Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

woodsprite

(12,199 posts)
Fri Aug 27, 2021, 10:15 PM Aug 2021

Brother is coming over tomorrow and wants me to do some 'research'

to check on his ex and his daughter's social media accounts. I'm ok with checking out their FB, Instagram, Twitter, or other normal sites, etc. but he also mentioned something called 'FansOnly". I've never heard of it, but according to my daughter, it's an influencer and sometimes porn site. I don't want to hurt my computer doing some kind of creeping for my brother. Apparently there is money involved. I don't know for sure, but I'm thinking he may want to report it to the divorce lawyer.

My personal non-work machine is a MacBook Pro. Can I automatically block that site without it being apparent that I blocked it to my brother? I'm afraid of malware/viruses, plus it's just plain creepy to me. If I can't block it so it's not apparent that I set it up, I'm thinking I'll just tell him that work monitors all of our internet traffic and I won't enter that URL.

Thought I'd ask the experts here!

14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Brother is coming over tomorrow and wants me to do some 'research' (Original Post) woodsprite Aug 2021 OP
Just say No if he has suspect he can have his lawyer research that one. Imo luckone Aug 2021 #1
Macs are pretty safe against intruders. pwb Aug 2021 #2
That's no longer true ItsjustMe Aug 2021 #4
Article is comparing apples and oranges unc70 Aug 2021 #8
Pretty sure "OnlyFans" is PPV. OAITW r.2.0 Aug 2021 #3
Hey, if it's a pay site, I'm good! That's my out! :) woodsprite Aug 2021 #5
per google its a subscription only site behind a paywall nt msongs Aug 2021 #6
Do you really want to get involved? OAITW r.2.0 Aug 2021 #7
Not really. He's 7 yrs older than me but mom charged me with watching out for him. woodsprite Aug 2021 #10
My advice: Don't OAITW r.2.0 Aug 2021 #11
You could use a computer at the local library MyMission Aug 2021 #9
Please, Just Say No (!) wyn borkins Aug 2021 #12
You answered your own question. OnDoutside Aug 2021 #13
He came over and we talked. woodsprite Aug 2021 #14

pwb

(12,198 posts)
2. Macs are pretty safe against intruders.
Fri Aug 27, 2021, 10:21 PM
Aug 2021

Stay with him and see if warnings pop up. I like Safari. I would not do it. He can go to a library?

unc70

(6,325 posts)
8. Article is comparing apples and oranges
Fri Aug 27, 2021, 10:34 PM
Aug 2021

The Mac issues are mostly with adware while PCs are with more-serious threats like trojans.

OAITW r.2.0

(28,361 posts)
3. Pretty sure "OnlyFans" is PPV.
Fri Aug 27, 2021, 10:23 PM
Aug 2021

Totally OK with this as you can spend your money as stupid as possible. Drugs, Lottery tickets, sex, god, or any fetish really. But you ought to be smart about how you approach these sinkholes.

woodsprite

(12,199 posts)
5. Hey, if it's a pay site, I'm good! That's my out! :)
Fri Aug 27, 2021, 10:28 PM
Aug 2021

Don't know how much he knows about the site. For all I know, he may already have an account on there. If he does, he can look it up himself on his phone!

Thank you!

OAITW r.2.0

(28,361 posts)
7. Do you really want to get involved?
Fri Aug 27, 2021, 10:32 PM
Aug 2021

I see no reason why you would want to be in the middle of this. And what happens if you help him find what will set him off? If my brother asked me, I'd tell him to fuck off. For his own good.

woodsprite

(12,199 posts)
10. Not really. He's 7 yrs older than me but mom charged me with watching out for him.
Sat Aug 28, 2021, 12:03 AM
Aug 2021

Which tells me she was well aware of his decision making skills.

He broadsided me after we had scheduled a visit (porch visit, masked). We planned to get together before I go in the hospital for major surgery on 9/9. I think his grandkids (who live with him) finally corrupted his computer so much that he gave up on using/updating it. If I had a spare laptop and trusted him to keep it away from the other people that live in his house, I’d give it to him. I’ll check my old, old windows laptop and see if it would work well enough. The only reason I’ve been keeping it is that it has my old standalone version of Photoshop on it. If windows won’t work, maybe Linux would and I could just load a browser. Not even sure I remember the password for it.

MyMission

(2,000 posts)
9. You could use a computer at the local library
Fri Aug 27, 2021, 10:51 PM
Aug 2021

You can give your license to get access if you don't want to use your library card number. But some sites might not be available on a public library computer.
Just a thought.

wyn borkins

(1,109 posts)
12. Please, Just Say No (!)
Sat Aug 28, 2021, 12:20 AM
Aug 2021

I am not a relative of yours...just an 'Internet' friend(buddy); and my sincere advice is that you Just Say No (!).

Please do not get involved in this(his) situation, as it will (no doubt) not end well for you (or for him).

Computer systems aside, it smacks of being really unethical.

Please, Just Say No (!).

OnDoutside

(20,656 posts)
13. You answered your own question.
Sat Aug 28, 2021, 02:05 AM
Aug 2021

I'm ok with checking out their FB, Instagram, Twitter, or other normal sites, etc.

That's your answer.

woodsprite

(12,199 posts)
14. He came over and we talked.
Sat Aug 28, 2021, 09:42 PM
Aug 2021

I did lookup their ids on Instagram and showed him it was set to private and he would have to send them a friend request to see anything. I refused to go out to the OnlyFans site but told him I think it's the same way - you have to request access. Told him work tracks our internet traffic so I wouldn't type in that URL and that he needed to cut the strings on the old ex and grown kid because I didn't want to come out of the hospital and find his mug shot on the front page of our paper for being a creeper.

Problem solved! Thought it was best not to even offer him my old machine since it might only encourage him.

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Apple Users»Brother is coming over to...