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Malware Threat Reports Are "Apples and Oranges"
Ant writes "The December malware threat reports are trickling in from vendors — and they all appear to be different. Fortinet, Sunbelt Software, and Kaspersky all published their lists of the most prevalent malware strains for the last month of 2009, but they didn't match up, leading to an admission that users will inevitably be confused by the results. Not only do the various security companies use different names for the threats they identify; they don't even identify the same threats."
At all?
Help stamp out iliturcy.
No they haven't.
That's why.
Most definitely not. Windows users have no idea about 'threat tables' or what the hell's going on, except that their antivirus program is blinking red and making noises and they have to keep clicking "yes" or "OK" to make it better.
The inconsistency stems from the fact that these so-called "antivirus software research labs" are just Windows terminals with neckbeards in each. Symantec's neckbeard prefers browsing porn sites with ActiveX. Fortinet's neckbeard gets his latest and greatest malware from careless P2P downloads. Kapersky's neckbeard gets his viruses from phishing and gambling sites.
Hence the inconsistent naming conventions and detection profiles across vendors. +5 informative.
The inconsistency stems from the fact that these so-called "antivirus software research labs" are just Windows terminals with neckbeards in each. Symantec's neckbeard prefers browsing porn sites with ActiveX. Fortinet's neckbeard gets his latest and greatest malware from careless P2P downloads. Kapersky's neckbeard gets his viruses from phishing and gambling sites.
Windows users have gotten smart about updating, people know better than to take ActiveX downloads from free porn sites, and people have wised up about trusting what they get from P2P. All sources are now seeing lower virus rates and the statistical noise is becoming louder than actual results... so these top lists are becoming worthless, there ain't much to be worried about anymore.
You can see each story 10-20 minutes before it goes "live." (Assuming we posted it that far in advance, which usually we do.)
Straight from the Subscription FAQ. Fail troll is fail.
Totally pressed the submit button on accident, now I am the failing one.
There can only be one way out.
SEPPUKU.
Sure you can. How do you think I managed to get first post? But my comment was not visible for 10 minutes. It was visible for 8 seconds between the time I posted it and the time I read his reply. Not long enough. This fine article, as of the time I clicked reply, still doesn't have a second thread under it. He's a script.
Help stamp out iliturcy.
28 years of computing on networks, zero instances of malware. I feel special.
Everyone's always touting the benefits of competition, but here's a clear example of competition serving to confuse the market. There are a number of problems:
1) Antivirus solutions do not co-exist - and not just the resident portion. I'd love to run a second or 3rd scanner like I can for spyware but Antivirus vendors have created a market that is use to the worst kind of lock in. Why can't I run 3 different products side by side and decide which one's resident scanner I want switched on? I'm sure there are technical issue but I'm also sure they're not insurmountable.
2) Antivirus vendors are now trying to police what you can and can't do. Look at the numerous reports of false positives for programs that are legally grey (or black) but aren't viruses. I've personally had network tools come up as false positives and it's a pain to unquarantine and exclude them so they don't quarantine themselves again.
3) The main form of collusion between vendors seems to be fitting into Microsoft frameworks so they show up as antivirus software in the appropriate control panel and so you don't get warnings about invalid or out of date antivirus. But this in itself makes them more vulnerable to attack
4) The products are often so badly written that they cause as many problems as they solve. A bad update here or there can (and has in the past) caused irrevocable system damage that has required a reinstall or restore from backup for users. What's the point of an antivirus that does this. Worse I've seen much subtler performance problems from minor antivirus updates - in one case it brought a company I worked for's client's machines to their knees and initially they blamed us. Turns out a change in the engine meant very big files were being opened and re-scanned for every write. Needless to say it wasn't out fault.
5) Every vendor seems to have their own names for a virus. For pity sake can we have some kind of standard naming mechanism?
Isn't competition suppose to improve such things and open up the market? In this case it just hasn't happened. There has been implicit collusion but not of the right sort to improve or provide a diverse range of products. There's not one product that will protect you well.
These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
This is why I have to run 6 different scanners: because there isn't one that detects all the threats. I currently run 2 antivirus programs along with SpyBot, SuperAntiSpyware, Windows Defender, and Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware.
