MyStartSearch.com

Don’t you get bored when a computer infection comes back again and again with the same set of tools of trade? I mean, there’s nothing new or significant about MyStartSearch, and yet a lot of users have to suffer this browser hijacker on their computers. From what I gather, not everyone knows how to remove MyStartSearch.com from their browsers, and it is not some lousy adware app you could easily delete via Control Panel. Even so, there is nothing to be afraid of because MyStartSearch.com is not some extra malicious infection. It’s good to be on the cautious side, but you know, if you panic, you’re pretty much done for it.

When users panic, they are bound to make rash decisions that lead to dire consequences. For example, when you get infected with MyStartSearch.com, this browser hijacker modifies your default browser settings (I mean, what else is new?), but at the same time, it provides you with a new search service, adorned with shortcuts to your most commonly-visited websites. How does MyStartSearch.com know what kind of shortcuts to display? Easy, the browser hijacker collects data on what websites you visit, and so it can more or less make a pretty decent guess of what you would want to have for your shortcuts.

Dunno What to Write

Do you ever have those days when you are simply simmering with ideas, but when you eventually need to sit down and put them down on paper (well… figuratively speaking) everything vanishes without a trace? Of course you do. So how do you deal with that? Do you look for inspirational quotes, or do you open a tutorial on writing? Whichever it might be, it should work wonders, and fast, because we don’t have all the time in the world. It is especially relevant if writing is your lifeline.

Over many years I’ve learned that it is possible to just write stepping over yourself and following basic writing rules. Granted, I’ve always thought that Creative Writing as a course in college is nonsense (unless, of course, you’re a gifted person, but you don’t know how to put all your ideas in a coherent manner yet), but for one thing, basic rules and canons, especially those of the Academic Writing, can give you the much-needed push forward when you are stuck. To be perfectly honest, I have hated Academic Writing all my adult life, but I can’t ignore its advantages. And when the going gets tough, the tough get going, right?

On Positive Finds Removal

You know you’re old when you don’t find the likes of Positive Finds surprising at all. Another symptom of old age is the phrase “these days.” If you find yourself repeating it over and over again, congrats, join the oldie wagon. I think that adware and the search habits of the people “these days” are somewhat related. I mean, it’s not problem to remove Positive Finds on your own, but I find it peculiar that some people don’t even try. Like, seriously? How hard it is to open your Control Panel and actually UNINSTALL the program in question? One could think your fingers would fall off if you tried.

Nah, I’m not directing it at YOU, it’s just a figure of speech, you know. But what I mean is that back in the days (aaaaaand, the oldie attitude kicks in) we were really thorough about our search and research. Nowadays, I get the feeling that people either a) don’t bother using the search service we are offered; or b) can’t be bothered to actually READ carefully. I mean, it’s okay if someone who’s not that savvy in computers gets infected with Positive Finds (okay, it’s not okay, but just… let’s leave it be), because not everyone is educated enough to know what one should be careful about on the Internet.

What bothers me the most, however, is that we take it for granted that the younger generation that group up with computers and the Internet since cradle KNOWS everything about Internet safety, computer security, and the dangers one might face if one installs the likes of Positive Finds. Contrary to what people believe, if you’re not interested in computers, you won’t know what’s good or bad, even if you grew up working with one since you were a toddler. I mean, it would be the same as expect every guy to be an awesome mechanic and every lady to be good in kitchen. Stereotype much?

Perfect Cuckoo Land

Continuing with one of my previous topics about thinking, I have recently come up with this tweet by Psychology Today, basically asking me directly in the face, “Are YOU a perfectionist?” Truth to be told, I have never considered myself one, because there are always SO MANY loose ends I leave no matter what I would do. Not to mention that I have always felt that I’m always lacking some 2% in all my endeavors. But here I began thinking, maybe that’s exactly WHY some of the people around call me a perfectionist?

So I went and read that article about perfectionism where Peg O’Connor, Ph.D. argues that there are at least four forms of perfectionism, and all of them are based on self-deception. Ha, here I thought, that sounds familiar, although I wouldn’t say I go as far as “harboring huge resentment directed at others” or I am “making the judgment that” I am “a moral failure.” Nevertheless, the first type of perfectionism is indicated as procrastination.

Oooooh~ here everyone would have a deep sigh, I suppose. I mean, who doesn’t procrastinate, right? Here, I thought that the procrastination and perfectionism would be related in a way that a person procrastinates because she knows she would still be able to hand in or submit something at short notice, because one is just that awesome and doing one’s job. Alas, in the article, Peg O’Connor says that when perfectionism is associated with procrastination, it means polished and re-polishing something you have already made, without giving any actual value to your draft. Yeah, I guess I was a little bit off on this one.

Binkiland Search

When I wrote about Vosteran Search a few months back, I was foolishly hoping it would be the last I hear of this browser hijacker family. Alas, that really was too much of a foolish hope. Here we have another browser hijacker from the same family called Binkiland. It is just as resistant to removal as Vosteran Search, Astromenda, Taplika, and so on.

This new infection has a cute name, I can give it that. Maybe that’s why for a time being some users might be lulled into thinking that Binkiland is the real deal. But you know I wouldn’t be happy to find binkiland.com set as my homepage. I mean, just recently it had your own homepage, with your personal customizations, and then BAM – suddenly you see two palm trees and a hammock (vacation, anyone?) with a search box below.

