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Log on & OFF


michele

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Hi, Michele

 

I don't usually log off either, but if you look just above where you are typing in the welcome box at the bottom righthand corner it says Logoff with a little padlock next to it ?. I don't normally have to log on unless i delete the cookies which i do try to do every week or so ?

 

hope that helps

 

Brian

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Guest starspirit

If you use Mozilla Firefox instead of Internet Explorer you can set it to delete all cookies and tifs on closing.

You have to then log on but only by checking one box and as long as you say yes to the prompt for Firefox to remember that is all you ever need to do.

MF is a free download - just type 'mozilla firefox' into google and follow the prompts.

I'm not an expert as I am confused by all of it and barely understand any of it but this works for me so I no longer use IE.

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Guest gootler
Your computer remembers your log in details and logs you in automatically, occasionally your computer will automatically clear this information (probably once a month) which is why you need to log in sometimes and sometimes not.
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So it's much easier to stay "logged in" all the time, or at least until your own computer clears the log-in.

Only trouble is, won't your name continue to appear as "online" at the bottom of the home-page? That could lead to misunderstandings if someone replies to a post or sends you a PM & thinks you haven't bothered to reply?

I usually log out, partly for that reason and partly because I find the green "posting since you last logged on" flags useful.

 

Tony

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Guest Frank Wilkinson
Tony Jones - 2007-03-08 11:53 AM So it's much easier to stay "logged in" all the time, or at least until your own computer clears the log-in. Only trouble is, won't your name continue to appear as "online" at the bottom of the home-page? That could lead to misunderstandings if someone replies to a post or sends you a PM & thinks you haven't bothered to reply? I usually log out, partly for that reason and partly because I find the green "posting since you last logged on" flags useful. Tony

I don't think that your name shows unless you are actually visiting the site. The only reason that you don't need to log on at every visit is that your computer has a 'cookie', which remembers your username and password.

Theoretically, this cookie should remain permanently in place until such time as you run any kind of maintenance application, when it may be deleted.

So the people listed at the bottom of the front page ought to be the ones who are actually visiting the site, although I suspect that some regular users simply leave their browser open on this forum as they know that they'll be popping back in half an hour. Either that or they spend a lot of time actually online to it!

Edited to say: Here's a test for you Tony. I'm nipping out now until 1.00 p.m. approx. and I shall leave the site but not log off. See if my name disappears from the list.

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Thanks for the opportunity to try this Frank.

Checked at 12:30, yes, your name is at the bottom of the page. Did you get back early?

 

Just to double-check:

I'm closing the browser now, probably for an hour, but I won't log out.

I'll touch base again sometime this afternoon.

 

Tony

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Guest Frank Wilkinson

Re- edited to say: Tony's name is not visible, so maybe I was right all along. Here's my latest theory. If my name is visible on your computer after I've left it's because you haven't refreshed the page. Refresh it and see what happens! Either way, Tony has left the site and not logged off and his name has gone, but if Howie for instance had been online when I left, my name would remain visible to him until he refreshed his page or left the site and revisited it!

I think that solves it. People may leave the site but their names remains on your front page because that's the one that doesn't change until you refresh or leave and come back!

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Guest starspirit

I was once told by a techie never to leave my computer connected to the internet whilst idle or unattended for long periods due to the risk of nasties invading and hiding themselves on the hard drive which, he said, they could do in spite of up to date protection software - so I don't - am I paranoid?

 

If the world was not out to get me I would not need to be paranoid.

 

 

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Guest Frank Wilkinson

My techies tell me the opposite. More damage is done to a computer when it is booted up than by running it all night. It's a bit like starting an engine where the same analogy definitely applies. According to my suppliers, a small specialist firm, modern PCs are designed to run permanently.

Your computer cannot be accessed if you don't leave it connected to the web and I can't think of anyone who would leave their machine in such a condition. If you shut down your browser you should be perfectly safe.

I have about 12 machines running permanently in my business and I never turn off my home PC, except when I'm going on holiday.

I have never suffered an invasion of any kind. Viruses only infect you if you access a dodgy site or open a dodgy email.

So yes, as you ask, and this is not I assure you having a go because it's you, I think that you are being slightly paranoid. You are probably shortening your computer's life by constantly turning it on and off.

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Guest starspirit

Thanks for that Frank and no I don't think you are having a go.

 

I am having a little difficulty getting my head around your second paragraph though as I can't see what you mean?

 

I often leave the computer on but switch off the wireless router.

 

Is that wrong?

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Guest Frank Wilkinson

I don't think that a router being turned on and off is as big a problem, as it has no moving parts as far as I know (cooling fans etc.).

All I do know is that I've been running my PCs permanently for years now with no ill effect. If you think about it, the strain on startup must be far greater than normal running.

