Posts by Sandra Ward

Well, it’s good to be here, I guess. xD

I’m dealing with the exact same thing... I’d upload a photo if I could actually find where the files are stored on this site, but honestly, I just don't know what happened to me back in the fall. Now it's spring and the whole cycle is starting all over again—just with slightly less swelling this time.

It’s just my left eye. It itches constantly, and I’m at a loss for what to do because the itch feels like it’s deep inside.

I went to see my primary care doctor since getting an appointment with an ophthalmologist around here is basically impossible—never happens.

She just gave me some Claritin and a Maxim ointment or something similar.

And look, it worked for a bit—but clearly, it was just a temporary fix...

So now I’m stuck wondering: do I go back for more of the same just to endure it, or should I push to get referred for those allergy tests? Before last fall, I didn't have any allergies to speak of. I wear contact lenses, and I pretty much stick to the same solution I've always used.

I have absolutely no clue where this is coming from.🤷

Does anyone have any actual, sensible advice?

Paul Green31 said:It’s probably better if you just start a new thread over there. Before you do, set it up similar to this post and make sure to include the scenario logs in that new thread.
The Goodness forums staff will take a look at it then and let you know how to proceed. 🙂

I honestly have no clue what any of this means lol
but alright..

I guess I'll just link everything in a new thread then xD
assuming anyone actually understands me...

Paul Green31 said:The admin could have a script running on your computer that sends them an email every single time you log in.🙂
You should probably reach out to Security and have the guys there take a look at it.👍

Yeah... some kind of hacker nonsense xD

I could tell things were getting messy over there
😁 And honestly, if I ever caught that admin—that absolute clown who really needs to just go back to basics—I’d love to stomp all over him in my heels! Just saying.

😂

Jacob Foster11 said:Look, I’m not saying you should stop saving passwords on your PC or anything. I still have mine saved and I use cookies just like everyone else. You just have to be smart about how you handle things.

Regarding any other technical stuff related to this, you're probably better off heading over to the IT Help Desk subforum—specifically the Security section. There are people hanging out there who deal with this stuff all day, so they might actually be able to give you some real guidance...

Man, alright... I guess I'll just go ask them then. xD
Maybe I'll learn a thing or two from them too. 😁

Honestly, though, I've got them all sitting in a Notepad file... and I guess that's just how it's gonna be from now on. Everything is different—Facebook, the forums, my email, email, email... YouTube... everything is unique. If I keep using different ones for everything, even a locksmith couldn't crack my code. xD

Jacob Foster11 said:Yeah, exactly. That happened specifically because she used the exact same password for both Facebook and her email. This is why I keep stressing the importance of using unique passwords. Your email is basically your lifeline—it’s the only way to get back into your accounts, whether it's this forum or Facebook. You request a reset, and it goes to your inbox. If you lose control of that email, you're locked out of everything.

So yeah, that's pretty much it... I'm not entirely certain... but I think there wasn't even an option to change the email address... since the same password applies to the whole portal... I'm not 100% sure... but it was close enough...

Anyway... I'm going to set up a completely different email address... and obviously a password like xyi9485IidjfHJGH xD or something along those lines. 😁

Though, honestly... they probably didn't even "steal" it, it was just too easy to guess. xD

Which means it can happen on Facebook too... wow... I should probably prune my friend list even more. xD

I really don't get how anyone finds this interesting, or how someone can be so pathetic... poking around in other people's lives and data, trying to cause harm... it's just sad, really. 🙂 🙂

Not to mention how zero-morals that is... and man, if I actually knew who it was, I would have lost it last night. I would've been looking for them. xD😁

Jacob Foster11 said:Okay, that makes a bit more sense now...

One more thing. If a website itself is poorly built (like an old local bulletin board or some outdated community site) and doesn't use SSL during login (meaning it uses http instead of the https protocol), someone could technically eavesdrop on your connection. They could intercept your password while it's traveling from your computer to, say, that site's server. There isn't much you can do about that specific issue, since it depends entirely on the site's own security standards. Just keep in mind that any site where you log in and don't see https at the start of the URL is a potential red flag.

