Linux

[BillW50]

I do remember and I remember this silly urban legend as well. The
problem is that it's neither true nor accurate. In return for the $150M
Microsoft got a 6% stake of Apple stock and promised not to sell the
shares for at least 3 years. If they had held on to the shares today the
$150M of Apple stock would be worth $4.5 billion.

<quote>
*Legend Becomes Myth*

As noted in Paul Thurrott's Merciless Attack on Artie MacStrawman, it is
fashionable among Microsoft apologists to insist that the company bailed
Apple out in an altruistic act of compassion, and that any success now
enjoyed by Apple should rightfully be delivered to Microsoft in tribute.

Mark Stephens, writing as Robert X Cringely, speculated that Apple made
the deal to gain access to Windows code, and is secretly using the now
expired cross licensing agreement to deliver the Red Box, a system for
flawlessly running yesterday's Windows applications within Mac OS X,
just as seamlessly as OS/2 could run Win16 and DOS programs.

Others have suggested Apple was just out of money and desperately needed
Microsoft's help, ignoring the fact that Apple had just reported holding
$1.2 billion in cash. Another $0.15 billion wasn't going to make any
significant difference in the survival of the company.
</quote>

I see lots of problems here. First of all, before this was Apple and
Microsoft was locked in war in court. As Apple sued Microsoft for
stealing its GUI from Apple. Microsoft charged that Apple stolen the GUI
from Xerox. So Apple is just as guilty. This went on for what 7 years or
so? And it was a dead stalemate. Apple finally called it quits since
they were never going to be sucessful in this lawsuit and was going broke.

Now here is where Microsoft gives Apple money. So what is the deal here?
If Apple didn't need it, why did they take it? So Mark Stephens is
Robert X. Cringely, eh? I always wondered about that. And while I have a
lot of respect for Cringely, he doesn't aways get everything right. But
most of the things are me just being nitpicky. ;-)

I admit, the whole thing doesn't make a lot of sense unless Apple needed
the money in the first place. And if they did have $1.2 billion in cash,
that doesn't mean they were rich. As how long could a company like Apple
run for on that amount? It might not be that long. I'm sure Apple was
hoping of getting billions from Microsoft the easy way by suing them.

 

[DanS]

I don't care if it was last week. If you think something

And you don;t care eitehr that the 3 year old articles
explicitly states......

...."He says the attack relies on making use of stolen
passwords to Linux Apache servers by automating the
installation process to force it to serve up attacks against
vulnerabilities on Windows clients."

So, "relies on making use of stolen passwords to Linux Apache
servers" means nothing ?

.....regardless of my spelling.

 

[Big Steel]

And you don;t care eitehr that the 3 year old articles
explicitly states......

...."He says the attack relies on making use of stolen
passwords to Linux Apache servers by automating the
installation process to force it to serve up attacks against
vulnerabilities on Windows clients."

So, "relies on making use of stolen passwords to Linux Apache
servers" means nothing ?

It makes no difference.

 

[Big Steel]

s/ware/wear/

hth and hand

Should I get you some tissues for issues?

HAND -- no help

 

[BillW50]

In

BillW50 wrote this copyrighted missive and expects royalties:


No one has ever claimed that.

Sure they have. I hear this all of the time. Here are just two examples:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #1

In

To protect Windows computers connected to Linux computers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #2

In

<sigh> Those are to protect WINDOWS boxes on the same network as the
Linux box - if the network was all Linux then there would be no need
for them...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ END

If true, that would be about 298 more than I play.

If you want a game PC, if all you care about is games, yeah, go for
Windows.

Everybody has different needs and wants. Some wants games, some
productivity, etc. The one that runs more applications bar none is
Windows. Nobody else comes close.

Are you kidding me? Have you seen how many packages are in a Debian
distro?

Over 30,000. And then you have commercial Linux applications.

Sure, not the same kind of "market" as Windows, but it covers a lot of
territory.

Very nice, 30,000! That is probably enough to keep it out of the grave
for awhile. Obviously 20,000 wasn't enough to save the Commodore 64. And
I tried to find a best guess for Windows programs and I can't find
anybody willing to guess. But it has to be in the tens of millions at
least.

The DoD has never been known for its intelligence; that's why they
have such a reliance on Windows and its crutches.

Personally, I wouldn't attribute "quality" to AV software. At best,
AV will hopefully not slow your computer down tooooooo much.


If I want more, I'll google for Windows viruses. It's a shame, too,
because the Windows kernel seems to be a good piece of work.

Funny I have been running Windows since '93 and I *never* had a virus
yet. Worked on other people's computers that did though. And they are
the same ones that don't listen well and generally click on anything.

I used to believe Windows Updates were part of my success. But I was
getting many reports of people not getting viruses without updates. So I
had taken one test computer to see if it would work for me too. And
after a year, still no viruses. So I stopped updating on two more test
computers and they never got viruses either. And this was about three
years in total now. And only this computer gets updates sometimes. The
rest of them I don't bother.

But you can't go on the net bare ass naked either running Windows. As
you will get infected in about 90 seconds that way. First and most
important is to hide from strangers pinging your computer (stealth
firewall or router works). The second is a good AV that updates at least
once a day.

