Slashdot Mirror

http://apcmag.com/pirated_wind...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...
http://store.vmware.com/store/...

New laptop, an SSD, and VMWare Workstation, all for less than $1,000. The key here is TinyXP, the custom-built flavor of XP circulating the internet that uses 50MB of RAM after installation. Boot time for all of them would certainly be measurable if not staggered, but 16VMs on a laptop that's got 16GB of RAM, running stripped down XP installations that have one job...I think it's doable.

I still think the Layer 3 Switch option is a better one. Where that might be a bit more of a problem would be with regards to whether the update software is capable of handling the possibility of seeing more than one device available to update at the same time. Even though it's possible with networking tricks to get all the pumps addressable at the same time, there's no guarantee that the software is built for that use case. For that matter, it's entirely possible that the software will throw up if multiple instances are attempted to run concurrently. Thus, the 16-VM route may be necessary for that reason, regardless of whether or not a layer 3 switch could solve the networking problem.

Here's a little something in that regard (dozens of times, millions of users infected by ads):

http://it.slashdot.org/story/0...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2...
http://www.threattracksecurity...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2...
http://it.slashdot.org/story/1...
http://it.slashdot.org/story/1...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2...
http://it.slashdot.org/story/0...
http://tech.slashdot.org/story...
http://news.slashdot.org/story...
http://apcmag.com/microsoft_ap...

APK

P.S.=>

"And they dont hurt that much..." - by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 16, 2014 @08:00PM (#48613667)

Oh, really? See above, & "tell us another one"... apk

See subject-line, & these examples (even more, FAR from the total) - & adbanners ROB THE SPEED/BANDWIDTH WE PAY TO BE ONLINE as well:

Two Major Ad Networks Found Serving Malware: http://tech.slashdot.org/story...

NY TIMES INFECTED WITH MALWARE ADBANNER: http://news.slashdot.org/story...

MICROSOFT HIT BY MALWARES IN ADBANNERS: http://apcmag.com/microsoft_ap...

ADOBE FLASH ADS INJECTING MALWARE INTO THE NET: http://it.slashdot.org/story/0...

London Stock Exchange Web Site Serving Malware: http://www.securityweek.com/lo...

Spotify splattered with malware-tainted ads: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2...

APK

P.S.=> Get ready for a STILL a LOT more raymorris... So much for YOUR 'b.s.' since the strong websites that aren't ONLY in it for profits would survive (vs. the greed driven ones & malware laden ones DUE TO advertiser negligence)... apk

Bullshit. It's more expensive than what I'm paying at the moment for speeds far below other countries and they have blown a shitload of taxpayer money on it.

TOO EXPENSIVE: NBN monthly plans unveiled: The proposed National Broadband Network prices released this week by iiNet are simply way too expensive for the promised 100Mbps speeds and will need to be reduced significantly to drive customer uptake. http://apcmag.com/too-expensive-nbn-monthly-plans-unveiled.htm

The NBN a nice centralised point for Conroy 2.0 to spy on Aussie's net usage and that will continue regardless of who we vote for because it is the public service fat cats pushing it: That part of the government you can't get rid of. http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/02/14/banality-of-evil-new-documents-lift-the-veil-on-data-retention/

>It's the single biggest reason why Labor really should stay in for another term of government.
You need to get a life.

APC (used to be called "Australian Personal Computer) is cutting-edge and is good to have in printed form, even though it has an online presence at www.apcmag.com, too. The editor recently floated the idea that its cover DVD might end soon, with all the good stuff being as downloads.

Before going into the chair at the Blood Bank, I select to read:
National Geographic
Australian Geographic

Far as I am concerned since malware's present in the adbanner out there, & here's some "examples thereof" over time (bad - bad as well also in the fact they suckup my bandwidth I pay for too + up cpu, ram, & other I/O processing in electricity costs raised from it happening too):

---

THE NEXT AD YOU CLICK MAY BE A VIRUS:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/06/15/2056219/The-Next-Ad-You-Click-May-Be-a-Virus

Yahoo, Microsoft's Bing display toxic ads:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/16/bing_yahoo_malware_ads/

Malware torrent delivered over Google, Yahoo! ad services:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/24/malware_ads_google_yahoo/

Rogue ads infiltrate Expedia and Rhapsody:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/30/excite_and_rhapsody_rogue_ads/

Google sponsored links caught punting malware:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/16/google_sponsored_links/

DoubleClick caught supplying malware-tainted ads:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/13/doubleclick_distributes_malware/

Yahoo feeds Trojan-laced ads to MySpace and PhotoBucket users:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/11/yahoo_serves_12million_malware_ads/

Real Media attacks real people via RealPlayer:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/23/real_media_serves_malware/

Attacks Targeting Classified Ad Sites Surge:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/02/02/1433210/Attacks-Targeting-Classified-Ad-Sites-Surge

Hackers Respond To Help Wanted Ads With Malware:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/01/20/0228258/Hackers-Respond-To-Help-Wanted-Ads-With-Malware

Ruskie gang hijacks Microsoft network to push penis pills:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/12/microsoft_ips_hijacked/

Major ISPs Injecting Ads, Vulnerabilities Into Web:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/08/04/19/2148215/major-isps-injecting-ads-vulnerabilities-into-web

Two Major Ad Networks Found Serving Malware:

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/12/13/0128249/Two-Major-Ad-Networks-Found-Serving-Malware

NY TIMES INFECTED WITH MALWARE ADBANNER:

http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/09/13/2346229/new-york-times-site-pop-up-says-your-computer-is-infected

MICROSOFT HIT BY MALWARES IN ADBANNERS:

http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm

ADOBE FLASH ADS INJECTING MALWARE INTO THE NET:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/08/08/20/0029220/adobe-flash-ads-lau

> It is amazing what software companies can escape with, things that in
> other engineering fields would totally blast them companies with lawsuits.

http://apcmag.com/seagate_settles_class_action_cash_back_over_misleading_hard_drive_capacities.htm

> Can you imagine a civil engineer gradually patching structural
> inconsistencies in a bridge as they show up? Yikes!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1829053.stm

"There is a limited pool of people out there with the time and talent to help with FOSS projects. "

You clearly don't have knowledge of Linux Kernel development circa 2013. Here is something you should know written way back in January 2010. Furthermore, you don't seem to understand, as I already said, what "good people" means. Linus only wants to work with "good people", which is why he will tell you to go fsck yourself if you aren't one of them and refuse to get a clue, which is clearly what we have seen here. You have read a single post, out of context, and formed a conclusion that the guy is a poor innocent bastard who did nothing wrong (or little wrong) and had his ass handed to him. You might want to peruse the entire LKML paying attention to the relative posts for the whole story before you form an opinion.

You keep modding this down: Why? It's only documented fact(s):

---

THE NEXT AD YOU CLICK MAY BE A VIRUS:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/06/15/2056219/The-Next-Ad-You-Click-May-Be-a-Virus

Yahoo, Microsoft's Bing display toxic ads:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/16/bing_yahoo_malware_ads/

Malware torrent delivered over Google, Yahoo! ad services:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/24/malware_ads_google_yahoo/

Rogue ads infiltrate Expedia and Rhapsody:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/30/excite_and_rhapsody_rogue_ads/

Google sponsored links caught punting malware:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/16/google_sponsored_links/

DoubleClick caught supplying malware-tainted ads:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/13/doubleclick_distributes_malware/

Yahoo feeds Trojan-laced ads to MySpace and PhotoBucket users:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/11/yahoo_serves_12million_malware_ads/

Real Media attacks real people via RealPlayer:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/23/real_media_serves_malware/

Attacks Targeting Classified Ad Sites Surge:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/02/02/1433210/Attacks-Targeting-Classified-Ad-Sites-Surge

Hackers Respond To Help Wanted Ads With Malware:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/01/20/0228258/Hackers-Respond-To-Help-Wanted-Ads-With-Malware

Ruskie gang hijacks Microsoft network to push penis pills:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/12/microsoft_ips_hijacked/

Major ISPs Injecting Ads, Vulnerabilities Into Web:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/08/04/19/2148215/major-isps-injecting-ads-vulnerabilities-into-web

Two Major Ad Networks Found Serving Malware:

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/12/13/0128249/Two-Major-Ad-Networks-Found-Serving-Malware

NY TIMES INFECTED WITH MALWARE ADBANNER:

http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/09/13/2346229/new-york-times-site-pop-up-says-your-computer-is-infected

MICROSOFT HIT BY MALWARES IN ADBANNERS:

http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm

ADOBE FLASH ADS INJECTING MALWARE INTO THE NET:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/08/08/20/0029220/adobe-flash-ads-launching-clipboard-hijack-attacks

London Stock Exchange Web Site Serving Malware:

http://www.securityweek.com/london-stoc

Since marketers >b?downmodded my inital post here -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3299759&cid=42216061 I am forced to post it again (since THAT "vain attempt" @ *hiding* documented truths obviously "struck a nerve" in them, lol):

Facts, are facts - tons of them below, per my subject-line above!