Also, just a heads-up: don't blindly install software you find online from unverified sources. That's how people get hit with keyloggers—tiny little programs that record every single keystroke you make and beam them right back to a hacker.

Thanks, 😍

Basically... that site isn't safe. Clearly not any safer than the one you mentioned...

Right now, my main concern is just making sure that person doesn't grab my password again when they reset it for me... assuming they actually do... and honestly, I don't even want to think about what would have happened if they'd gotten into my Facebook or my Gmail or whatever else.

So, moving forward, I'm going to clear my cookies every day and I won't be using the "save password" feature. Up until now, I had everything saved on my computer and my brother's computer, so it’s very possible what you described actually happened.

As for software, I don't think I have an issue there. I usually download things myself from places like XY... not from random forums. But how am I supposed to check if I actually have a keylogger on my computer right now?!?!

I'm running Avast as my antivirus, I've got Malwarebytes for anything I might have downloaded, and my Windows firewall is turned on...
Is that enough?

And sorry everyone for the confusing messages earlier xD I was a bit shocked so I was just typing whatever came to mind without really proofreading afterward xD

mistywolf17 said:Could you explain that a bit better? Are we talking about some other username of yours? 😕

Alright, let me try to clarify...

It all started a few days ago. Basically... I got kicked out of my own account on one browser... then yesterday, it happened on a second one too... and now I can't get back into my own damn account at all!

And I mean on a different site, not this one.

My password was something so incredibly private that nobody could ever guess it—not even if they included my mom in the equation. It’s just a combination of my initials and the nickname my dad uses for me. No one would ever make that connection.

I'm assuming someone hijacked my cookies. At least, that's what some guy who claims to be an expert told me. As for how it happened—I have no clue. Apparently, it was through some link I carelessly clicked. It probably looked like a legitimate YouTube link or something similar, but it was actually... well, here's the explanation:

Based on what's written there, it looks like that person managed to grab my password through something like this. There was some issue with the server; I basically gave permission and it sent my data right to them. It's not like I'm a tech genius, but I know enough to be certain that even my best friend couldn't guess my password—never.

The password was the same for both my email on that portal and the forum itself. To change the existing one, they would have had to know what it currently was.

So, they changed it (somehow), and now I'm locked out of my own account.
And I can't seem to fix it...

Next time, I might as well just set my password to P3K5J6KF9mndiff.
I don't really care anymore if they can just read it via those cookies anyway.

What I really want to know is: is deleting my cookies every single day enough protection?!!?
And is there any other way that person can get back into my account once/if this gets resolved?!??!

I don't know if any of you have dealt with this, but it's really not a pleasant feeling when someone starts posting under your name on a forum where you've been a member for years, insulting you and others, posting your photos and stuff...

mellowseal27 said:If someone is posting under her name, then someone definitely cracked her password 🤷

To < click here → EDIT email & Password → Type in the current password along with the new one you want, then just confirm everything via email

Someone hijacked my email and my forum account... they're posting as me and all that.
I can't even get into my own account because they changed the password..

I reached out to the admins... but I haven't heard a peep back. I cleared all my cookies, reset every single password on my computer, everything except this one—since I physically can't access it..

They sent me a temporary password, but it doesn't even work. My main concern is—I assume they'll sort this out eventually...

BUT... is there some sneaky way this person can still get back into my private data?!??!?!?

Hey everyone... looks like I’ve had my identity hijacked too, and right here on this forum. Someone was actually posting under my name and everything...

Does anyone know how to handle this without just getting slapped with an indefinite ban myself?!??!??

mistyjackal842 said:Oh yeah, that’s actually solid advice. But honestly, I wasn't even at my computer much yesterday—maybe an hour tops? I think I feel way more comfortable wearing my contacts rather than glasses. So, I’ll probably just stick to wearing them most of the time now, except maybe for a day or two over the weekend to give them a break.

Haha, we all know how it goes, 😁 we just rarely actually follow through. 😢

There's always some rabbit hole to fall down online... movies, whatever... honestly, I can find myself staring at a screen for five or six hours straight without even realizing how much time has slipped away.

