Moderator Application
Member Gerald309
Gerald Founds,
Webmaster BlueCollarPC.Org
(Computing Security themes)
In response to instructions in PM, I am responding here with application to be considered as a Moderator for the malware removal help forum:
>>> PC Help Center !!! <<<
http://scforum.info/index.php/board,16.0.htmlQualifications....
I qualify my self as "Advanced User / Malware Removal Help / Amatuer Forensics" (Windows OS)
As a Malware Removal Helper I began as an average consumer in Nov. 2001 on the brand new Windows XP PC. This was about the time adware was springing up everywhere and spyware was being discovered and was the basic roots in the industry as well. We as consumers were learning of these new threats and their actual capabilities of leaking and spying on private data from and in our computers. From that time I began all studies in Windows and also began my own private testing of the products available of the day. I am self taught and learned much from professionals and expert publications and promote the free Community sharing of information as these common threats can be too expensive to clean up at the shop - though sometimes is simply necessary according to damages.
In knowing Windows then, I discovered the malware RASautodial registry keys as sort of the "Call Home" part of connectivity from an installation and own discovery of that as none of the security industry products removed these surprisingly. These were discovered by manual inspection of the system and files and registry. In the beginning of the decade of course the public was very skeptical that antispyware products were a gimmick for profit. Today we can laugh at those suspicions realizing and reading about the great botnet infections plaguing the internet. I "graduated" to Amateur Forensics with those type attacks - botnets, zombie networks - with actual first hand experience in several. Today, threats have evolved greatly and botnets are a main cause - as malware payloads are not as simple as they once were becoming as "blended threats" - meaning a several purpose malware package gets installed. These types are the newer password stealing virus and downloader trojans and backdoor trojans and so on.
Becoming an Advanced User on Windows and able to successfully clean an entire PC, I realized many people needed this help and began my own Yahoo Group and then launched the BlueCollarPC.Net which ran from 2005 to 2009. The BlueCollarPC.Org was our back up site and is now my main help domain. These are Community Help sites almost as a self help many times. Most times just reading something does not help to get rid of a threat. Live help is required. A great help community was born. There have been handfuls of forums and boards that were left unmoderated and much spammed with forum trolls harassing users, unattended. This was bad and does not reflect real help from real concerned people, as those needing computer help had to search and search sometimes to find responsible help.
As far as a board or forum or group moderator, I go all the way back to 1999 - 2000 as a group creator in
www.Egroups.com which was merged with, then, Yahoo Clubs which together formed popular Yahoo Groups as we know it today. I studied the Terms Of Service of many destinations as these and also mailing lists laws and rules. Through all the years and many destinations, it seems the best moderation has been a zero tolerance for violations of TOS (terms of service) and the most allowed as "heated discussion" with zero tolerance there for personal attacks and abusive commenting - leaving the door open a bit for disagreements in a civil manner as best possible. I say that because I have noticed many times Users being banned immediately for any disagreement and complained of censorship. Sometimes a healthy argument was necessary and both sides offering their points and backing it up with valid information to reach an actual solution. All in all, if offensive to members it should be just handled "off-board" by emails. This is a general solution for any "heated argument" I have seen work for that.
Expectations.....
I only expect to be a junior moderator and malware removal is my back ground, though also tech help plays into malware removal sometimes. I am aware of Moderation Duties as far as the common no violations of TOS. Of course in any event, it is the way Security Central Forum decides how to handle things and I would not attempt any decision or comment otherwise as Administrators here are obviously the final word in all decisions.
Why do we do what we do (malware removal helpers) ? I am like others in the free help Community and experience what others do from threats and the average PC Repair shop or professional security consulting can get expensive. Many episodes can be easily and safely remedied by the User, ourselves, with appropriate experienced help whether Advanced, Professional, or Expert. This is the community of computer users worldwide and those that can help do you will find. I pity the average user when it comes to damges but more importantly to learn and teach defense against the worst things as ID Theft by crimeware. This is the true expensive damage above hundreds of dollars even for a new computer. I began as any user - complete newbie ! It has been ten years now and I have learned so much, as anyone can with time, and also have branched out to Linux which is really fun. Crimeware finally invaded there as well on a very limited basis. I am very familiar with Linux - how to cut the distros and installation and have followed popular Ubuntu Linux since their "one click" install over Windows was still a prototype - and now dream realized. I do not claim to be any expert on Linux at all yet - but "Intermediate User" on Linux.
Common Chain / Users.....
I am raised on this common chain of user description across the 'Net .....
Novice (newbie) > Intermediate User > Advanced User > Professional > Expert
I qualify myself as Advanced User and completely non-commercial in the Help Community. If I am better qualified as just a helping member I am happy to do so !
Thank you for the consideration.
Gerald Founds
Webmaster
www.BlueCollarPC.Org 
Total Members: 14197