Of course the third is don't open email from people you don't know and
going to websites known for viruses. And that will pretty much keep you
out of trouble.

There is a fourth thing which is optional, but really solid. And if you
do, you are pretty much be guaranteed that you will never get a virus
(no matter how stupid you are). That is to run browsers, email, and
anything that connects to the net in a sandbox. MS EWF is like this two,
but it is like everything runs in a sandbox.

 

[BillW50]

In

And? Where are they? Are Linux users getting infected left and
right by just visiting a web site?

What's far more telling is this.......

...."In 1990, estimates ranged from 200 to 500; then in 1991
estimates ranged from 600 to 1,000 different viruses. In late
1992, estimates were ranging from 1,000 to 2,300 viruses. In
mid-1994, the numbers vary from 4,500 to over 7,500 viruses.
In 1996 the number climbed over 10,000. 1998 saw 20,000 and
2000 topped 50,000. It's easy to say there are more now.
Indeed, in April 2008, the BBC reportedWeb Link that Symantec
now claims "that the security firm's anti-virus programs
detect to 1,122,311" viruses and that "almost two thirds of
all malicious code threats currently detected were created
during 2007."

.......for Windows.

All very interesting of course and the Windows virus writers are very
busy. But what does this really mean?

Well I have been using Windows since '93 and didn't even have an AV
until '96 and knock on wood, I never had a virus infection yet. And the
method I use doesn't even depend on updating Windows either (that's
optional).

So when I hear scare tactics about the dangers of running Windows and
getting infected... it means very little to me and those who actually
listens to well sounded and tested security advice.

 

[BillW50]

In

Now *that's* funny! And such a bald faced lie.

All true! I did something stupid once in 2002 though. I installed
Windows 2000, no updates, no AV, and no firewall. And all I did was to
get online and I went directly to Windows Update to get updates online.
Then I downloaded an AV.

I needed to reboot for the updates, but not to run the AV. So I ran the
AV before rebooting and there was two viruses just sitting inactive
until the computer got rebooted (they were setup to run at startup). And
that was the closest I ever got. And I learned never go without a
stealth firewall. If I just did that, they never would have never been
on my hard drive at all.

 

[Boscoe]

To be technically correct, this possible issue was just
identified/notified on 11/29/2010, not 5 years ago.


Yes, it was.

How many Linux viruses/trojans/malware packages have been
released into the wild and are now replicating and infecting
Linux users everywhere bedause of it ?

It's all about *active* exploitation.

All OSs, and some applications that run on those OSs, have
some deficienies, but, does it really matter?......

........not unless there's some piece of
spyware/malware/virus/worm/trojan out there, actively using
these "exploits" to infect/replicate/phone home.

(Hmmmm, I'll have to post this now, since the system's asking
me to reboot because it just updated the kernel. Probably to
fix one of those never used exploits you keep raving about.
Phew!!!!!! Good thing I didn't have to wait until the second
Tuesday of the month to be protected from wild exploits that
don't exist.)

Why should I have to wait for the second Tuesday of the month when I've
never been infected?

You're no expert so don't treat others in such a condescending fashion
when you obviously have no idea how to protect a Windows machine.

Stick with an O/S which is safe because hardly anyone uses it. Why, it
almost as safe as Win 98 and no-one uses that, either.

 

[Gordon]

Stick with an O/S which is safe because hardly anyone uses it.

I expect that the ISP you use uses it. More than 60% of the world's
webservers USE LINUX. So why don't they get attacked like Windows?
because IT'S TOO DIFFICULT. Any 8 year old can write a virus for Windows
- mthe same is NOT true for Linux.
get some FACTS and INFORMATION before you post total crap.
Moron.

 

[Gordon]

All very interesting of course and the Windows virus writers are very
busy. But what does this really mean?

It means you moron that ANYONE can write a virus for Windows, but it is
VERY DIFFICULT to write a virus for Linux - well beyond the capability
of your average 8 year-old who writes Windows viruses..

 

[Kevin Safford]

HAND -- no help

Mmm, *love* the sig - so apt! I think you'll find netiquette requires the
two hyphens and space be on a separate line, though. The bit that sums
you up should follow.

 

[Boscoe]

It means you moron that ANYONE can write a virus for Windows, but it is
VERY DIFFICULT to write a virus for Linux - well beyond the capability
of your average 8 year-old who writes Windows viruses..

Evidence numbskull?

A gormless fabricated pronouncement which would mean if everyone
switched to Linux there would be no more compromised machines.

Another sad Linux geek living on Fantasy Island.

 

[Big Steel]

Evidence numbskull?

A gormless fabricated pronouncement which would mean if everyone
switched to Linux there would be no more compromised machines.

Another sad Linux geek living on Fantasy Island.

LOL

 

[Gordon]

A gormless fabricated pronouncement which would mean if everyone
switched to Linux there would be no more compromised machines.

You are SO UNINTELLIGENT aren't you? If you had two brain cells instead
of the one you have you'd be dangerous. Why ARE you so thick? Are you
PAID to be stupid?