Yeah but wouldn't it be nice if we could bomb/shoot/waterboard virus writers?
Violence is like duct tape. If it doesn't solve the problem, you didn't use enough.
News agencies know better, for years now they offer us the 1000 reporters, one main story approach. As they know that customers discredit uncertainty.
He's a script.
Or he is you.
http://michaelsmith.id.au
Or he is you.
How many possible combinations of code makes viri? I hear over 30,000 or so a year since 1993 so it would suggest that most possible combinations plus mutations should play out by now. New names makes no difference. The thing that gets my attention is the fact that of all viri threats only a few every year make it to the "scary" level. So I wonder how do these writers know what to write. Sql and other attacts aside there is only enough room. That is what makes a computer eloquent in it's on little way.You can only hose a system for so long. Time is running out for once to our benefit.
+1 meandering stream of consciousness that exposes that while the topic is about viruses, the writer is only thinking about airport security stories.
I use Linux. Its true that there are some viruses for Linux, its just that I haven't ever had one.
That's because it has what? 1% or 2% of the worldwide desktop machines? It really doesn't qualify to warrant the attention of serious hacking... There's no need because 1. it's free, 2. the community that it supports cherishes it, and 3. it's users are generally savvy enough to know what to click on and what not to click on when they're out on the net.
If Linux ever does gain more popularity in the desktop market, rest assured it'll suffer the same fate as Apple/Mac did when it grew in popularity. This will definitely happen when 1. it is no longer free, 2. the community becomes snobbier than it already is, and 3. it becomes easy enough for Windows users to migrate without being afraid of seeing a terminal window.
Impossible I know, but I thought the same when Mac became more popular.
"The truth points to itself." - Kosh, Babylon5
Either you have been drinking too much Ethanol or I have not been taking enough Tegretol.
http://michaelsmith.id.au
I wouldn't go to that extreme. Do not throw the baby out with the bath water. I see the anger I have to deal with it on a day to day basis with some of these turds but I would also like to see the holes they punched in. Hate to say it ,but freedom has a price. I am pissed off sometimes but as a professional I do give props where they are due.Keeps on on their toes.
That's not nearly enough. I get good results with twelve usually, but for porn surfing 16 is not near enough! So I use a Mac or Linux instead. They've got some magical anti-malware internals - probably thirty or forty heuristic engines in there I suspect, but man are they fast! They don't slow the machine down at all.
Help stamp out iliturcy.
one of my favorite papers ever: Apples and Oranges: A Comparison
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun the frumious Bandersnatch.
The writer could conceivably seen the story in the firehose, thought this one will make the front page, copied and pasted story into a text editor and composed their message, then had it ready to post. When the article with your reply came live, they posted within 8 seconds, with a more cogent response than your initial first post as they had time to work on a first reply. This is also suggested by the post referencing the story but not your post.
Alternatively they might have actually read the article, and thought This will make slashdot one day, then followed a similar plan, but Mr. Ocham might want a word over an explanation that involves that much forward planning and OCD monitoring of the front page.
There are now at least 20 million linux users. That's a large enough market that if somebody could do it he would have - if just to prove he could.
Help stamp out iliturcy.
"2) Antivirus vendors are now trying to police what you can and can't do. Look at the numerous reports of false positives for programs that are legally grey (or black) but aren't viruses. I've personally had network tools come up as false positives and it's a pain to unquarantine and exclude them so they don't quarantine themselves again." - by syousef (465911) on Monday January 11, @02:11AM (#30720570)
This I totally agree with you on, & I myself have been a victim of it as a freeware developer!
E.G.-> I wrote an application back in 1999 that is "flagged" by CA as a threat, albeit with "ZERO THREAT LEVELS", listing it claiming it can be used by malware authors to do damage to others... wtf?
So, upon the advisement of an attorney, I took their 21 point test (via vendorappeals@ca.com & writing greg.jensen@ca.com also in regards to this), & my application did not violate a SINGLE CONSTRAINT, & yet? They STILL list it on their website... - this was prior to ANY RULING that antivirus/antispyware companies can now do so (funny that, eh?)!!!
(Boy - it's rather 'funny' how the "rules change" for big money, eh? Especially when you catch their "so called software engineers" constradicting their own rules for removal from their lists).
