Software help.

[joelthezombie15]

I am looking for some one to help me a little with everything software, well not everything but some stuff. i am pretty well versed in the hardware side (i dont know everything but i know a bit). and im looking for some one to help me learn some software stuff. so i have a short list of some things and i will ask more questions as i go on. thanks 

 

 

Questions:

 

What are torrents, are they all bad/illegal?

 

What is the diffrence in html and https?

 

what is defragging your computer and is it relevant anymore?

 

cant think of many more right now because it is 1:00am and I cant think fully.

[SubTract]

Bit torrent is a way of sharing files among users using a pool of people to download from. It means that there is (generally) no 1 server requiring a huge amount of bandwidth for a bunch of people to download from. A cost effective way of sharing files. Bit Torrent isn't illegal however it is used for a lot of illegal content e.g. pirated movies/games/music. It is also used for a lot of legal stuff e.g. update games, free software and the likes of Linux.

 

HTML stands for hyper-text markup language, it is the code somebody puts on a webpage to tell your browser how to display content and where to get the content.

 

HTTP stands for Hyper-text transfer protocol, it is the protocol of which data is sent from a web server to your web browser.

there are many other protocols but the other main one used with browsers is FTP which is a file transfer protocol. Basically for transferring all files across the internet.

 

HTTPS stands for Hyper-text transfer protocol with SSL (or Secure Sockets Layer) Pretty much just a more secure method of HTTP.

 

De-fragmenting is a way of putting relevent files next to each other on a storage device in order to try and improve seek and read times. Can make quite a difference on mechanical Hard Drives, On a Solid state drive the difference is negligible. With an SSD erase and write cycles cause the flash it is written to, to degrade or eventually die. This is why you wouldn't normally defrag an SSD. Good SSD controllers will write the data across all the cells before using the cells a second time, to stop 1 part from degrading and losing performance or dying before the rest of it. Typically these days an decent sizes SSD with typical every day use will or should last longer than a consumer grade mechanical drive.

 

I think that is all. If I have missed anything just ask.

[joelthezombie15]

what is drm and why is it so amazing that witcher 3 wont have it?

[joelthezombie15]

Bit torrent is a way of sharing files among users using a pool of people to download from. It means that there is (generally) no 1 server requiring a huge amount of bandwidth for a bunch of people to download from. A cost effective way of sharing files. Bit Torrent isn't illegal however it is used for a lot of illegal content e.g. pirated movies/games/music. It is also used for a lot of legal stuff e.g. update games, free software and the likes of Linux.

 

HTML stands for hyper-text markup language, it is the code somebody puts on a webpage to tell your browser how to display content and where to get the content.

 

HTTP stands for Hyper-text transfer protocol, it is the protocol of which data is sent from a web server to your web browser.

there are many other protocols but the other main one used with browsers is FTP which is a file transfer protocol. Basically for transferring all files across the internet.

 

HTTPS stands for Hyper-text transfer protocol with SSL (or Secure Sockets Layer) Pretty much just a more secure method of HTTP.

 

De-fragmenting is a way of putting relevent files next to each other on a storage device in order to try and improve seek and read times. Can make quite a difference on mechanical Hard Drives, On a Solid state drive the difference is negligible. With an SSD erase and write cycles cause the flash it is written to, to degrade or eventually die. This is why you wouldn't normally defrag an SSD. Good SSD controllers will write the data across all the cells before using the cells a second time, to stop 1 part from degrading and losing performance or dying before the rest of it. Typically these days an decent sizes SSD with typical every day use will or should last longer than a consumer grade mechanical drive.

 

I think that is all. If I have missed anything just ask.

thanks

[GoodBytes]

what is drm and why is it so amazing that witcher 3 wont have it?

DRM means: Digital Right Management.

It's a security system put into a game, which, in theory, was deigned to block pirated software/games from running, and only allowing those who paid the software/game to enjoy it.

It's a popular method used to combat piracy.

They are many different ways a DRM work.