 

[Gordon]

LOL

Isn't it interesting - as a so-called "windows advocate" (posting
absolute RUBBISH of course because you're not intellectually capable of
posting anything else - when did YOU last help a fellow Windows user in
the MS Answer Forums? I have NEVER EVER seen you there and I've been
there since 2008), posting in a WINDOWS newsgroup, that you constantly
change your nym to avoid being killfiled?

 

[Chris]

Am Sun, 03 Apr 2011 16:26:50 -0500 schrieb BillW50:

I don't hear any FUD from Microsoft. And if I ever
do, I wouldn't pay attention to it anyway. ;-)

Of course you don't hear it if you don't pay attention to it.
Tautological.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_the_Facts#.22Get_the_Facts.22

....

I almost never see that on any of my systems. Even though I do have some
retail version of Windows, most are OEM versions and no need for that.

Good for you that you never change your hardware. Because I do it once in
a while.

When I tried Windows 7 RC it didn't survive changing the mainboard + cpu,
BSOD while booting. Changing the mainboard chipset rarely works in
Windows, so WG"A" isn't even the problem here.
But with hardware changes windows can handle it often is.
Often enaugh for http://www.linuxgenuineadvantage.org/

 

[DanS]

And here's a Linux kernel exploit with hundreds more if

Why should I have to wait for the second Tuesday of the
month when I've never been infected?

Because that's the schedule for MS to deliver patches. Only a
few times have they strayed from that.

You're no expert so don't treat others in such a
condescending fashion when you obviously have no idea how
to protect a Windows machine.

That's a pretty stupid thing to say. You have no clue as to my
tech background. I know how to protect them, and I *sure* *as*
*hell* know how to clean them (family and friends PCs) after
they've been infected, even cleaning manually w/o using anti-
xxxxx tools.

Stick with an O/S which is safe because hardly anyone uses
it.

I'll use whatever I want to use whenever I want to use it.

But, safer is safer, regardless of the reason, and if it does
everything I need it to do, good.

Why, it almost as safe as Win 98 and no-one uses that,
either.

I use Win98 on 2 machines @ work, so you're wrong again, it's
not no one. There are probably millions of old computers
running Windows98 as "utility" PC's around the world.

So now, instead of jetting of into one of your assumption
filled tirades, just answer the question posed....

There. I've addressed every assumption and comment made, and
answered every question, now why don't you do the same, but
just answer the one question I posed above.....

.....How many Linux viruses/trojans/malware packages have been
released into the wild and are now replicating and
infecting Linux users everywhere because of an exploit that
was unpatched for nearly 5 months ?

 

[Boscoe]

You are SO UNINTELLIGENT aren't you? If you had two brain cells instead
of the one you have you'd be dangerous. Why ARE you so thick? Are you
PAID to be stupid?

You started insulting people and like so many of your ilk you can give
it but you can't take it. You're preaching to the converted on here,
anyway. So, anything you say on here is just trolling and YOU know it.

 

[Boscoe]

Because that's the schedule for MS to deliver patches. Only a
few times have they strayed from that.


That's a pretty stupid thing to say. You have no clue as to my
tech background. I know how to protect them, and I *sure* *as*
*hell* know how to clean them (family and friends PCs) after
they've been infected, even cleaning manually w/o using anti-
xxxxx tools.



I'll use whatever I want to use whenever I want to use it.

But, safer is safer, regardless of the reason, and if it does
everything I need it to do, good.


I use Win98 on 2 machines @ work, so you're wrong again, it's
not no one. There are probably millions of old computers
running Windows98 as "utility" PC's around the world.

So now, instead of jetting of into one of your assumption
filled tirades, just answer the question posed....

There. I've addressed every assumption and comment made, and
answered every question, now why don't you do the same, but
just answer the one question I posed above.....

....How many Linux viruses/trojans/malware packages have been
released into the wild and are now replicating and
infecting Linux users everywhere because of an exploit that
was unpatched for nearly 5 months ?

I refer my honourable friend to a link I posted earlier...

<http://www.linuxsecurity.com/content/view/154765/187/>

Picked up your latest Linux rootkit, yet? I know I haven't!

 

[Big Steel]

Isn't it interesting - as a so-called "windows advocate" (posting
absolute RUBBISH of course because you're not intellectually capable of
posting anything else - when did YOU last help a fellow Windows user in
the MS Answer Forums? I have NEVER EVER seen you there and I've been
there since 2008), posting in a WINDOWS newsgroup, that you constantly
change your nym to avoid being killfiled?

You fool, I don't go to the Answer forums you utter jackass. I go to the
MSDN .NET developer forums, like WCF, VB, C#, ADO .NET Entity Framework,
WPF, LINQ and ADO.NET Dataservices where a preacher admin grease monkey
like you doesn't belong.

So what about a KF? Oh it's the end of the world if someone uses a KF.
I don't give a rat's ass about someone doing a KF.

You preacher are a total weakling on the chase as usual, and you don't
mean jack-shit. You think you are important preacher, when all you can
do is spit shine my shoes with your tongue. Linux makes a big headed
clown such as you admin grease monkey. No go now and crawl back on your
knuckles to your cage preacher.