I am not alone in this either, by the by:
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E.G. #1 - Dr. Mark Russinovich has had this happen with his utilities as well
E.G. #2 - Nir Sofer of Nirsoft has also...
----
In fact, I had a large discussion with Nir about this in fact, via email, & he does a blog on it...
(Does it change anything? Nope!)
NOW, my app, ALL it does? Is allow a user to launch ANY APP HE WANTS, invisibly. I designed it @ the request of a user on a forums to help him out, back when Apache for Windows did not have a resident background service running (like most webservers do on Windows), or @ least that was his problem he told me.
So, since it was VERY EASY TO CREATE, & at the request of a fellow forums member, to help he out, I did so.
(I.E.-> It is a simple app, & it uses 1 line of code to do so (i.e.-> most shell/spawn commands in various compilers have parameters to do this in many compilers), so I "whipped it up" for him, as he requested needing such a tool - just to help out a fellow forums poster whom I had known for years no less online @ NTCompatible.com... )).
Next thing I know? My app is listed by CA + this fool named Thor Schrock as a malware!
(& others also, but, they removed it once I requested it and showed them that I am ANYTHING BUT a 'malware author', per guides I have been doing for decades like this one -> http://www.tcmagazine.com/forums/index.php?s=9dacda674c6b55f869c4db3d5b0cc0df&showtopic=2662 that owns the top spot on GOOGLE when you search "HOW TO SECURE WINDOWS 2000/XP" and the top 50 or so after that. It has gone WELL over 250,000 views online in 2 yrs. time across 15 forums and also has been rated "5/5 stars", or is in their top 5 most viewed on tech forums sections, or was made a "sticky/pinned thread" or "essential guide" no less! My guide helps Windows uses secure their systems in fact!)
I have YET to have my single app (APKApp2BackGroundDaemonProcessEngine.exe) be removed from CA's or this fool "Thor Schrock's" listings, even though I did not violate a SINGLE constraint of CA's removal request document's constraints...
These people victimize smaller developers who are NOT "malware authors" because they know what it costs with attorneys to attack them... so, they get away with it.
I was told in fact, by an attorney out of Rochester N.Y. who handles such things I had a winning case, but he told me it was not worth it ($150,000 award roughly possible), because he said these companies would drag him through the courts for 10++ yrs.,
5) Every vendor seems to have their own names for a virus. For pity sake can we have some kind of standard naming mechanism?
How about a (latin/greek) Biological-like naming system. After all, it works for biology and many (computer)viruses are derived from earlier versions of those viruses, so we could have actual hierarchies.
So you could have a name such as: "userus.dumbus.clicktus.pornolinkus.diabolicus"
Of course after the latin name we could come up with a "common" name - based on the name of the unfortunate tech who had the displeasure to remove it first.
They're all the same anyway: "Big Scary Virus, so buy my overpriced antivirus software"
I'll see your hokum and raise you a boondoggle.
It stops attacks all the time. It's very good.
It can't, usually. But it can infect a machine running from a live CD. No problem.
Nae king! Nae laird! Nae yurrupiean pressedent! We willna be fooled again!
Malware is a very effective and dangerous virus for computer security .Whenever you scan your computer every time you get directed malware ..Its very powerful virus .
Ultra Rezv 1000
Dude, the regular perl script has fewer funky symbols than your post. You may or may not have a good point, it's hard to tell with all that noise in your posts. Hint: Stop using & all the time, there is a regular word you can use instead. 'and'. See? Wasn't that hard to type.
Believing all that say those reports, and doing quick and wrong choices.
I'm going to reply to your comments in "".
"I use Linux. Its true that there are some viruses for Linux, its just that I haven't ever had one."
Do you understand the difference between a Virus, and Spyware, Malware, Worms, and Root Kits? This idea you have is a mirage. Linux boxes have multiple serious security flaws, as all our systems do today, The idea peddled by some is that one side is immune, while the other is an open door way. I'd really rather people talked sensibly with a realisation that our current systems and how they are built remains fundamentally flawed.
"When I was in college, the monkey virus (long ago) was the baddie. When I was unfortunate enough to manage windows systems, code red, nimda, I love you and a few others were all the rage. I got real disappointed when they started listing viruses in the ten thousands, then fifty thousands."