🙄

Anyway, you should check if it's actually the contacts. If it isn't (like what you were mentioning yesterday), then just go see a doctor, just to be safe.

mistyjackal842 said:I get those headaches too, especially lately—it seems to hit harder when I'm exhausted or haven't caught enough sleep. Yesterday, I had this really intense pain right above my eye. I actually went to see my doctor about a month ago, but they can't even fit me in until next year. I don't think it has anything to do with my soft contacts, though. Yesterday, I mostly just rested and wore my glasses because the headache made wearing lenses feel impossible. But today? I wore my contacts and didn't have a headache at all. I've actually just started an IT course, and starting tomorrow, we'll be stuck in front of a computer for three full hours at a time. I’m going to try to squeeze in a quick walk outside during the break. I just hope the screen time doesn't trigger another headache.

It's probably the screen time... honestly, it does a number on me when I spend too much time on forums or anything similar. I'll be staring intently, trying to concentrate, and then my eyes start aching... sometimes my head follows suit.

Sometimes my eyelid even gets swollen...

So yeah... we should probably all try to distance ourselves from the computer screens.😁

Brian Sanders7 said:A few months back, I finally made the jump to contact lenses—specifically the rigid gas permeable kind—because my prescription seems to be skyrocketing faster than a rocket...
The issue is, ever since I started wearing them, I’ve been dealing with these frequent headaches.
Before the switch, I just wore glasses, and I rarely had any head pain, even though I spend pretty much all day staring at a computer screen.

Since I've been wearing these lenses non-stop for three months now, I really don't think this is just a case of "getting used to them."

Is it possible my eye doctor prescribed me the wrong base curve, or could there be something else going on here?

I've been wearing contacts for about four or five years now...
and they only started bothering me a couple of months ago...
now, if I wear them for more than four or five hours, my eyes feel totally exhausted... sometimes I even get those headaches you mentioned... though I can't tell if it's the lenses or maybe just my sinuses.
Do you usually struggle with sinus issues?

It’s definitely possible that’s the culprit.

Honestly, I'm thinking about switching brands soon. These might just not fit my eyes right anymore, even though they aren't technically expired yet.

Maybe go see an ophthalmologist, just in case?

Keith Bennett38 said:I have to admit, I really don't follow your logic here.
Based on what you wrote, it sounds like stealing is fine and we shouldn't bother paying people for their hard work.
I can't imagine how you'd feel if you poured hours of your life, your sanity, and your own money into a project, only to have someone snatch it away without paying a dime.😕🤷
I honestly don't get why there's this widespread mindset that copyright is just something you don't need to pay for.😕

And there it is... once again, someone cherry-picks a tiny slice of what I actually said.
But whatever, it doesn't matter.
I really don't have the energy to go through the whole explanation all over again.😁 Just take it however you want to take it.😁

Keith Bennett38 said:Hmm... Antivirus licenses are usually an annual subscription, right? So you can't just do a one-time payment?
And then there's Microsoft Office—that’ll run you about $0.67 or more, depending on which version you're looking at. I don't think most customers want to see their laptop price jump by $0.67 just because they're getting Office bundled in.
The courts actually ruled that Microsoft has to strip Google Chrome out of the American versions of Windows as a built-in component, let alone forcing their own software onto everyone.
Nowadays, plenty of laptops hit the shelves without Windows pre-installed just to keep the sticker price down. If you start adding software to them, you're just driving up the cost for the buyer.🙂
Instead of shelling out for expensive Microsoft Office, you could always just use free LibreOffice. 🙂

Well, personally, I think someone who isn't tech-savvy—like myself—would find it easier to just pay $667
and honestly, I think I could charge a decent amount for those damn antivirus programs... just a one-time fee so people can decide if they want it or not. End of story. I'm not interested in this whole headache where I have to constantly upgrade things or deal with whatever else comes up. It's just not my thing. I'm not a computer person; my PC is basically just a glorified fax machine and a way to stream music and movies. That's it. No room for IT experiments here.

I also feel like they should tailor some stuff specifically for us too...

And I don't get why anyone has the right to tell Microsoft what they can or can't include in THEIR OWN software. Why bother? It's their OS; why shouldn't they supplement it with whatever they want? Is it because of monopoly laws? Honestly, who's actually going to go out of their way to buy Windows? Most Americans already have it, as far as I know... they'll just use the included programs because that's what they're used to. I don't know a single soul who uses Linux or any other operating system.

