I've just swapped internet security programs and haven't read up fully yet. The last one used to block "mobile code" and the little emoticon men didn't move. The new one has everyone moving again - I asked when I rang about something else and was told that they scan the code for nasties and will alert if anything is found. Is there any "danger" in having moving men or is it just the different approach of each of the programs and both are ok?

tekchallenged, exactly which internet security program did you change to?

I don't know if "jumping men" are dangerous,

but you should let sleeping dogs lie.


Just an observation.

Sorry, I don't understand - should I delete this thread? What sleeping dogs?

lol "sleeping dogs" meaning a metaphor as in "Let the security lie down and do its job"

So what Internet Security did you switch too? The only good Security Suite out there is Zonealarm Internet Security.... Though version 7 is a bit buggish.

I my self change and try NEW antispyware products from time to time. I have ALWAYS had Spybot, Ad-aware SE personal and AVG Antispyware (free). Now I have a few more, Since spyware was getting in my pc.

In other words if it is not broken, don't mend it...

I understand the expression, I just don't get how it applies here - particularly in view of the angry little man with the "off-topic" sign.....
If it isn't legitimate question to ask why one program considers "mobile code" something that should be blocked altogether and another not, I'll delete it.

Whoa!

That's why I used the sign, tekchallenged.

I was just joking regarding the "jumping men".

"Off topic", I thought would imply it had nothing to do with the topic, and I'm sorry if my response concerned you. Maybe I've misused the off topic emoticon - I hadn't noticed until you pointed it out that the little guy looked angry. I thought he was just holding up the sign. Maybe he's angry because he has to stand there all the time holding up the sign? Dunno.


Back on topic - I honestly don't know what you mean by the "jumping men". I guess I've just never used whatever program is generating that animated icon.

Sorry for the confusion.

We are still in the dark about where the "jumping men" come from; what application uses them?
Regards,
John

Crikey, never has a thread been so incomprehensible to so many people . I thought the angry guy with the sign was angry with me If he isn't, I'll relax....

[I think if you read our respective "signatures" (or whatever they're called), JohnWho, it says it all... ]

Ok, so to explain...the jumping men are the little emoticon men under the heading "clickable smilies" that you add into the posts. Like this guy or him (There are ones in other forums with legs, who do little dances and jump about) And also other animations, like your winking eye JohnWho, or your lightning TMack. Nothing used to move - Zone Alarm used to block whatever made them move. I now have Kaspersky, and everything moves.

See if this thread, helps to explain it some:
Smilies Not Animating

Not really - I am wondering why the authors of Zone Alarm see mobile code as something that needs to (or needs an option to) be blocked, but the Kaspersky people don't.

Think there must a be flaw in your settings since I use ZA and I see those smiley's all the time. Which browser do you use?

There isn't a flaw in his settings fozzie, it's just the way yours is set up.
Read the link I provided above.


Probably for the same reason some Anti-spyware applications classify one program as a risk, while other Anti-spyware applications don't.
It's at the author's discretion.

Security issues with mobile code:
Mobile Code Security

Ah, now I understand.

Somewhat.

These little emoticons - - are animated "gif" files.

Am I reading that "mobile code" link incorrectly? It doesn't seem to imply that animated gifs are "mobile code".

It would appear that tekchallenged may have a setting in ZA that is blocking animated gifs, if I am understanding the problem correctly now.

I don't have a problem as such, I'm just interested in learning....
There is a setting in ZA which blocks "mobile code" including javascript. My new program doesn't seem to "care" in that there is no default blocking. I suspect that it is something to do with this "heuristic" analysis approach - ie it doesn't think everything should be blocked, but looks at what comes in to see if it is operating in a way which indicates it is malicious??

Anyway, it doesn't really matter (unless I am constantly under "attack" ) I am just going to proceed on the basis that BleepingComputer's little men are ok Thanks for the links.