I sometimes find it disturbing how users disregard such modifications to their browser settings. Constant pop-ups, annoying ads, various redirections – they tend to take it for granted, as if that’s perfectly normal and one should be surprised to experience that. However, Binkiland and other annoying infections aren’t something you should tolerate! Trust me, this kind of browser settings modifications are nothing but bad news. It means that your computer’s security has been compromised and your web browsing habits are being monitored.

Thought Kills

I have always had this idea that if you think about it, you think actually talk yourself into getting ill and what not. It’s sometimes funny how you need an actual scientific proof sometimes to make people believe that something logical and common is true. Well, guess what, David Robson at BBC says that it’s the real deal. Ever thought why it sometimes feels that some people seemed to be cursed and they can’t escape the sad end? Well, personally, I don’t believe in such thing as superstitions, but perhaps they have brought it upon themselves for actually BELIEVING in it.

These negative consequences caused by a strong belief alone are called the “nocebo effect,” and it can result in a number of symptoms, for example, dizziness, vomiting, headaches, and sometimes even death! Have you ever been scared or worried sick to the point it resulted in some physical symptoms? I have. I’m a bit of a worrying type, and back when I was little, I would worry myself sick to the point I would have stomach aches. I couldn’t eat. My symptom of over thinking is the loss of the appetite. What’s yours? I’m pretty sure almost all of us have something behind our sleeves, but this kind of “nocebo jinx” could get super serious if people take it too far.

Vosteran Search

I bet it would be pretty annoying to open your browser and see that your homepage is not your homepage anymore. I have this Vosteran Search at hand at the moment, and even though I can see that it’s not much a big deal, I guess it can still make people sweat because it’s just THAT annoying. I mean, it’s kind of confusing to see something like that on your screen, when you don’t even remember installing it, right? So there, here’s the deal: you DID install Vosteran Search. And now I’m here to help you out remove it.

What is Vosteran Search? How did it get on my computer? Oh my gosh, what did I do? Aliens!! Umm, not exactly. You see, the problem with such nuisances like Vosteran Search is that users allow them to enter their computers without any second thoughts. Why? Because they don’t know the risks! Vosteran Search is a genuine browser hijacker that interrupts your web browsing experience, and yet users indulge in practices that lead to such infections on a daily basis. Have you downloaded anything recently? Was it a freeware app? Did you get it at the official website or find it at some third-party webpage? If so, then we probably have the culprit here.

Kitt!! A.K.A. Straight to the future

*insert theme music*

I don’t know how about you, but weekly sessions of Knight Rider were one of the favorite parts of my early childhood. I simply LOVED the car. Although if you take a look at the 1982 series now, most of the “innovations” appear to be rather silly, you can’t deny that back then Knight Industries Two Thousand was quite a scientifically loaded car. And apparently, according this article here on the BBC, some of the innovations that Kitt had are now present in our cars today. Kudos to Kitt’s creators for predicting the future! Let’s take a closer look at some of those innovations, shall we?

First, self-driving was probably one of the things in the show. I mean, who wouldn’t want to sit down and relax while your car just… drives itself for you? Apparently, Kitt was able to drive itself without any problem because he (it?) had an auto collision avoidance technology implemented. It might not work like magic, just like it did in the show, but nowadays most of the newest commercial cars do come out with auto collision avoidance devises. As far as the European Union is concerned, they are aiming to equip ALL new vehicles with such a device by 2015. W00t.

iStartSurf.com

You might wonder why I am doing a piece of istartsurf.com, when there’s already an article on istart.webssearches.com down below. Well, yeah, you’ve got me. These two search engines are practically one and the same, but you know, it wouldn’t hurt just to be sure. So what is istartsurf.com? Well, a search engine, and most probably a browser hijacker. Which is obvious. Now, if you have this bugger on your browser, then it is quite clear that you need to remove istartsurf.com ASAP. I wouldn’t want to have it. No sir.

But wait! Someone might say. Why the hell not? It looks nice and sophisticated and for all we know it might work just fine. Well, to be honest, the same can be applied to all the other browser hijackers out there from the same family. Istartsurf.com looks nice. Yes. Istartsurf.com provides you with shortcuts to Facebook, YouTube, Yahoo!, eBay and other popular websites. Yes. Also true. But it also collects info on what sites you visit and it displays commercial ads. Although commercials are an inescapable part of our lives, these are the types of ads you might want to avoid. After all, istartsurf.com is not an application we can trust.

Phone problems

Wow, I’m alive. Now would you believe that -__-;; Seriously, who’s ever said that summer is the best season of the year? I’ve never had such a busy summer in my life. Which resulted in me not posting here for over 5 (?) months. Dear Lord. Anyways, I’m back, and as usual, I have a problem.

I don’t know if you remember me talking about tablets before. I was wondering whether I should get myself one or not. Well, I’m still wondering about it (it usually takes me an extremely long time to decide upon something, and I’m not even a Libra!), but in the mean time, my phone got too old!

I seriously miss those good old days, when the only thing you could do with your phone was call, text message and play snake games (oh yes, I’m talking about you, 3310 the almighty). However, nowadays phones go out of commission way too soon. I’ve had my ol’ Samsung Galaxy for over 2 years now, and I’m telling you, it’s slow and frustrating. Terribly frustrating.

So now I’m wondering what should I get… Samsung is out of question. I’ve had Samsung twice already and the phone loses its vibe after a year. And I’m stingy, I need a battery that serves longer. iPhone is also out of question. Because Apple. I’m one of those people who have allergies to Apple. I mean, I know they’re good and all yada yada, but just… no. I’m sorry.

So… I’m thinking… maybe… this…?

After all, they make phones, not war LOL.

Ah, what to do…