-> It uses an account system, where the game/software product key to linked to, and you log in the game every time you start (Steam purchased games, StarCraft 2, are examples of this system)

-> Using an account system as well, but also makes a live connection to a server which scans continuously some game files. This is also known as 'always-on'. Where if your connection is interrupted, or you simply don't have one (let's say you are on a laptop, and there isn't a hot spot, or the internet you are is simply terrible), you won't be able to play your game.. or if you have a spotty internet, it will work, but the game will crash (on purpose) while you play, because the connection got dropped. This is a big problem. Not only it consume your bandwidth limit more, even if you play single player locally, also any packet lost from anywhere from your computer to the game company server, your game could assume a connection loss, and crash the game. Or if the game company servers are down.. you can't play. Or worst, if the game company goes "Well our new version of the XYZ game, called XYZ II, is out, lets turn off the servers of the old game, so that we can use it for the new game.", you won't be able to play the old game (XYZ). You have to purchase the newer game (XYZ II). A good way to force you to purchase the newer game. If the company goes bankrupt like THQ, or your game is simply very old, but still want to enjoy it.. I mean you paid 60$ for it? Why not! Well you wont' be able to, as the servers are gone.

-> Another system, is to limit the number of re-installs of the game. Meaning after X amount (usually 3 times), you have to buy a new copy of the game. Well, what happens if you re-install Windows because you got a virus or something... how about an HDD or SSD upgrade? How about a new computer upgrade. After 3 you are done, you need to buy an another copy.

The above is the popular methods these days, but they are more.

While the intentions are good, sadly as you saw explained above, it has issues in reality. Also, pirates are able to hack the game within weeks even the same day of release, the game, and now they don't have this nonsense explained above. So pirates have a better experience than gamers.

It's like this famous diagram. Purchase DVD/Blu-ray movie, versus pirated movies:

-------------------------

--------------------------

While I don't agree at all about piracy, and I am against the red bold text mentioned, it does raise a good point.

So DRM, instead of blocking piracy, encourages it. Which is bad. But the problem is how to make this understand investors in companies. Investors thinks truly you can block it. It's finding the right solution, or a better execution of an idea. Publishers and studios MUST please investors, even -> no money. While we, the consumer, says: "We are tired of this shit, it's been since floppy area that you try, and it never works".

So that is why, seeing a company like CD Projekt, creator of The Witcher 1/2/3, says "Screw DRM!", it's a breath of fresh air in the gaming world.

Their game don't have more piracy than the others, PLUS, it might actually be less, as it encourages people that are against DRM, just support them and do an effort to buy the game, even if it's not really their genre of game they play. Also, CD Projekt is against retail/online store exclusives. Now they do it to please them, as they want their game in stores. But, if you purchase the game from them directly via it's Sister company: GOG.com, not only you don't pay taxes (taxes are included in the price, and it's the same in store, but you have all the exclusive content that they made available for all different retailers... you just don't have the box.. that's the trade off).

GOG.com (Good Old Games), is own by CD Projekt. They sale old games, DRM free, re-compiled or patched, or under emulation where they make sure that the game experience you'll get is identical to the original game, so that they work on our new computers problem free. And also these games are very cheap (most under 5$). They also sale CD Projekt own new games.

[joelthezombie15]

and goodbytes saves the day again lol

[joelthezombie15]

what is a proxxy?

[GoodBytes]

Someone else than you or a group of people represents you.

 

Using a proxy server to access the internet, means you use another computer, generally away from your home to access the internet, and not yours directly.

For example, you can connect to my computer/server (assuming I have it all setup to enable you to do this), and instead of access a website directly, you pass by my computer/server to get the website.

A potential purpose for this system, is for employees to access something, like an employee only web site from your home. So you setup your web browser to proxy to the work server, and then you can access any special sites that is exclusive to employees of the company, as they can't be normally access outside.

 

This Wikipedia diagram, shows how it works:

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_server

[joelthezombie15]

how would some one setup a proxy?