All in all, it seems pretty silly to me. And I certainly won't be paying extra for an antivirus through some convoluted system like that. They could have just factored it in and been slightly less greedy.😉
Unless my computer dies completely, 😛 but by then it'll be too late anyway. So yeah, piracy and trial versions are my go-to.😁

Anyway, how good is that Office really? What sets it apart from the others, besides the price tag?
By the way, I might just cave and reinstall that old Office 2003... I still have it, and it doesn't require updates or extra payments.😁 CD and Ecco 😁 Pretty soon they'll probably start charging us for the air we breathe.😛

Keith Bennett38 said:Because someone else manufactured that product and they want to turn a profit 🙂
Look, obviously you have to pay for stuff. You don't walk into a CVS and expect them to just hand you a chocolate bar for free, right? 😬

I get what you're saying, I really do...
But here's what feels a bit ridiculous to me. Instead of just bundling it all together from the start—since everyone needs an antivirus anyway—they play these little mental games. Then I end up stuck dealing with the headache later when they try to squeeze more money out of me $167 and that's it, game over.

And honestly, this whole thing with Microsoft Office is just silly. The idea that I buy Windows and then I'm expected to shell out extra for Microsoft Office separately... it just doesn't make sense. 🙂
I mean, those are basic necessities at this point—Microsoft Office and some decent security software.

Keith Bennett38 said:My suggestion would be to just ditch that trial version and install Microsoft Security Essentials instead. It’s free, does a solid job, and handles its own updates automatically.

http://www.microsoft.com/Security_es...aspx?mkt=en-us

There are definitely better antivirus options out there, but you can't beat free. 🙂

thanks 😁 so you're saying this might actually work? 😁
I guess I'll give it a shot 😁
hopefully it won't crash my system 😁

Anyway, I have genuine Windows, so I don't really get why I didn't get the full thing and ended up with a trial... probably just another way to squeeze more money out of us... kind of like how they handle 😲Microsoft Office 😛 where you feel like you have to buy everything separately just to stay afloat.

Also, to the guy below... sorry, I didn't realize asking for links was off-limits here xD on other forums we swap torrents and stuff all the time. 😁
My bad!

Hey everyone...

I don't want to clutter up the forum by starting a whole new thread, but...
I'm running Windows 7 myself, and I ended up with this Trend Micro trial version acting as my antivirus. The thing is, it expires in two days. Does anyone happen to have a code to extend it? Or is that even a thing you can do?!?!

Should I just uninstall it and try to download another trial version instead?
Or maybe you guys know a smarter way to handle this. 😁 This one was actually working fine for me, mostly because I download everything 😁 straight from the web—not that I have much else to do, since I'm pretty clueless about all this tech stuff anyway. 😁

I was using Avast before this, but that expired too. 😢

graniteorca11 said:So, I was wondering if anyone here has actually tried Differin... like, how many days does it usually take before your skin starts peeling, and is it okay to put a regular moisturizer on top of the area after you apply the Differin? I was reading some stuff online saying the gel can cause some pretty nasty side effects—apparently, one girl's eyes even swelled shut 😕

From my experience.. Differin doesn't really cause peeling..
Benzaclin does... and that lasts for about a month.. then nothing.. just incredibly dry skin..

If you have a specific spot breaking out.. you're better off buying Benzaclin 5% and just dabbing it onto those specific spots (I mean the deep ones, not the standard yellow ones)
And that clears up way faster.. To me, Differin feels like a waste of money.. it costs twice as much as Benzaclin.. if not more.. My dermatologist says it's more for those tiny little bumps that look almost like an allergic reaction..

My doctor didn't tell me specifically that I couldn't get pregnant for two years (not that I'm planning on that anyway xD), but you aren't supposed to take doxycycline for about 6 months after finishing it.. though some sources say even longer..

I assume you can go ahead with whatever you want after Differin if that's what you're feeling like 😉

The upside to both Differin and Benzaclin is that your skin doesn't really build up a tolerance to them.. so they always seem to work when you need them 🙂