Businesses of course must run them permanently as they are usually accessed at night for downloading sales data and stock control, so manufacturers build their machines for permanent operation.

As for my second paragraph, if your computer isn't connected to the web, I'm not sure that it can be accessed. If it's just turned on, but not connected to the web using a web browser then I'm not sure how someone can log in to your machine. True, there is a broadband connection there but surely it's a bit like a phone line? You may have it but until you pick up the phone no one can talk to you.

I must admit that I'm not 100% certain of my facts here but to the best of my knowledge I have never heard of anyone whose machine has been accessed remotely by anyone, except of course, those that are permanently left online to the web and even then they have to bypass your password and I'm sure that you've set your wi-fi router's password to something that only you know.

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Guest Frank Wilkinson

OK, humble pie time here!

I've had a long chat with my chief techie who says:

Leaving a PC running permanently is fine, they're built for that. However, if you just want to turn it off in the evening before retiring that should be OK. What is not good for them is being turned on and off several times a day. That is definitely like starting a car, several short journeys do more harm than one long one.

Now the humble pie. If you are on broadband, you can be accessed by a hacker in theory, even if your browser isn't open. However, if you use a wi-fi router and you have a password set, it is impossible for the average hacker to crack the 128 bit encryption. But you must of course set your own password.

Hackers may occasionally trawl the net for open lines but there is nothing of interest to them in the average home PC and they will not waste time trying to crack your firewalls, which are excellent in XP and even better in Vista.

I use Internet banking and have done for a long time and am even more confident in it now than I have ever been. Even if someone cracked my PC they simply would not be able to crack my passwords and then if they could, they can only move my money between my own accounts. If they wish to transfer it to their account they need yet another password.

So yes, in theory, there is a tiny chance of someone trying to hack your PC but neither I or my technical guy have ever heard of anyone who has suffered as a result of someone actually hacking into their system.

If they are going to spend ages trying to hack into a computer, they'll go for where there may be some reward and of course, they are the systems best protected.

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Frank Wilkinson - 2007-03-08 1:08 PM

Re- edited to say: Tony's name is not visible, so maybe I was right all along. Here's my latest theory. If my name is visible on your computer after I've left it's because you haven't refreshed the page. Refresh it and see what happens! Either way, Tony has left the site and not logged off and his name has gone, but if Howie for instance had been online when I left, my name would remain visible to him until he refreshed his page or left the site and revisited it!

I think that solves it. People may leave the site but their names remains on your front page because that's the one that doesn't change until you refresh or leave and come back!

Bear with me on this one Frank, but what you are saying is that even though a users name is shown at the bottom of the home page does not always mean they are logged on and it depends on whether you have refreshed your page since they logged off.
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Guest Frank Wilkinson
howie - 2007-03-08 6:44 PM
Frank Wilkinson - 2007-03-08 1:08 PM

Re- edited to say: Tony's name is not visible, so maybe I was right all along. Here's my latest theory. If my name is visible on your computer after I've left it's because you haven't refreshed the page. Refresh it and see what happens! Either way, Tony has left the site and not logged off and his name has gone, but if Howie for instance had been online when I left, my name would remain visible to him until he refreshed his page or left the site and revisited it!

I think that solves it. People may leave the site but their names remains on your front page because that's the one that doesn't change until you refresh or leave and come back!

Bear with me on this one Frank, but what you are saying is that even though a users name is shown at the bottom of the home page does not always mean they are logged on and it depends on whether you have refreshed your page since they logged off.

Yes Howie, it's the only answer. You were still seeing me after I'd shut down my browser but not logged off. I never log off as it happens.

However, Tony shut his browser and went out but didn't log off. When I logged on his name wasn't in the list.

But if when he left the site, I'd been browsing the forums, his name would still be there because my front page hadn't been refreshed.

If you are now online I'll try an experiment. I will now leave the site without logging off.

See if my name is still at the bottom of the list and if it is refresh your page, or leave and come back a minute later.

I'll be off now - it's 18.55 p.m.

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Guest Frank Wilkinson
howie - 2007-03-08 7:07 PM Just went and checked my e.mails and your name was still there when I returned. Another explanation please.

Ok, maybe you have to refresh your browser. It may store the last page for a while.

I cannot believe that one's name remains permanently in the list until you log off. Otherwise, why did Tony's disappear when he went out, shut down his browser and didn't log off?

I'm going off again now and I won't log off. I'll come back in fifteen minutes.

Leave the site, go back in and if my name's there, refresh your browser.

It's now 19.13p.m. I'll be back at 7.30 p.m.

Edited to say, you obviously didn't try it, but at about 7.45 p.m. I'm going out for the evening. I won't log out from the site so check if my name is in the list. If it is, refresh and see what happens.

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