[GoodBytes]

Ok that, I don't know.

I would prefer someone with experience answer this. Giving links to tutorials ain't helpful, as I have not done it, therefore I don't know if the tutorial provided is good or not, and I don't know how if it covers potential common problems, if any.

[joelthezombie15]

ok

[Blade of Grass]

how would some one setup a proxy?

You can Google for free proxies.

Or, the best option is to download and use TOR (The Onion Router), it was designed for the U.S. Navy to help protect their communication.

It's a really cool concept and works very well.

 

It expands on how a typical proxy works, because instead of using one computer (you -> proxy -> internet) it uses half a dozen or more! So when you try to connect somewhere it goes you->someone->someone->someone->someone->someone->someone->someone->internet. 

 

Here is their website

https://www.torproject.org/index.html.en

[joelthezombie15]

You can Google for free proxies.

Or, the best option is to download and use TOR (The Onion Router), it was designed for the U.S. Navy to help protect their communication.

It's a really cool concept and works very well.

 

It expands on how a typical proxy works, because instead of using one computer (you -> proxy -> internet) it uses half a dozen or more! So when you try to connect somewhere it goes you->someone->someone->someone->someone->someone->someone->someone->internet. 

 

Here is their website

https://www.torproject.org/index.html.en

thanks so now if im at school i can get to the places i want to ? jk but it is doable right?

[Blade of Grass]

thanks so now if im at school i can get to the places i want to ? jk but it is doable right?

Yes. Also, with TOR you don't have to install anything. So a USB with vidalia (the relay/proxy GUI), polipo (the proxy softwhere) and TOR browser (basically firefox) you can use it anywhere.

[joelthezombie15]

Yes. Also, with TOR you don't have to install anything. So a USB with vidalia (the relay/proxy GUI), polipo (the proxy softwhere) and TOR browser (basically firefox) you can use it anywhere.

what?

[Blade of Grass]

what?

When you install TOR, it comes with the files, but it doesn't need to be installed.

 

So you can extract everything onto a USB, then use it wherever you go.

 

TOR comes with two programs, Vidalia, and TOR Browser.

 

Vidalia is the interface that you use to do everything related to the proxy/relay (basically, setting and such).

 

Now, the TOR Browser is the web browser that you use to be anonymous and everything. It's their modded version of Firefox.

[joelthezombie15]

When you install TOR, it comes with the files, but it doesn't need to be installed.

 

So you can extract everything onto a USB, then use it wherever you go.

 

TOR comes with two programs, Vidalia, and TOR Browser.

 

Vidalia is the interface that you use to do everything related to the proxy/relay (basically, setting and such).

 

Now, the TOR Browser is the web browser that you use to be anonymous and everything. It's their modded version of Firefox.

so if my school uses IE they would be suspicious? lol thats cool though i might do that.

[Blade of Grass]

so if my school uses IE they would be suspicious? lol thats cool though i might do that.

Why would they be suspicious, you can also lie and say that FF was installed on your computer, or that you hate IE and brought a copy of FF on a USB ( and didn't install it) from home.

[joelthezombie15]

Why would they be suspicious, you can also lie and say that FF was installed on your computer, or that you hate IE and brought a copy of FF on a USB ( and didn't install it) from home.

you are a smart man lol or woman i dont discriminate. 

[Blade of Grass]

you are a smart man lol or woman i dont discriminate. 

14 year old man :)

[joelthezombie15]

what is cache?

[SubTract]

Cache is generally fast storage used to speed up loading and reduce required bandwidth and latency its normally inaccessible by the user.

Used in different ways by different items. 

A CPU Cache is used for queuing and staging process sets.

A HDD Cache is used to store commonly used Items in much faster RAM to improve loading times.

A Browser Cache is used to stop you having to download the same info over and over again. Also reducing the load on a server, It makes things appear to be more responsive as well. 

[GoodBytes]

I could not explain it better myself. Well said SubTract.