Lucifer

Some time ago, I read in a computer mag about getting a usb flash drive and loading on a bunch of software (browsers, encryption, antivirius), and being able to plug it into public computers for surfing and email, while keeping your history/cookies/favorites private.
Does anyone know about this?

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cyrnel

There are quite a few apps modified just for this purpose. Here's a list of a few (firefox, thunderbird, sunbird, mp3player, graphics viewer, pdf viewer, editor, ftp, zip...):

http://www.techtastic.ca/articles/portable.html

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Confederate

I use portable firefox daily, i really like it, i use it at work ll the time cause i can't stand pop-ups and ads

sadistikdreams

I can see how these really can come in handy.

I wonder if it'll work at the library.

Like, you just have to mount the drive? Nothing has to get installed onto the computer you're using?

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cyrnel

Right. They're modified to use their local path for their environment. They read prefs locally, etc. Also, those that need a cache write it locally and try to minimize writes. That saves the flash RAM. (flash RAM doesn't have ~limitless writes like HD space or DRAM.)

Some of the apps are even good for read-only CD use, some need a little modification, but it's a bunch better than the autorun apps that try to merge thumbdrive settings with the desktop apps, if you've been unlucky enough to try them.

As for the library, unfortunately, smart IT people often lock down USB ports on public systems. They're a nightmare waiting to happen.

__________________
There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

Cuatela

Never thought about this, but...great idea. I'm downloading one of those now.

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fallsauce

I don't actually understand what that means, does it mean you can't use the USB ports anymore, or something else? Because at my school, everything on my USB stick works fine, I can open up portable firefox, but it doesn't seem to be able to connect to the net, however, I've tried it at internet cafes and it works fine there.

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cyrnel

Just meant the USB ports might not be available on public systems, disabled through hardware or software. They're a security weakness.

__________________
There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195