---

THE NEXT AD YOU CLICK MAY BE A VIRUS:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/06/15/2056219/The-Next-Ad-You-Click-May-Be-a-Virus

Yahoo, Microsoft's Bing display toxic ads:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/16/bing_yahoo_malware_ads/

Malware torrent delivered over Google, Yahoo! ad services:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/24/malware_ads_google_yahoo/

Rogue ads infiltrate Expedia and Rhapsody:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/30/excite_and_rhapsody_rogue_ads/

Google sponsored links caught punting malware:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/16/google_sponsored_links/

DoubleClick caught supplying malware-tainted ads:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/13/doubleclick_distributes_malware/

Yahoo feeds Trojan-laced ads to MySpace and PhotoBucket users:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/11/yahoo_serves_12million_malware_ads/

Real Media attacks real people via RealPlayer:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/23/real_media_serves_malware/

Attacks Targeting Classified Ad Sites Surge:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/02/02/1433210/Attacks-Targeting-Classified-Ad-Sites-Surge

Hackers Respond To Help Wanted Ads With Malware:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/01/20/0228258/Hackers-Respond-To-Help-Wanted-Ads-With-Malware

Ruskie gang hijacks Microsoft network to push penis pills:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/12/microsoft_ips_hijacked/

Major ISPs Injecting Ads, Vulnerabilities Into Web:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/08/04/19/2148215/major-isps-injecting-ads-vulnerabilities-into-web

Two Major Ad Networks Found Serving Malware:

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/12/13/0128249/Two-Major-Ad-Networks-Found-Serving-Malware

NY TIMES INFECTED WITH MALWARE ADBANNER:

http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/09/13/2346229/new-york-times-site-pop-up-says-your-computer-is-infected

MICROSOFT HIT BY MALWARES IN ADBANNERS:

http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm

ADOBE FLASH ADS INJECTING MALWARE INTO THE NET:

Since "someone" (marketers) *tried* to "downmod" this earlier here -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3299759&cid=42215249 ?

I'm just posting it again, since it is DOCUMENTED FACT(s):

---

THE NEXT AD YOU CLICK MAY BE A VIRUS:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/06/15/2056219/The-Next-Ad-You-Click-May-Be-a-Virus

Yahoo, Microsoft's Bing display toxic ads:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/16/bing_yahoo_malware_ads/

Malware torrent delivered over Google, Yahoo! ad services:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/24/malware_ads_google_yahoo/

Rogue ads infiltrate Expedia and Rhapsody:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/30/excite_and_rhapsody_rogue_ads/

Google sponsored links caught punting malware:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/16/google_sponsored_links/

DoubleClick caught supplying malware-tainted ads:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/13/doubleclick_distributes_malware/

Yahoo feeds Trojan-laced ads to MySpace and PhotoBucket users:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/11/yahoo_serves_12million_malware_ads/

Real Media attacks real people via RealPlayer:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/23/real_media_serves_malware/

Attacks Targeting Classified Ad Sites Surge:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/02/02/1433210/Attacks-Targeting-Classified-Ad-Sites-Surge

Hackers Respond To Help Wanted Ads With Malware:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/01/20/0228258/Hackers-Respond-To-Help-Wanted-Ads-With-Malware

Ruskie gang hijacks Microsoft network to push penis pills:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/12/microsoft_ips_hijacked/

Major ISPs Injecting Ads, Vulnerabilities Into Web:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/08/04/19/2148215/major-isps-injecting-ads-vulnerabilities-into-web

Two Major Ad Networks Found Serving Malware:

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/12/13/0128249/Two-Major-Ad-Networks-Found-Serving-Malware

NY TIMES INFECTED WITH MALWARE ADBANNER:

http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/09/13/2346229/new-york-times-site-pop-up-says-your-computer-is-infected

MICROSOFT HIT BY MALWARES IN ADBANNERS:

http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm

ADOBE FLASH ADS INJECTING MALWARE INTO THE NET:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/08/08/20/0029220/adobe-flash-ads-

Adbanner content ben hijacked with malicious code - proofs below:

THE NEXT AD YOU CLICK MAY BE A VIRUS:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/06/15/2056219/The-Next-Ad-You-Click-May-Be-a-Virus

Yahoo, Microsoft's Bing display toxic ads:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/16/bing_yahoo_malware_ads/

Malware torrent delivered over Google, Yahoo! ad services:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/24/malware_ads_google_yahoo/

Rogue ads infiltrate Expedia and Rhapsody:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/30/excite_and_rhapsody_rogue_ads/

Google sponsored links caught punting malware:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/16/google_sponsored_links/

DoubleClick caught supplying malware-tainted ads:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/13/doubleclick_distributes_malware/

Yahoo feeds Trojan-laced ads to MySpace and PhotoBucket users:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/11/yahoo_serves_12million_malware_ads/

Real Media attacks real people via RealPlayer:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/23/real_media_serves_malware/

Attacks Targeting Classified Ad Sites Surge:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/02/02/1433210/Attacks-Targeting-Classified-Ad-Sites-Surge

Hackers Respond To Help Wanted Ads With Malware:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/01/20/0228258/Hackers-Respond-To-Help-Wanted-Ads-With-Malware

Ruskie gang hijacks Microsoft network to push penis pills:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/12/microsoft_ips_hijacked/

Major ISPs Injecting Ads, Vulnerabilities Into Web:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/08/04/19/2148215/major-isps-injecting-ads-vulnerabilities-into-web

Two Major Ad Networks Found Serving Malware:

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/12/13/0128249/Two-Major-Ad-Networks-Found-Serving-Malware

NY TIMES INFECTED WITH MALWARE ADBANNER:

http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/09/13/2346229/new-york-times-site-pop-up-says-your-computer-is-infected

MICROSOFT HIT BY MALWARES IN ADBANNERS:

http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm

ADOBE FLASH ADS INJECTING MALWARE INTO THE NET:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/08/08/20/0029220/adobe-flash-ads-launching-clipboard-hijack-attacks

London Stock Exchange Web Site Serving Malware:

http://www.securityweek.com/london-stock-excha

Adbanner content? Well, it may also be hijacked with malicious code too mind you:

THE NEXT AD YOU CLICK MAY BE A VIRUS:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/06/15/2056219/The-Next-Ad-You-Click-May-Be-a-Virus

Yahoo, Microsoft's Bing display toxic ads:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/16/bing_yahoo_malware_ads/

Malware torrent delivered over Google, Yahoo! ad services:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/24/malware_ads_google_yahoo/

Rogue ads infiltrate Expedia and Rhapsody:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/30/excite_and_rhapsody_rogue_ads/

Google sponsored links caught punting malware:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/16/google_sponsored_links/

DoubleClick caught supplying malware-tainted ads:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/13/doubleclick_distributes_malware/

Yahoo feeds Trojan-laced ads to MySpace and PhotoBucket users:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/11/yahoo_serves_12million_malware_ads/

Real Media attacks real people via RealPlayer:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/23/real_media_serves_malware/

Attacks Targeting Classified Ad Sites Surge:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/02/02/1433210/Attacks-Targeting-Classified-Ad-Sites-Surge

