Spyware cures may cause more harm than good

C/Net News.com ^ | 2/4/2004 | John Borland

[Salvation]

Thanks for posting this.

[N3WBI3]

But again windows has to be set up that way and when it is it is just as dificult to use as Linux. Also Linux and OSX make sure you know if something is being installed scripting on Windows makes it (in many cases) transparent.

[justlurking]

The so-called "drive-by downloads" are what causes a lot of it, but also trojans inside screensavers and wallpaper downloads. I'm about ready to ban those and lock down the desktops.

If they can install software, you will constantly battle this problem.

Take all privileges (to install software, change settings, etc.) from the default user.

[Salvation]

I didn't know this was free. Thanks!

[discostu]

Yeah that's the ticket.

Actually that's kind of what I do with my work desktop machine. Get it all tweaked and do my best to never install anything again. Anything I need for a one shot use I install on a test machine, I don't care what spyware or anything else lands on a test machine it'll be scrubbed in under a week anyway.

[tcuoohjohn]

Firewalls and AV will do nothing to combat adware. Adware is not a trojan or virus. It is a program like any other and you "voluntarily" download it..

[discostu]

No it's not. Linux presents complications to the average user much deeper than security. Windows will configure most of your hardware automatically, as long as the stuff is older than the OS you probably won't even have to remember what the hardware is to tell Windows, Windows will spot it, figure out what it is and load the drivers during install.

Oh I'm sure there's a way to make your installs silent on Linux and OSX, do you approve every single file that gets laid down?

[per loin]

No, but it is highly recommended that they hire a 3rd party bodyguard or purchase a 3rd party firearm.

I'm unsure what a 3rd party firearm might be. Carrying two is sufficient for most parties that I attend. But another solution is to have a government that arrests and imprisons muggers.

[hunter112]

And if 95% of people used Linux/Mozilla, spyware writers, virus writers, etc. would target them! Yes, it might be easier to mess with Microsoft products, mainly because so many have tried and been successful, the knowledge is out there because so many have it. No OS is absolutely invulnerable, just like your house, you have to use multiple levels of security to make yourself a harder target than your neighbor.

[N3WBI3]

Umm I just installed fedora on my old pII 400 (redhat 9 is on my dell P4). After installing on the old computer I found a new burner drive plugged it in and it worked without any configuration. The fact is moder Linux distributions handle hardware just as easily as widows the only are they are really weak in is bleeding edge video cards (a few month delay). My camera, printer, scanner, HD and dvdrom all worked right out of the box on Linux..

The hell of having to deal with libraries was more than four years ago Redhat/Suse/and Mandrake have all packaged in the hardware support..

And on a unix system other than being the root user you can not do a transparent install! You can install plugins and the like in your home directory but they are not system wide (if a kid installs something stupid it will not affect your account).

[Space Wrangler]

bookmark for later perusal.

[Hunble]

Never, in my 30 years of working with computers, have I ever had a problem that did not involve the installation of new software.

Each and every time, I could always trace the problem back to new software being installed.

Ah, the good old days of the Altair 8800 with the front toggle switches. Even if an evil programmer did try to sabotage my computer, it would take him days to finger in the software code.

As long as nobody touched any of the front switches, that computer ran great.

[mlbford2]

Dude, can I store my gold bars in your computer? lol

[N3WBI3]

SO if tomorrow everyone started to drive volvo's they would be just as dangerous in a head on as a dodge neon? Sometimes the design matters..

[discostu]

Good for Linux. It's about time. If you're using both Linux and Windows then you already KNOW it takes a lot more knowledge to run a Linux box than a Windows box. Linux is expert friendly, Windows is moron friendly. That's their claims to fame.

[discostu]

Yep. That's the time when you introduce change. Change is bad. That's why I avoid it. Except on my home machine where I really don't care, I have a safe zone for everything that's important everything else can be sacrificed.

[N3WBI3]

but a moron friendly windows box allows for viruses, adwarem ... To make a widows box secure no need to be every bit the expert that one would have to be on a Linux box. I suggest you try Fedora, it is just as easy to install and use as Windows..

[discostu]

A secure Windows box is easy to create, during the install XP asks you if you want to make any more users, say yes, make one, give it the lowest level of permissions, use that user. Real simple.

Why would I try Fedora? Can you play Madden 2004 on Fedora and get support from EA Sports if something doesn't? Until that's the case there's no reason at all for me to try anything but Windows. I'm not a tweaker, I'm not a bleeding edge experimenter, at home I surf the web play games and update my resume. Windows does all three of those things exactly to my specifications.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Isn't there a way to clean caches manually? If so, whats the best way. Thanks.

[N3WBI3]

Well your right there are far more games available for windows than Linux. But linux requires no tweaking to do anything, either a game is supported or its not. Fedora out of the box can do 99% of what users need (guess what most people play madded on a psII/xbox/gamecube)...

I offered a suggestion if you wish to remain ignorant and make statements like Linux does not support hardware without tweaking' be my guess they say its bliss..