP coming at a somewhat higher price and a dynamic IP for a smaller price. There is a pretty good chance that you have a dynamic IP address already if you connect to the Internet through a home service that you purchase yourself. If you connect through a business (such as your employer) or a city-provided service you may have a fixed address. Regards, TransporterMan (TALK) | DR goes to Wikimania! 21:34, 23 March 2012 (UTC)

As for dynamic IPs, it bans them all, or in some extreme cases ban IP ranges. In the end, it has little effect on Wikipedia, but can interfere with the editing of other IP users on the same network. --Mr.98 (talk) 21:55, 23 March 2012 (UTC)

When I had dial-in, I got a different IP address each time (i.e. dynamic). When I had DSL, it stayed the same unless I had the DSL modem reset or reconnect. With cable modem, it is static. Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 01:27, 26 March 2012 (UTC)

Browsing history

Hello, I have quite the problem. My elderly relatives, who I've taught to use the computer, have me check their user accounts periodically for a variety of issues. Completely by chance, I noticed the title of a website one of the relatives had viewed. The content it contained (based on the title, I certainly did not look) would have been quite explicit. My relatives would be horrified, and I am absolutely certain, beyond a doubt, that they never viewed these sites. I don't even think they would know how to find them, as they have difficulty even accessing Yahoo. A further inspection found several more of these websites on the computer browsing history. Please explain how these could have gotten here... 208.87.126.63 (talk) 21:46, 23 March 2012 (UTC)

One more thing – the search engine history results show no explicit searches, merely the handful of perfectly bland searches that they may have made this month. 208.87.126.63 (talk) 21:55, 23 March 2012 (UTC)

Some possibilities:

• It could be someone else using the computer. (Another relative or friend?)
• It could be malware of some sort opening up links to other sites.
• It could be that your relatives do more than you think online. ("Porn finds a way.")

I'm suspecting that the second in the list is potentially the culprit. Do they have anti-virus and anti-malware software that is up to date? It's worth a check. --Mr.98 (talk) 22:11, 23 March 2012 (UTC)

No one has had access to the computer except us. I am a regular here at Wikipedia (I don't feel comfortable revealing my username) and am now a bit concerned about my account's security, as I've accessed it occasionally from this account. I'm considering deleting the relative's computer user account and doing damage control. Thanks, 208.87.126.63 (talk) 22:17, 23 March 2012 (UTC)

Run anti-virus and anti-malware software. Check any plugins that may be installed for the browser. I've known several non-tech savvy people who have seen the ads and pop ups that say "Your computer is infected with a virus!! Click here to clean it now!!" and they do exactly that. And that's when the havoc starts. Dismas|^(talk) 03:18, 24 March 2012 (UTC)

How is it you know search history? Just from the browser history? It's quite possible that they got the computer virused/malwared somehow...it's also possible that whatever method you're using to login to this computer (I assume remotely?) was compromised.

My suggestion would be to try to find out which computers were compromised (use antivirus programs for this), and then to reinstall that computer from the original discs. Then when you set them up new again, put on both anti-virus and also maybe an extension like NoScript (configure it for their usual sites so it won't cause confusion). Shadowjams (talk) 02:19, 25 March 2012 (UTC)

I think you are all being a bit paranoid here. First of all, delete the browsing history and remve any malware, then just monitor the situation on your next couple of visits. While it is possible there is some malware, I doubt it would leave traces in the browsing history, unless it produced rogue popups which I imagine your relatives would have mentioned by now. If the porn URLs return it comes back to the idea that a) someone else is paying your relatives a visit and using their computer, b) they have received some spam email and clicked on the link, or c) your relatives are more liberal minded than you thought. Why not bring up the subject over tea/coffee - no, not "what's with all the hardcore porn you've been viewing?" but more a more gentle approach like "has anything strange or unexpected appeared on your computer screen?" or "have you received any unexpected emails?" Astronaut (talk) 00:49, 26 March 2012 (UTC)