Just started F@H trying to get my family to do same

[KingstonU]

Hey I had noticed that people were often talking about F@H and I had no idea what that meant so I finally looked it up and I think it is a great idea and joined team AT #198 of course

Anyways so I'm waiting to see if it will have an effect on my everyday computing, do any of you notice a slow down? if you close it does your computer recover right away?

Also I would encourage my family to do so as well but my parents are suspicious that it is fake and it is just people trying to get into your computer and steal identity yata yata...

Is this even possible? How could I prove that it is legitimate?

And BTW what does any person or team gain by being high in the standings? Acknowlegdement? A nice warm feeling inside?

Thanks and go Team #198!

 

[natethegreat]

I only notice slowdowns on systems with lower amounts of ram, say less than 512MB.

Hey, my Dad is a Doctor and he won't run F@H on his computer :disgust:

Have your folks call Stanford if they think it's a joke

congrats or :beer: are handed out to the achievers

Edit: BTW Welcome to the TeAm!!! :thumbsup:

 

[deerslayer]

Welcome to the TeAm!

 

[imported_Nacelle]

A lot of people don't get it. If they have broadband, leave their computer on most of the time, and I work on their computer, I just install. They'll never know it's there, if it's running as a service. I stopped trying to explain what it's for.

 

[geokilla]

I'm in the same situation as you Kingston. My parents know about protein folding but they don't believe what F@H does, because it's never been in the paper I assume. I'm running F@H secretly. I notice a little slowdown, but that can easily be fixed by going into task manager and ending the process.

 

[petrusbroder]

I do not agree with the strategy of "not telling the users". If they find out there will be a conflict, a breach of trust.
It is - IMHO - much better to give them time to get used to the idea, to give them materials to read, info on the net, etc.
And if they ultimately do not want to run the projects, it is their decision, their computer, their electricity.

If you install the client for F@H and they find out about it, they will believe that their info has been compromized and available for a thief, they will be upset and angry, will possibly, start to change account numbers, credit card numbers, PINS, etc. If they have any problems with the computer (even if it is not related to the client) it will have been caused by the client. If some financial problem occurs and they can not explain it at once, it will have been caused by the client.

Yeah, I know, it is frustrating to see all those cycles going waste and it is your frustration.
IMHO it is always best to obtain permission and thus do not risk of getting fired (if it is a comp @ work) or a breach of trust (if it is a relative or friend).
It is important to know what computers you can "assimilate" in good trust and what computer you have to leave alone.

 

[GLeeM]

I have to agree with Peter.

But to answer KingstonU, check out the Folding@Home web site, Stanford has published many peer reviewed papers by respected researchers and Professors.

As far as security of your computer goes: the client program uses http to send and recieve work (http is the same as your browser uses), you have to allow the program to get through your firewall.

A big part of what Peter talks about is security of computer. Only running with permission is part of security pact. The user agreement says this too.

 

[imported_Nacelle]

When I install it, I'm working on their computer free of charge. If there is a problem, they're going to bring it back to me anyways.

 

[Insidious]

Hi Nacelle

I like you just fine and that won't be changing. But from one bud to another, it is my opinion that sneaking any kind of software on anyone's machine is at best unethical, and at worst, illegal.

I'd love it if you reconsidered this practice.

(sorry for the preaching)

 

[ShadowBlade]

My system has had no noticeable slow downs
At the same time I haven't really done anything CPU intensive since I started it about a month ago

 

[GLeeM]

Originally posted by: Insidious
Hi Nacelle

I like you just fine and that won't be changing. But from one bud to another, it is my opinion that sneaking any kind of software on anyone's machine is at best unethical, and at worst, illegal.

I'd love it if you reconsidered this practice.

(sorry for the preaching)

I hope I didn't come across wrong. I am not judging, not condemning, just giving my opinion.

I have run DC on someone elses computer while I had it to repair or upgrade, but took it off before returning. I might have tested the computer a little longer than needfull