Hackers Respond To Help Wanted Ads With Malware:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/01/20/0228258/Hackers-Respond-To-Help-Wanted-Ads-With-Malware

Ruskie gang hijacks Microsoft network to push penis pills:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/12/microsoft_ips_hijacked/

Major ISPs Injecting Ads, Vulnerabilities Into Web:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/08/04/19/2148215/major-isps-injecting-ads-vulnerabilities-into-web

Two Major Ad Networks Found Serving Malware:

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/12/13/0128249/Two-Major-Ad-Networks-Found-Serving-Malware

NY TIMES INFECTED WITH MALWARE ADBANNER:

http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/09/13/2346229/new-york-times-site-pop-up-says-your-computer-is-infected

MICROSOFT HIT BY MALWARES IN ADBANNERS:

http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm

ADOBE FLASH ADS INJECTING MALWARE INTO THE NET:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/08/08/20/0029220/adobe-flash-ads-launching-clipboard-hijack-attacks

London Stock Exchange Web Site Serving Malware:

http://www.securityweek.com/lo

THE NEXT AD YOU CLICK MAY BE A VIRUS:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/06/15/2056219/The-Next-Ad-You-Click-May-Be-a-Virus

Yahoo, Microsoft's Bing display toxic ads:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/16/bing_yahoo_malware_ads/

Malware torrent delivered over Google, Yahoo! ad services:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/24/malware_ads_google_yahoo/

Rogue ads infiltrate Expedia and Rhapsody:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/30/excite_and_rhapsody_rogue_ads/

Google sponsored links caught punting malware:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/16/google_sponsored_links/

DoubleClick caught supplying malware-tainted ads:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/13/doubleclick_distributes_malware/

Yahoo feeds Trojan-laced ads to MySpace and PhotoBucket users:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/11/yahoo_serves_12million_malware_ads/

Real Media attacks real people via RealPlayer:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/23/real_media_serves_malware/

Attacks Targeting Classified Ad Sites Surge:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/02/02/1433210/Attacks-Targeting-Classified-Ad-Sites-Surge

Hackers Respond To Help Wanted Ads With Malware:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/01/20/0228258/Hackers-Respond-To-Help-Wanted-Ads-With-Malware

Ruskie gang hijacks Microsoft network to push penis pills:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/12/microsoft_ips_hijacked/

Major ISPs Injecting Ads, Vulnerabilities Into Web:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/08/04/19/2148215/major-isps-injecting-ads-vulnerabilities-into-web

Two Major Ad Networks Found Serving Malware:

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/12/13/0128249/Two-Major-Ad-Networks-Found-Serving-Malware

NY TIMES INFECTED WITH MALWARE ADBANNER:

http://news.slashdot.org/story/09/09/13/2346229/new-york-times-site-pop-up-says-your-computer-is-infected

MICROSOFT HIT BY MALWARES IN ADBANNERS:

http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm

ADOBE FLASH ADS INJECTING MALWARE INTO THE NET:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/08/08/20/0029220/adobe-flash-ads-launching-clipboard-hijack-attacks

London Stock Exchange Web Site Serving Malware:

http://www.securityweek.com/london-stock-exchange-web-site-serving-malware

Spotify splattered with malwar

Here's an article from 6 years ago, describing an (at-the-time) new feature which makes your technique obsolete:
http://apcmag.com/inside_vistas_new_imagebased_install.htm

Indeed, that probably goes for everyone here. Linus sounds like a cool guy. I especially agree with "I really hate big laptops. I can't understand people who lug around 15" (or 17"!) monsters. The right weight for a laptop is 1kg, no more." Mine is about the size of a hard cover book, and weighs about he same.

Depends on what you do with it. My "15-inch monster" isn't too bad - it's a Retina MBP, so it's relatively light and thin - and I use it as my primary machine, so I want a bit more "disk" space and screen space. I mainly move it around the house, so it's good that it's portable, but it doesn't have to be as portable as a road warrior's machine.

I wonder what distro Linux uses?

Well, at least earlier in 2012, part of the answer was "not OpenSUSE", at least on the laptop. He's apparently used Fedora in the past, at least; he probably doesn't use any of the Real Man's Linux Distributions, given that, at least back in 2007, he said "Funnily enough, the only distributions I tend to refuse to touch are the "technical" ones, so I've never run Debian, because as far as I'm concerned, the whole and only point of a distribution is to make it easy to install (so that I can then get to the part I care about, namely the kernel), so Debian or one of the "compile everything by hand" ones simply weren't interesting to me."

If he uses a GUI or a CLI? If GUI (which I doubt), which one?

Prepare to have your doubts busted; at least as of whenever he made the announcement (I'm not going to sign into my Google account just to read his posting, but the article in question is from April 2011), he was using Xfce, after switching from KDE 4 to GNOME 2.

Of course, "GUI or CLI" is a bit ill-stated. I "use a GUI" in the sense that I don't do a console login on my Mac and run on the console tty, but a lot of what I do is in a GUI app called "Terminal", so I'm using a CLI in a GUI. In the 2007 interview in answer to "What software do you use everyday? Your browser, desktop (if any), email client and so on?" he said "Well, ignoring the actual development stuff (make, compiler, editor etc), it ends up being mostly just xterms and "alpine" (the newer version of the venerable old "pine" email reader. Strictly text-based, thank you very much)." In the next paragraph he also included a browser, but it sounds as if it's in the "a lot is a CLI in a GUI" category.

Indeed, that probably goes for everyone here. Linus sounds like a cool guy. I especially agree with "I really hate big laptops. I can't understand people who lug around 15" (or 17"!) monsters. The right weight for a laptop is 1kg, no more." Mine is about the size of a hard cover book, and weighs about he same.

Depends on what you do with it. My "15-inch monster" isn't too bad - it's a Retina MBP, so it's relatively light and thin - and I use it as my primary machine, so I want a bit more "disk" space and screen space. I mainly move it around the house, so it's good that it's portable, but it doesn't have to be as portable as a road warrior's machine.

I wonder what distro Linux uses?

Well, at least earlier in 2012, part of the answer was "not OpenSUSE", at least on the laptop. He's apparently used Fedora in the past, at least; he probably doesn't use any of the Real Man's Linux Distributions, given that, at least back in 2007, he said "Funnily enough, the only distributions I tend to refuse to touch are the "technical" ones, so I've never run Debian, because as far as I'm concerned, the whole and only point of a distribution is to make it easy to install (so that I can then get to the part I care about, namely the kernel), so Debian or one of the "compile everything by hand" ones simply weren't interesting to me."

If he uses a GUI or a CLI? If GUI (which I doubt), which one?

Prepare to have your doubts busted; at least as of whenever he made the announcement (I'm not going to sign into my Google account just to read his posting, but the article in question is from April 2011), he was using Xfce, after switching from KDE 4 to GNOME 2.

Of course, "GUI or CLI" is a bit ill-stated. I "use a GUI" in the sense that I don't do a console login on my Mac and run on the console tty, but a lot of what I do is in a GUI app called "Terminal", so I'm using a CLI in a GUI. In the 2007 interview in answer to "What software do you use everyday? Your browser, desktop (if any), email client and so on?" he said "Well, ignoring the actual development stuff (make, compiler, editor etc), it ends up being mostly just xterms and "alpine" (the newer version of the venerable old "pine" email reader. Strictly text-based, thank you very much)." In the next paragraph he also included a browser, but it sounds as if it's in the "a lot is a CLI in a GUI" category.

