Rick,
What a surprise - an old HongKongonian. Everyone tells me the place has changed over the years - much cleaner since 1997 - (I 1st came here in 1980 but in the many intervening vists learned nothing about the place except it was full of Cantonese & a few Gweilos.
I am not sure where the security problem is but I have made the following deductions ...
PS(this post is coming via my usual ISP but using Mozilla on RH8 & so far seems to be getting thru).
1) At work if I use my normal login I get blocked on controversial material to IWETHEY (I don't post anywhere else)
2) Same at home
3) No prob if I login to attglobal.net using my or wife's account
4) No problem at work if I use one of the many servers I have installed
5) No problem at home (thus far) using RH8
More soon - dinner is calling
#2 - back from rice & stir-fry <grin> (actuallywas lamb chops on a bar-b-que)
I first began to experience blocks about 6 months ago but they were few & I always managed to post the original material eventually.
But I was aware over the past 9 months of a growing volume of emails arriving with attachments that I would never open in a fit (because they were some form of executable).
I have enough experience from BackOrfice days to know when my computer is compromised (has happened approx 4 times since 1999). I always maintain two primary computers that can access thru the same cable & maintain several more that can use dial-up accounts.
Now if I dial-in to my usual ISP rather than use cable - I don't get blocked.
It seems that I don't get blocked using RH8 & Mozilla from the same computer I use Windows2K (which does get blocked). In fact both my main Win2K computers seem to get blocked but I have all sorts of strange failures to get recognised by my ISP & I haven't got a theory for these yet. Both these computers go thrugh a Buffalo AirStation. I am now working how to install an IDS (SNORT) so that I can filter & monitor ip traffic anytime I think there is strange activity.
It did come as a bit of a suprise to me when I realised I was losing control of my mouse & keyboard but I am ruthless when I see that - I just hit reset. The good thing is I have other computers that have my real work on & these are nearly always switched off when my 2 main computers are up & accessing the net.
My suspicion is that the blocking is occuring via my ISP - now the tricky part about this bit is that my ISP is also my employer!!!. But the belief here in HK is that HK Telecom does have a relationship with HK & Mainland security.
Cheers
Doug
PS how long did you live in HK - what age did you arrive ? - leave?
My wife & I really like it here & we enjoy visiting the emerging mainland - I am amazed at the changes since 1990 when I 1st went to Beijing - it isn't the same place I saw back then - nothing like it & the people are transformed in a way I find astounding.