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How Long is Too Long to Update?
StWaldo asks: "I'm sure everyone knows the story about the life expectancy of an fresh, un-updated PC, once it's connected to the internet. What about a PC which just hasn't been updated in a while? I've been deployed in Iraq for the last 9 months, and haven't been able to hook up my laptop to the internet to get updates (I do HAVE access, just can't hook up a personal laptop, gov't only). Before I deployed, I would update my software (system, anti-virus, firewall, anti-spyware, etc) regularly, but as I get closer to coming back to the States and my broadband connection, I'm beginning to wonder what the life expectancy of my PC will be. What's the lifecycle of a security exploit, hack, virus, etc - between discovery/release, propagation, and extinction (or a state approaching extinction)?"
... than that of people being deployed to Iraq.
Key word is usually. You do the math.
2 years and no mod points. Join reddit. Because openness is good.
For chrissake, put your box behind a NAT and get your updates. Or throw it out and get a Mac. Then get on with your life.
Jesus, I think I might submit an ask-slashdot of my own... "it's been five hours since I last went to the bathroom. I am trying to decide whether to take a piss or a shit. Could anybody post some pointers on how to weigh the pros and cons of each?"
-b
myselfmusic
our thanks for a difficult job?
how about no thanks for invading and occupying a country which once had one of the highest standards of living and one of the most secularized societies in the middle east but after 15 years of US-led sanctions and war has been completely decimated and turned into a dangerous poverty stricken hellhole.
the death toll from those 15 years is over a million civilians, half of them children.
fmr Sec.State Madeleine Albright: "we think the price is worth it."
thanks sooo so much.
Be a man and sign in -- put a name with your cowardly words.
Right. Just a few misguided shlashdotters opposed it who failed to understand that war is just another routine tool of diplomacy to be used whenever it might be convenient.
I think we all wished you (and all the other soldiers there) nothing but the best.
If most of "us" were given a box with a button on it that did nothing other than kill a bunch of U.S. soldiers then most "us" probably wouldn't push the button. On the other hand, if most of "us" were given a box with a button on it that killed a bunch of U.S. soldiers and also did something else like got "us" cheap gas for our SUV's or saved the lives of some Iraqi children or made Iraq more democratic then most of "us" would push the button in a heartbeat.
It's not that most of "us" want U.S. soldiers dead. It's just that most of "us" have a lot of other things we care about way more than whether U.S. soldiers live or die.
Even the Bush administration - despite all it's rhetoric about "supporting the troups" - obviously put the lives of U.S. soldiers way down the list of things it cares about. The Bush administration made the decision to go to war and the inevitable consequence of a decisions to go to war is that soldiers are going to die. If keeeping U.S. soldiers alive was a big priority for the Bush administration, they wouldn't have decided to send the USA into war.
But maybe "wishing you nothing but the best" actually means "couldn't care less whether you live or die". At least that seems to be the way the Bush administration uses the term.
Our thanks for a difficult job.
OK. Now here's the tricky bit. Has the US decision to attack Iraq actually accomplished anything that most of "us" care about?
Did it get "us" laid? No.
Did it make "us" safer? No.
Did it make the rest of the world like "us" better? No.
Did it kill a bunch of people that most of "us" didn't really want to see killed? Yes.
Will it mean that we have to eventually pay more taxes? Yes.
Did it violate the most basic principle of international law that countries should not go to war unless it is absolutely necessary? Yes.
Was it something that most of "us" wanted? No.
Is the U.S. decisions to make war on Iraq somehting that most of "us" are thankful for? No.
Do U.S. soldiers have "our" thanks for a difficult job? No. (but thanks for playing)