Per my subject-line above: THIS is mainly what made me do what's in my 'p.s.' below:

---

24 documented incidences of malware ridden banner ads the past few years now:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/06/15/2056219/The-Next-Ad-You-Click-May-Be-a-Virus

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/16/bing_yahoo_malware_ads/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/24/malware_ads_google_yahoo/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/24/doubleclick_distributes_malware/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/30/excite_and_rhapsody_rogue_ads/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/16/google_sponsored_links/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/13/doubleclick_distributes_malware/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/11/yahoo_serves_12million_malware_ads/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/23/real_media_serves_malware/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/12/13/doubleclick_msn_malware_attacks/

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/02/02/1433210/Attacks-Targeting-Classified-Ad-Sites-Surge

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/01/20/0228258/Hackers-Respond-To-Help-Wanted-Ads-With-Malware

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2007/11/doubleclick

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/12/microsoft_ips_hijacked/

http://it.slashdot.org/it/08/04/19/2148215.shtml

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/12/13/0128249/Two-Major-Ad-Networks-Found-Serving-Malware

http://news.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/09/13/2346229

http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm

http://it.slashdot.org/it/08/04/19/2148215.shtml

http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/08/20/0029220&from=rss

http://www.securityweek.com/london-stock-exchange-web-site-serving-malware

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/25/spotify_malvertisement_attack/

http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/08/02/1427257/demonoid-down-for-a-week-serving-malware-laden-ads

---

* Not only is THAT a threat, but the fact that adbanners account for a HUGE %-age of each page I download, slowing me down & they eat up CP

http://yro.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3154101&cid=41507295

* Enjoy the program & what custom hosts files can do for you...

(Which is far, Far, FAR MORE than slower less efficient browser addons do, & even DNS servers on many accounts - even "filtering" ones like OpenDNS, ScrubIT, NortonDNS, Comodo DNS, or Google DNS, etc./et al).

APK

P.S.=> I feel EXACTLY as you do - but not so much for advertisers "getting in my face" or yours via robbing screen realestate, but more for robbing my ELECTRIC POWER (running ads, the BULK of what comes thru in webpage), CPU cycles, RAM, & other forms of I/O - but MORE for them infecting systems, ala these examples over time:

---

http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/06/15/2056219/The-Next-Ad-You-Click-May-Be-a-Virus

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/16/bing_yahoo_malware_ads/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/24/malware_ads_google_yahoo/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/24/doubleclick_distributes_malware/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/30/excite_and_rhapsody_rogue_ads/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/16/google_sponsored_links/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/13/doubleclick_distributes_malware/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/11/yahoo_serves_12million_malware_ads/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/23/real_media_serves_malware/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/12/13/doubleclick_msn_malware_attacks/

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/02/02/1433210/Attacks-Targeting-Classified-Ad-Sites-Surge

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/01/20/0228258/Hackers-Respond-To-Help-Wanted-Ads-With-Malware

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2007/11/doubleclick

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/12/microsoft_ips_hijacked/

http://it.slashdot.org/it/08/04/19/2148215.shtml

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/12/13/0128249/Two-Major-Ad-Networks-Found-Serving-Malware

http://news.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/09/13/2346229

http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm

http://it.slashdot.org/it/08/04/19/2148215.shtml

http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/08/20/0029220&from=rss

htt

Don't be guilty, per the list below (since you're not the guilty one on all of those links)

Adbanners have been shown to serve malware MANY TIMES...

Evidences are per the partial list only below (23 incidences spanning a few years now)

That, as well as the fact processing ads takes up YOUR electrical power, cpu time, memory space, & other forms of I/O, like disk (that really cost with std. hdds since you're MOVING things), AND YOUR SPEED/BANDWIDTH YOU PAID FOR too...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/16/bing_yahoo_malware_ads/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/09/24/malware_ads_google_yahoo/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/24/doubleclick_distributes_malware/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/30/excite_and_rhapsody_rogue_ads/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/16/google_sponsored_links/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/13/doubleclick_distributes_malware/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/11/yahoo_serves_12million_malware_ads/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/23/real_media_serves_malware/

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/12/13/doubleclick_msn_malware_attacks/

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/02/02/1433210/Attacks-Targeting-Classified-Ad-Sites-Surge

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/01/20/0228258/Hackers-Respond-To-Help-Wanted-Ads-With-Malware

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2007/11/doubleclick

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/12/microsoft_ips_hijacked/

http://it.slashdot.org/it/08/04/19/2148215.shtml

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/12/13/0128249/Two-Major-Ad-Networks-Found-Serving-Malware

http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/06/15/2056219/The-Next-Ad-You-Click-May-Be-a-Virus

http://news.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/09/13/2346229

http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm

http://it.slashdot.org/it/08/04/19/2148215.shtml

http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/08/20/0029220&from=rss

http://www.securityweek.com/london-stock-exchange-web-site-serving-malware

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/25/spotify_malvertisement_attack/

MS is not to be trusted? But somehow Google and Apple are paragons of virtue? Sure, it always pays to be skeptical of Microsoft, but no more so than any of the other major players in the phone wars.

They screwed the owners of their last two attempts - Windows Mobile and Windows Phone.

To compare, Apple's iPhone 3GS will get support for iOS 6 - and it was released more than 3 years ago.

So buying a Windows Phone falls into the category of "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me".

You're right, I'm in Australia. Google does have a presence here and I get a ping of about 64ms to 8.8.8.8.
8 google-public-dns-a.google.com (8.8.8.8) 82.579 ms 64.420 ms 65.664 ms
I've tried the 8.8.8.8 resolver a couple of times, and in all cases iTunes will give slow downloads, simply due to not optimal resolution of the CDN host. Switch it to another DNS resolver, and everything is fine again. Querying the DNS of our ISP (Internode):

#nslookup a1.phobos.apple.com 192.231.203.132
Server: 192.231.203.132
Address: 192.231.203.132#53

Non-authoritative answer:
a1.phobos.apple.com canonical name = a1.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net. a1.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net canonical name = a1.da1.akamai.net.
Name: a1.da1.akamai.net
Address: 203.206.129.11
Name: a1.da1.akamai.net
Address: 203.206.129.16

#traceroute 203.206.129.16
[snip]
8 203-206-129-16.deploy.akamaitechnologies.net (203.206.129.16) 81.438 ms 67.101 ms 67.139 ms


This kind of issue isn't exactly Unknown.

In addition, in Australia we have quotas for most of our internet plans. If you were on an ISP such as iiNet, then you could end up using up your quota since iiNet provides "unmetered" downloads from iTunes, on the condition that it comes from their mirror. iiNet mirrors Apple servers, and uses their DNS to redirect to those own mirrors. If you were to use 8.8.8.8 for someone on iiNet, you'd end up with them being charged extra since it probably wouldn't resolve to their mirror.

...and no patches or even service packs could resolve those? Sorry, try again. That argument might work if Microsoft didn't release so many patches, updates and service packs which add/remove features, optimize and all that. But they do ... still do... Vista is still supported and are still providing updates.

And Vista was not "rushed." If I recall, Vista was "long overdue." Dozens and dozends of features and functions which were supposed to be in Windows Vista were pulled as time went on. Some of those were to also appear in Windows 7 and did not. Was Windows 7 *ALSO* rushed?

You are making excuses and apologies for Microsoft. That makes you an apologist. But can you cite anything from Microsoft which supports your claims? I would like to cite things to back my assertions but Microsoft would never post such information in public, however there is tons of material discussing it. I found this interesting as it discusses how a new kernel was part of Vista SP1. Was that *also* rushed?

"And there are all the obvious bug reports. They're afraid to mention these."

So you want links to the part of the brain in the developers that shows that they are not afraid to mention these? Is Kolivas claiming that the developers are somehow removing reports of performance issues from lkml?

"How scary do you think it is to say 'my Firefox tabs open slowly since the last CPU scheduler upgrade'?"

How do you propose I refute a rhetorical question?

"To top it all off, the enterprise users are the opposite. Just watch each kernel release and see how quickly some $bullshit_benchmark degraded by .1% with patch $Y gets reported. See also how quickly it gets attended to."

OK. Finally I can give a "no shit Sherlock" link. I guess it amazes him that corporate interests get the most attention from the developers of said corporations. Yeah ... that's pretty mind boggling.

has favored pure throughput to latency

Hey, sounds like the Linux OS.

Owners of HTC’s highly-praised HD2 touchscreen smartphone will be unable to upgrade the device to Microsoft’s new Windows Phone 7 software when the OS is released towards the end of the year. Despite the HD2 meeting many of the criteria laid down in Microsoft’s ‘Chassis 1’ spec – including a 1GHz Qualcomm processor, high-res capacitive touch display, 5 megapixel camera and 3.5mm headphone jack – the phone will be ruled out for the simple reason that it has five buttons instead of the three mandated for all Windows Phone 7 devices.

