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I do similar talks for regular users* and I try to explain how to prioritize risks, and why they might not be focused on what's really important. Purchasing an
by tombrossman 10y ago
I do similar talks for regular users* and I try to explain how to prioritize risks, and why they might not be focused on what's really important. Purchasing an anti-virus suite and identity theft protection and worrying about online banking are way overrated.
Strong consumer protections exist in many developed nations which limit your liability, it is the banks who stand to lose. No doubt it can be a hassle if your credit card number is stolen, But that card is the bank's property. You just report any fraudulent transactions and get a new card if necessary. The more important thing to protect is your private data, you can't get that privacy back.
Also, NoScript is awesome and I highly recommend people try it. It can be fiddly to get working at first but a surprisingly high percentage of websites work better without having to white-list anything. It also helps with privacy by blocking trackers like Google Analytics, especialy on sites like Troy's which lack a privacy policy and do not provide any warning at all about third-party trackers to site visitors. Pretty new site redesign, same lack of transparency as before.
* By 'regular users' I mean when I say "Try an ad-blocking extension with your browser, add it from the menu" and they say "What is the menu?" and we build their knowledge up from there... . It can be frustrating for all but I highly recommend it as it keeps you grounded and provides balance for the HN bubble I sometimes find myself in.
- tunap 10y agoI've been installing NoScript, and instructing how to use it, on "regular" users' browsers for years. The sad inevitability is I end up instructing most of them on how to enable "Allow scripts globally(Dangerous)" option to help quell the flood of phone calls concerning their "broken internets". Many just can't be bothered &/or don't care enough to learn. Free will can be such a bitch, sometimes.
- INTPenis 10y agoThe big problem with noscript, and this has already been mentioned on here, is that it requires a certain level of experience with the web to operate. You almost have to be an experienced webdev to recognize which domains are necessary and which aren't. But this is also why I emphasize that you can freely use the global whitelisting option and still be much safer than without noscript. Simply because the sites that will get you are often the sites that open unexpectedly. Unknown domains that you did not request.
- stinkytaco 10y agoI'm at the point where I refer people to an ad-blocker and Disconnect. Not perfect, but a whole lot better than nothing.
- notduncansmith 10y agoI've found the Ghostery extension for Safari to require very little fiddling, breaking almost no sites and blocking ads and third-party trackers.