Source.

Here are links to some of the sources saying the same thing is going to happen to current Win Phone 7 device owners:

The Verge

Mary Jo Foley

Ars Technica

Lots of people believe they are trolls.The appellation is generally applied to non-practicing holders who sue infringers, especially if they try to get a permanent injunction to cease practicing the invention, or if the patent covers an implementation standard.

In this case CSIRO is suing people who implement IEEE 802.11a and 802.11g and go after permanent injunctions. This is poor behavior.

http://www.itworld.com/mobile-amp-wireless/58796/court-puts-csiro-wi-fi-injunction-hold

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/networking/australian-government-patent-troll-collects-from-wi-fi-vendors/2187

http://apcmag.com/wi-fi-patent-has-turned-csiro-money-mad.htm

http://legalpad.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/10/patent-troll-throws-party-to-celebrate-its-huge-pots-of-money.html

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=900005557448&slreturn=1

http://www.ipfrontline.com/depts/article.aspx?id=15866&deptid=7

It's not so much the sites you KNOW are done well/as secured as can be in code/db engines etc. (plus OS + Serverware patch levels. et al), but... It's ALSO the possibilities, of this occurring:

---

Ad networks owned by Google, Microsoft serve malware:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/12/13/doubleclick_msn_malware_attacks/

---

Attacks Targeting Classified Ad Sites Surge:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/02/02/1433210/Attacks-Targeting-Classified-Ad-Sites-Surge

---

Hackers Respond To Help Wanted Ads With Malware:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/01/20/0228258/Hackers-Respond-To-Help-Wanted-Ads-With-Malware

---

Hackers Use Banner Ads on Major Sites to Hijack Your PC:

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2007/11/doubleclick

---

Ruskie gang hijacks Microsoft network to push penis pills:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/12/microsoft_ips_hijacked/

---

Major ISPs Injecting Ads, Vulnerabilities Into Web:

http://it.slashdot.org/it/08/04/19/2148215.shtml

---

Two Major Ad Networks Found Serving Malware:

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/12/13/0128249/Two-Major-Ad-Networks-Found-Serving-Malware

---

THE NEXT AD YOU CLICK MAY BE A VIRUS:

http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/06/15/2056219/The-Next-Ad-You-Click-May-Be-a-Virus

---

NY TIMES INFECTED WITH MALWARE ADBANNER:

http://news.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/09/13/2346229

---

MICROSOFT HIT BY MALWARES IN ADBANNERS:

http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm

---

ISP's INJECTING ADS AND ERRORS INTO THE WEB: -> http://it.slashdot.org/it/08/04/19/2148215.shtml

---

ADOBE FLASH ADS INJECTING MALWARE INTO THE NET: http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/08/20/0029220&from=rss

---

London Stock Exchange Web Site Serving Malware:

http://www.securityweek.com/london-stock-exchange-web-site-serving-malware

---

Spotify splattered with malware-tainted ads:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/25/spotify_malvertisement_attack/

---

* As my list "multiple evidences thereof" as to adbanners & viruses + the fact they slow you down & cost you more (from reputable & reliable sources no less)).

APK

P.S.=> Now, "top that off" with the possibility of "DNS-Poisoned" (redirected really) DNS Servers too? It goes up yet again, as to "absolutely trusting" sites you're actually seeing (& disabling javascript GLOBALLY but only using it where you absolutely NEED it (think 'e-commerce' type sites for example), & only enabling it for TRUSTED favs. & yes, there's way to check OS patch & WebServerWare OS patch levels online (or in Opera's dev

The September 2011 issue of 'Australian Personal Computer' also put the Galaxy Tab 10.1 ahead of the iPad 2 in a review of available tablets

http://apcmag.com/whats_inside_apc_this_month.htm

Sure recall http://apcmag.com/telstra-to-block-ipad-micro-sims-in-other-devices.htm
It was fun deal when the new devices entered the Australian market and they wanted in on the buzz.
You can use any device you want until x00 megs.
In Australia its a per meg limit. In the US its a rent the $x1000 dongle with some 'free'* downloads.

While that may be true for a vast majority of open source projects (since there is a metric fuckload of them, most of them abandoned or in perpetual alpha if SourceForge is any indication), some of the major projects are certainly done mostly by paid developers (see here for example, and that article is a year old). One would assume as such that at least some of the major distributions would dedicate some resources to have functional graphics, but this doesn't seem to be the case. And sadly the current situation is quite dire - I've never owned an ATI, but from what I've been able to gather their drivers (despite having released the hardware specs) aren't very good. Intel supposedly has good drivers, but although XRandr 1.2 support is nice, I had serious issues with tearing and XV/OpenGL. And while the nouveau project has made some progress, the proprietary NVIDIA drivers seem to be the best bet for just about anything. This is very ironic given that the situation was identical when I started to use Linux in 2002.

"Often blocked already because the iPhone does not support Flash. No configuration required." - by SuperKendall (25149) on Tuesday January 11, @12:51PM (#34837644)

See subject-line above, & Remember: Not only is there FLASH adbanners, but other types of adbanners also (that use std. HTML + Javascript etc.).

They can "do bad things to you" too, as these evidences show:

---

HACKERS USE ADBANNERS ON MAJOR SITES TO HIJACK YOUR SYSTEM: -> http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2007/11/doubleclick

THE NEXT AD YOU CLICK MAY BE A VIRUS: -> http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/06/15/2056219/The-Next-Ad-You-Click-May-Be-a-Virus

NY TIMES INFECTED WITH MALWARE ADBANNER: -> http://news.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/09/13/2346229

MICROSOFT HIT BY MALWARES IN ADBANNERS: -> http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm

2 MAJOR AD NETWORKS FOUND SERVING MALWARE: -> http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/12/13/0128249/Two-Major-Ad-Networks-Found-Serving-Malware

ISP's INJECTING ADS AND ERRORS INTO THE WEB: -> http://it.slashdot.org/it/08/04/19/2148215.shtml

ADOBE FLASH ADS INJECTING MALWARE INTO THE NET: http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/08/20/0029220&from=rss

---

APK

P.S.=> However: MOST OF ALL, ADBANNERS EAT UP BANDWIDTH and SLOW YOU DOWN:

---

ADBANNERS SLOW DOWN THE WEB: -> http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/11/30/166218

---

apk

"And this protects you from basically nothing except some advertising." - by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 30, @09:05PM (#34717748)

You're WRONG... see below:

---

HACKERS USE ADBANNERS ON MAJOR SITES TO HIJACK YOUR SYSTEM: -> http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2007/11/doubleclick

THE NEXT AD YOU CLICK MAY BE A VIRUS: -> http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/06/15/2056219/The-Next-Ad-You-Click-May-Be-a-Virus

NY TIMES INFECTED WITH MALWARE ADBANNER: -> http://news.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/09/13/2346229

MICROSOFT HIT BY MALWARES IN ADBANNERS: -> http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm

2 MAJOR AD NETWORKS FOUND SERVING MALWARE: -> http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/12/13/0128249/Two-Major-Ad-Networks-Found-Serving-Malware

ISP's INJECTING ADS AND ERRORS INTO THE WEB: -> http://it.slashdot.org/it/08/04/19/2148215.shtml

ADOBE FLASH ADS INJECTING MALWARE INTO THE NET: http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/08/20/0029220&from=rss

---

By blocking out adbanners, not only do you get more SPEED, but... also more SECURITY, against malwares that have been shown to exist in some adbanners maliciously embedded & obfuscated code in javascript.

Additionally, by my populating my hosts file, nearly hourly, from reputable sites for that vs. KNOWN BAD SITES/SERVERS?

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/
http://hostsfile.org/hosts.html
http://hostsfile.mine.nu/downloads/
http://hosts-file.net/?s=Download
https://zeustracker.abuse.ch/monitor.php?filter=online
Spybot "Search & Destroy" IMMUNIZE feature (fortifies HOSTS files with KNOWN bad servers blocked)

I can't get burned, if I can't go into the KNOWN BAD SITES' "malware kitchen"...

(Very simple, & it works!)

"Ever since I've installed a host file (http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm) to redirect advertisers to my loopback, I haven't had any malware, spyware, or adware issues. I first started using the host file 5 years ago." - by TestedDoughnut (1324447) on Monday December 13, @12:18AM (#34532122)

FROM http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1907528&cid=34532122

APK

P.S.=> Ah, I just gotta say it, as per my usual: "too, Too, TOO EASY", just '2EZ'... apk

I think it is fair to say that many people enjoy ads by metrix007 (200091)
on Sunday December 26, @09:21PM (#34673304)

Sure they do - Do you also mean ads like these that were infested by malicious scripts & what-not:

---

HACKERS USE ADBANNERS ON MAJOR SITES TO HIJACK YOUR SYSTEM: -> http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2007/11/doubleclick [wired.com]

THE NEXT AD YOU CLICK MAY BE A VIRUS: -> http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/06/15/2056219/The-Next-Ad-You-Click-May-Be-a-Virus [slashdot.org]

NY TIMES INFECTED WITH MALWARE ADBANNER: -> http://news.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/09/13/2346229 [slashdot.org]

MICROSOFT HIT BY MALWARES IN ADBANNERS: -> http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm [apcmag.com]

2 MAJOR AD NETWORKS FOUND SERVING MALWARE: -> http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/12/13/0128249/Two-Major-Ad-Networks-Found-Serving-Malware

---

(That last one was only a week or two ago no less)

?

People sure like ads online: After all, it's THEIR MONEY they pay out to be online, & adbanners SLOW YOU DOWN AS WELL AS POSSIBLY INFECTING YOU:

ADBANNERS SLOW DOWN THE WEB: -> http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/11/30/166218

---

You can certainly think it strange, but you would probably be in the minority, and the evidence would indicate you're not enjoyings ads is closer to an objective abnormality. by metrix007 (200091)
on Sunday December 26, @09:21PM (#34673304)

Oh yes, another "sidewalk surgeon/sidewalk psychiatrist" quick "snap prognosis" by metrix007 - the ONLY shrink in the world minus his degree in psych, years of actual professional practice in psych, & a complete lack of a formal analysis done in a professional environs to boot.

APK

P.S.=> metrix007 is a pitiful troll, & here was his "latest blunder", especially regarding adbanners & HOSTS files:

http://yro.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1888084&cid=34462614

Where his skimming & poor understanding of things IP did him in, right off the bat... apk

On half of the hardware currently shipping out there it is a sure way to fry your card. It may not be fried immediately. It may take months or even a year or two for it to die, but die it will and it will die prematurely. That has been actually been the case for 5+ years now.

I didn't think NVidia needed Debian's help with that... ;)

There is more than enough talent being trained in Australia, what we lack is a communication and "digital economy" minister that actually knows something about IT. They guy got locked out of his own iphone FFS.

http://apcmag.com/how-conroys-daughter-wrecked-his-unsecured-iphone.htm

They guy is clueless and just keeps pushing his censorship agenda. Oh and the useless NBN.
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/154249,nbn-useless-without-subsea-investment.aspx

http://hosts-file.net/default.asp?s=adshufffle.com

It's (adshufffle.com) marked as bogus & in the HpHosts blocklist there @ HPHOSTS (see for yourself)...

Yes - it's a KNOWN bad one @ this point & that's 1 of a few sources I use for "verifies" of what does go into my HOSTS file!

So, yes - I have it listed in my custom HOSTS file as a blacklisted domain/host.

APK

P.S.=> I also store adshuFFle.com (2 f's, not 3 like the above one you noted) in my HOSTS file as well, as I noted in my other reply to you, as it serves adbanners, & per this article & this list?

This article today we're replying to, and these from the past:

HACKERS USE ADBANNERS ON MAJOR SITES TO HIJACK YOUR SYSTEM: -> http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2007/11/doubleclick

THE NEXT AD YOU CLICK MAY BE A VIRUS: -> http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/06/15/2056219/The-Next-Ad-You-Click-May-Be-a-Virus

NY TIMES INFECTED WITH MALWARE ADBANNER: -> http://news.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/09/13/2346229

MICROSOFT HIT BY MALWARES IN ADBANNERS: -> http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm

ADBANNERS SLOW DOWN THE WEB: -> http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/11/30/166218

I don't trust them, any of them, & they slow me down + track me too? NO thanks! apk

"Oh no, between you and the AC, you've mentioned HOSTS files twice. If you mention them a third time, the apk troll shows up, like a techno Candyman with Tourette's." - by gmhowell (26755) on Monday December 13, @01:47AM (#34532348) Homepage

You can ad hominem attack me gmhowell, but it never stands up very well vs. this list of points below in favor of HOSTS files, and certainly in the case of blocking ad banners (which I block them, good or bad, because of this list of ad banners that were shown in the past as doing what's happening in this current thread of malware being inside the code for ad banners):

HACKERS USE ADBANNERS ON MAJOR SITES TO HIJACK YOUR SYSTEM -> http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2007/11/doubleclick

THE NEXT AD YOU CLICK MAY BE A VIRUS -> http://it.slashdot.org/story/09/06/15/2056219/The-Next-Ad-You-Click-May-Be-a-Virus

NY TIMES INFECTED WITH MALWARE ADBANNER -> http://news.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/09/13/2346229

MICROSOFT HIT BY MALWARES IN ADBANNERS -> http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm

ADBANNERS SLOW DOWN THE WEB -> http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/11/30/166218

For just SOME examples of how HOSTS can stop that (by blocking out KNOWN BAD SITES/SERVERS/HOSTS-DOMAIN NAMES, and yes, even blocking adbanners as shown below in my list of points in favor of HOSTS files).

So - You're once again MORE THAN WELCOME to disprove the list of points in favor of HOSTS files below, point-by-point where you see fit and especially vs. them all if you can, especially over AdBlock alone, or (since hosts does things adblock just cannot do that improve your online experience in both speed &/or security), over DNS servers alone (because HOSTS overcome weaknesses in DNS, as noted below, on many points):

---

18++ ADVANTAGES OF HOSTS FILES OVER DNS SERVERS &/or ADBLOCK ALONE for added layered security:

1.) Adblock blocks ads in only 1 browser family (Disclaimer: Opera now has an AdBlock addon (now that Opera has addons above widgets), but I am not certain the same people make it as they do for FF or Chrome etc.).

2.) HOSTS files are useable for all these purposes because they are present on all Operating Systems that have a BSD based IP stack (even ANDROID) and do adblocking for ANY webbrowser, email program, etc. (any webbound program).

3.) Adblock doesn't protect email programs external to FF, Hosts files do. THIS IS GOOD VS. SPAM MAIL or MAILS THAT BEAR MALICIOUS SCRIPT, or, THAT POINT TO MALICIOUS SCRIPT VIA URLS etc.

4.) Adblock won't get you to your favorite sites if a DNS server goes down or is DNS-poisoned, hosts will (this leads to points 4-7 next below).

5.) Adblock doesn't allow you to hardcode in your favorite websites into it so you don't make DNS server calls and so you can avoid tracking by DNS request logs, hosts do (DNS servers are also being abused by the Chinese lately and by the Kaminsky flaw -> http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/082908-kaminsky-flaw-prompts-dns-server.html for years now). Hosts protect against those problems via hardcodes of your fav sites (you should verify against the TLD that does nothing but cache IPAddress-to-domainname/hostname resolutions via NSLOOKUP, PINGS, &/or WHOIS though, regularly, so you have the correct IP & it's current)).

6.) HOSTS files protect you vs. DNS-poisoning &/or the Kaminsky flaw in DNS servers, a

"(*) Unless you run iOS or Android." -

I use a custom HOSTS file to block out ad banners - THUS, I "opted-out" from online advertisers, long ago & hosts files were my way of doing so...

Why? Ok:

---

MICROSOFT APOLOGIZES FOR SERVING MALWARE:

http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm

---

Adbanners have been shown to harbor maliciously scripted code, as in the example above, & that's just a SINGLE INSTANCE. There have been others also... so, for online security's sake, I block them out.

I also do so because ISP's are in talks to bill you for how much you use your connection, bandwidth-wise, here:

---

FCC Approving Pay-As-You-Go Internet Plans:

http://yro.slashdot.org/story/10/12/08/2012243/FCC-Approving-Pay-As-You-Go-Internet-Plans

---

So, by blocking out adbanner content, that means I don't consume as much bandwidth by downloading & processing adbanner code either (even IF it's "safe" from malware content within). That's for BOTH PHONES &/or PC's mind you, especially in light of that 2nd URL above happening... because, after all, bottom-line here is, that it's YOUR MONEY FOLKS, after all!

HOSTS files do ALL OF THAT, for me, even to the point of possibly saving money (if the FCC plans go thru on "pay as you use" internet billing)... & also, far more!

(Below in my P.S. section extolls all the virtues of using HOSTS files, even over AdBlock &/or DNS servers alone).

HOWEVER, most everyone knows you can obtain a reliable HOSTS file from MVPS.ORG here -> http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm and you overwrite your root/etc model in LINUX, or your %WinDir%\system32\drivers\etc model in Windows for it to begin to work... but!

How do you do load a custom HOSTS file for all of that on ANDROID?

You use developer tools is how!

ADB is your pal, and utilizing it, you:

---

A.) Use the mount command, & mount the system mount point on ANDROID as both READ & WRITE, first.

B.) Next, use the PULL command on the HOSTS file you want from wherever it is you keep it (hook your ANDROID to your PC for this)

C.) Lastly, use the PUSH command on the HOSTS file you want on ANDROID to send it to the system mount point on the ANDROID phone device, overwriting it as you would on LINUX (in the etc folder)

---

Since ANDROID is a form of LINUX, it will work the same, blocking out adbanners, maliciously scripted content on sites/servers that attempt to hijack your PC with malware, & you go faster online too!

You gain speed, security, & more "anonymity" by blocking out adbanners &/or malicious content using a HOSTS file, in the following ways:

---

1.) You gain speed of access to your favorite websites by "hardcoding in" your favorite websites as it avoids the roundtrip IPAddress - to - Host/Domain name resolution requests to DNS servers, which is slower than local HOSTS file access (since HDD's are faster than calling out to a remote server for that information),

2.) You gain privacy by avoiding DNS request tracking logs (more privacy/"anonymity" potential here)

3.) You avoids DNS poisoned or redirected DNS servers

4.) You avoid downed/crashed DNS servers

5.) You avoid known bad servers/sites that host malware laden content (by blocking out these sites using 127.0.0.1 (slowest & largest), 0.0.0.0 (next slowest & largest, + most compatible), or 0 (smallest & fastest of the lot, but won't work on Windows Server 2008, VISTA, or Windows 7 anymore))...

6.) You avoid being charged on some ISP/BSP's "pay as you use" policy (see 2nd

Per my subject-line above: When my nephew & I were attempting to put a custom HOSTS file (24.5mb in size) onto ANDROID, it complained with a message along the lines of this:

"This operation is not allowed on the production model of ANDROID OS"

So, we whipped out the SDK tools for it, ADB, & mounted the system mount point as Read + Write... then, we did an ADB "PULL" command to get the file onto the ANDROID device, then we overwrote the "stock-oem" HOSTS file with ADB's "PUSH" command... & guess what?

It worked.

Now, because it did? Here are the results he enjoys from this "modification" on ANDROID phones:

I.E. #1 -> He NOW surfs the web on his ANDROID, minus ad banners (which HAVE been "bushwhacked" with malicious code before -> MICROSOFT APOLOGIZES FOR SERVING MALWARE: http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm - happens to the "best of them"!)

I.E. #2 -> He now surfs the web, FAR more protected vs. known bad sites also (which I update, daily here & from reputable + reliable sources online for that very purpose)

I.E. #3 -> Additionally, my nephew (RIT CIS major w/ specialization in security) now also gets to his favorite websites faster (like engadget.com or wired.com), also (by not doing DNS roundtrip lookups for IPAddress - to - Hosts/Domain names resolution)...

I.E. #4 -> PLUS, IF his DNS "goes down", or is "redirected/dns-poisoned"? He still gets to his fav. sites anyhow, reliably (since HOSTS are the 1st thing a BSD IP Stack looks to for this, by default).

APK

P.S.=> No, it's not "STRICTLY" doing a 'hack/crack' to the OS, but it shows you CAN "alter" the stock setup, + the datafiles it uses for operation, fairly easily, & HOW to do so, easily... apk

Once a month! Do you really think that's enough? DNS records change all the time. Not all of them, but enough to make that list obsolete in a couple of days." - by icebraining (1313345) on Friday December 10, @04:13AM (#34512138) Homepage

Well - For blocking out known bad sites, that's "adequate" (that's mvps.org's schedule though - I do it FAR MORE FREQUENTLY, as far as blocking of sites that harbor malware exploits)...

However, the HOSTS file can be used to do more than just that though in "hardcoding in" your favorite websites IPAddress - to - domain/host name equation for more speed, & blocking out known bad sites is a part as I noted it above... so is blocking out adbanners (good OR BAD ones http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm).

(See, icebraining - You're ONLY hitting on 1 use of a HOSTS file only here, in noting hardcoding the "IPAddress-to-Domain/Host Name resolution" into them for more speed, which also gives you the speed advantage of avoiding DNS request roundtrip time, & also the security advantage of avoiding DNS request logs tracking too - HOWEVER, custom HOSTS files are also a great layer of defense vs. being malware attacked by malicious scripts known bad sites have too).

Personally, I use mvps.org's lists for update vs. adbanner servers, & also known bad sites... I use them, alongside MANY others also (see below):

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/
http://hostsfile.org/hosts.html
http://hostsfile.mine.nu/downloads/
http://hosts-file.net/?s=Download
https://zeustracker.abuse.ch/monitor.php?filter=online
Spybot "Search & Destroy" IMMUNIZE feature (fortifies HOSTS files with KNOWN bad servers blocked)

And yes: Even SLASHDOT &/or The Register help!

(Via articles on security (when the source articles they use are "detailed" that is, & list the servers/sites involved in attempting to bushwhacker others online that is... not ALL do!)).

2 examples thereof in the past I have used, & noted it there, are/were:

http://it.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1898692&cid=34473398
http://it.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1896216&cid=34458500

For blocking out adbanners &/or known bad sites? I do updates from the above sources, everyday (working on one now as I write this)

---

NOW: For more speed to my favorites for my top 250 "favorite sites" (like this one)?

The same program I wrote that does this as well:

1.) Removes duplicate HOSTS files entries

2.) Trims trailing blanks (which a SELECT * DISTINCT ORDER BY query leaves in say, Access, because no VARCHAR exists (like mySQL, Oracle, SQLServer, DB2 etc. have))

3.) Alphabetizes the entries in my HOSTS file

4.) Changes the blocking IP address used from 127.0.0.1 (std./stock loopback adapter address, slowest & largest read of the lot here), to 0.0.0.0 (better in speed/size for reads, & just as compatible as the loopback), to 0 (smallest & fastest of the lot, but, only works in Windows 2000 SP#2 onwards/XP/Server 2003 (used to in VISTA up to 12/09/2008 MS "Patch Tuesday", & it no longer does after that on Windows VISTA/Windows Server 2003/Windows 7))

My custom HOSTS updating program (APK Hosts File Grinder 4.0++) also "Pings" my list of my fav. sites (read up from a text file into a listbox) to keep them curren

"I've never much minded internet advertisements as long as they weren't popups, popovers, or popunders." - by colinnwn (677715) on Wednesday December 08, @04:29PM (#34493126)

How about malware laden attacks hidden in ad banners as well:

MICROSOFT APOLOGIZES FOR SERVING MALWARE:

http://apcmag.com/microsoft_apologises_for_serving_malware.htm

?

That's no first, & that's from as far back as 2007 (NYTimes had the same thing happen, & I've even seen it over at widely travelled forums like majorgeeks.com in their banners also (this one I actually have a screenshot of it to this day on this one as I used to go there & my browser refused to visit that particular site that day due to antivirus/antispyware warnings (the source of that one was canlimuzik.org iirc))

---

"But if I have to start paying for every bit delivered to me, my hosts file is gonna get big fast" - by colinnwn (677715) on Wednesday December 08, @04:29PM (#34493126)

Heh, since 1997, mine's gone from 27,000 entries up to 912,000 as of today, from reputable sites for that type of information listed in below...

However, I also haven't gotten a virus in more than 15++ yrs. online because of the use of such a large HOSTS file (in part, the rest is due to "system hardening" on any OS' I used in that timeframe + patching & more in "layered security fashion", ala -> http://www.bing.com/search?q=%22HOW+TO+SECURE+Windows+2000%2FXP%22&go=&form=QBRE ).

HOSTS files as blacklists, work in this capacity (you can't get burned by what you cannot touch, in other words).

---

"adblock and javascript blocking will become required addons for all my web browsers." - by colinnwn (677715) on Wednesday December 08, @04:29PM (#34493126)

They should be as well, for "layered security" (especially javascript blocks with by NoScript, or the way Opera does it, which is "BY SITE PREFERENCES" (leave javascript off globally, by default, & then turn it on for sites you CANNOT USE PERIOD, WITHOUT IT (such as say, online tests, or e-commerce related sites that use javascript for database accesses etc./et al)), only)

Even though HOSTS do just a better job than AdBlock does (see it below) here, because they cover more than just certain browsers only, & their built-in email programs, but NOT external to them email programs that are widely used such as Outlook Express/FULL MS Office Outlook for example (where HTML + scripted email can be a potential hazard for infestation also).

---

15++ ADVANTAGES OF HOSTS FILES OVER DNS SERVERS &/or ADBLOCK ALONE for added layered security:

1.) Adblock blocks ads in only 1 browser family (Disclaimer: Opera now has an AdBlock addon (now that Opera has addons above widgets), but I am not certain the same people make it as they do for FF or Chrome etc.).

2.) HOSTS files are useable for all these purposes because they are present on all Operating Systems that have a BSD based IP stack (even ANDROID) and do adblocking for ANY webbrowser, email program, etc. (any webbound program).

3.) Adblock doesn't protect email programs external to FF, Hosts files do. THIS IS GOOD VS. SPAM MAIL or MAILS THAT BEAR MALICIOUS SCRIPT, or, THAT POINT TO MALICIOUS SCRIPT VIA URLS etc.

4.) Adblock won't get you to your favorite sites if a DNS server goes down or is DNS-poisoned, hosts will (this leads to points 4-7 next below).

5.) Adblock doesn't allow you to hardcode in your favorite websites into it so you don't make DNS server calls and so you can avoid tracking by DNS request logs, hosts do (DNS servers are also being abused by the Chinese lately and by the Kaminsky flaw ->

An article which multiplies 40k by two to get 100k. It does that by assuming that you sell just as many sales on the second day after launch as on the launch day. I can do that differently: let's assume that, given that there weren't queues for the windows phones, almost everybody who wanted one got one on launch day. The next days sales would just be those people who were busy; let's say 9k. This means that the sales for Windows phone 7 were less than half those of Android in it's launch weekend. My numbers would be just as valid (and just as stuipd) as those from Ars Technica.

It's also an article which equates Windows mobile sales with late model Android sales. This completely ignores the fact that older windows mobile devices will not be upgraded so the installed base is exactly equal to the newly sold Windows mobile base whilst the installed base of Android and iOS includes also those people who want to upgrade.

Come on. If the evidence in this article were what we had to go on then pointing fingers and snickering is exactly what everybody should be doing.

I even recall one bug report we tried to submit about this and one developer said he couldn't reproduce the problem on his quad-CPU 4GB RAM machine with 4 striped RAID array disks... think about the sort of hardware the average user would have had four years ago. Is it any wonder the desktop sucked so much?

( http://apcmag.com/interview_with_con_kolivas_part_1_computing_is_boring.htm )

It's you!

But what of the glorious Internet Filter that was promised to save us all from the "spams or scams that come through the portal" ?

I think Ubuntu is a good player, if it comes to contributions to the community.
What we refer to as Linux, is made up of many tools around the Linux kernel. Here are just the informations I found on programs running on nearly every distribution
The biggest player in contributing to Linux kernel is still RedHat. Here are the top contributers:
Within that field, Red Hat topped that chart with 12%, followed by Intel with 8%, IBM and Novell with 6% each, and Oracle 3%.

Whereas the GNU (ls, pwd, sort, head, gcc, bash etc.) is done by the FSF (Free Software Foundation). Here is a list of contributors: GNU

If I put those programs together and make my own startscripts with e.g. init, systemd or whatever, I get a distribution. How close is Ubuntu to the actual version of the program in their distributions, which is necessary to contribute at all?

Here is an interesting statistic, how close distributions are with the upstream version: oswatershed.org
I believe the top distributions here are also the ones with the most upstream patches to get the used programs working.

"It is a really bad for any development that it is just one person that controls all the patches and the framework of the linux kernel. "

Well it is a damn good thing that nothing could be further from the truth then! You can read the whole article, but here is one important excerpt that proves that it is not the case:

So I don't think such project forks are bad at all, it's how a lot of development is done. Obviously, most development is about "micro-forks" and people don't even think of them as real forks at all, but I actually think it's good to encourage experimentation - and by keeping it friendly, if some experimental kernel shows that it was actually the right direction, we don't end up having psychological road-blocks to switching over or to merging the code...

May the best code win.

the fervent Apple backlash that's taken over /. as of late.

When it's pretty much all bad news directed towards a company that supposedly prides itself on the user experience and the 'it just works' philosophy what do you expect? If 'it just works' and there's transparency to their 'walled garden' procedures then people don't care so much about the control-freak nature of the company. But these days the consumer-friendliness seems to be up shit creek, the platform doesn't 'just work' and now it seems they're starting to blame the user.

They used to be the niche-market player making great products and having great service, their mass-market approach has really had a negative effect. Just look at their 'best way to browse the web' except it doesn't do a large part which is flash (but they don't tell the consumer that), or their 'it's magical' where they really don't think much of their target audience. They used to have a nice balance of form and function, now it's clearly form over function, and by function it's not just features but the whole usability of the devices. At least this applies to their mobile devices, not so much the desktop, but then mobile is where the negative comments and press are directed anyway.

The reason why open source doesn't make much money is because it's essentially a volunteer effort. The vast majority of people that do FOSS work do it unpaid, and on their own time.

Total BS. 75% of Linux code now written by paid developers. Just because the software is free to use, doesn't mean its made for free. Its like free public areas and events. Sure, if it's your town then your taxes paid for it (if you pay taxes). But people that don't pay taxes are also able to join and use them for free like people on welfare, visitors out of town/country, children... they don't pay anything and if you've ever gone to an event out of town, odds are it was paid with the taxes collected by that town which isn't your taxes and that means it was free too.

"Title of his article? "End of Support for XP SP2 is End of an Era", give me a break."

It is the End of an Era. XP was the first Microsoft OS that didn't suck. If XP wasn't released and Apple became the dominate player they have become, there's a good chance 50% of PCs would be Macs and Linux would be fair more popular than it is today.

I remember the daily struggle with 95/95b. OS was such crap I did nightly backups to a $250 1.6/3.2gb TR3 tape drive and could restore 95 and all data in a few hours. It was like a old car that's always breaking down when you need to be somewhere. 98 wasn't much better, and we all know the jokes about ME. 2000 was amazing, but couldn't run games. In 2001 XP finally brought everything together, 2000's stability and 98's gaming, and we could finally stop buying a new OS every 2-3 yrs because XP worked! Then, 6 yrs after XP was released, M$ gives us the flaming hunk of poop called Vista. It was such poo that M$ returned to it's old development schedule and replaced Vista in 2 years with 7.

So anyone who felt the daily pains of working with 95/98/ME thank God everyday for XP and it really is the End of an Era. I will use XP until new programs don't work on it anymore.