Windows has fundamental flaws, and since win95, its architechture and design had some serious problems. In XP, users by default are created as Admins, and the bulk of the Windows world, developers, suppliers and ISVs continued with a lot of flawed security. This 'ease' of use operation, leaves security mired in a serious hole. And its one that Anti Virus companies and Anti Spyware and Malware companies and organisations are still chasing down today, as well as Microsoft. However, for a very very long time now, Microsoft, and others have stated quite clearly one of the steps that should be taken, and often, even today, is still not taken, and that is _do_not_run_as _admin.
"For Linux, its been in the teens. Mostly root exploits, proof-of-concept stuff, and virii that you have to allow in and set to execute yourself (change permissions, etc)."
http://www.pcworld.com/article/113636/linux_groups_servers_hacked.html
The arrogance of your point is noted. However, its badly placed. Linux systems that are actually placed in the real world, live, facing data ports. One of the large advantages this does exist, is the majority of users are created as users, not as the admin account. This alone is a primary basis for its better record. The point however, is that its not immune, and people should be very careful in assuming that it is.
"Its possible, but not probable to kill your system with these viruses. Perhaps it is good fortune, but I've never been infected (under linux). I'm not trying to troll, its just that the virus writers don't ever get tired trying to be destructive (mind you, kids come and kids go), and the anti-virus folk always seem to have some kind of real specific remedy, which keeps people buying. Its a bit like homeland security. In order to have a budget, there has to be a threat level. In order to sell anti-virus software, there have to be viruses. Shutting an airport for 6 hours because a man kissed his wife sounds like an over reaction. Its stupid. Its non-sensical. Its someone sounding the klaxon too loud so that the danger-danger-danger mentality and the budget both are accepted. No terror, no budget (or sales). Its a game. I refuse to play. If there are viruses on some system, I use the other. Terrorists always target planes, I use car, or bus or something else. The virus researchers never seem to offer anything all encompassing. Its always piecemeal, just like the homeland security rules. The terrorists always always target at the last hour, so we worry about just the last hour (very piecemeal). A stupid approach if you are trying to solve a problem like terror or security, but a real boon if you are trying to sell software or get a budget passed. Milk it baby! Milk it hard. But please, count me out. It just looks like a pile of crap to me (both). Thanks."
When I last spent time with a team from Mcafee, they spoke about how their labs a few years ago, were getting 60,000 unique samples of virii and malware code, and how only a couple of years later they were being bombarded with 255,000 a month. No security co
We`re all equal
Sorry, & is a valid abbreviation for the word 'and' & I will continue to post thus... so, please: Deal with it.
Now, your use of the word "Dude"? Sure, a lot of folks use it (especially after the old film with Sean Penn (great actor, director, & INTELLIGENT guy) "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" but, it is still "slangish")...
So, that said & aside? Well, as you can see?? ANYONE can criticize another's writings... I can, and just did, do the same to you, to prove a point is all. It's very easy to do, and is needless though.
Sincerely,
APK
P.S.=> By the by, you're off topic on this subject too... apk
The antivirus of this $cientology (*1), (*2), (*3) company is not included in the AV-comparatives tests. And considering $cientology activities on the Usenet, I wouldn't trust this company on anything security-related (*4).
*1 http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/wiselist.htm
*2 http://myreligion.scientologist.net/stusjouwerman/myself.htm
*3 http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/About/Management/
*4 http://it.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=158250&cid=13259081
Please create an account and use it so we can downmod you into the oblivion you so richly deserve.
Hello APK...
I'm sure you are aware, big vendors don't like small independent developers... They threaten to upset the applecart, offering superior software for a better price (often free)...
Big vendors want to rest on their laurels and give their shovelware a new coat of paint every year and sell more overpriced copies. They like the status quo, being able to make minor changes and infinite copies to sell for ridiculous prices.
Naturally, the software market should have extremely low barriers for entry, resulting in a huge amount of competition forcing prices down and quality up. In reality, you have a few big companies and cartels keeping the market artificially immature so they can continue to rip people off.
The software market as it stands now looks like it's still in the early adopters phase, with prices kept unrealistically high and no dominant standards.
Doesn't make sense to me. I mean, if Schemester Antivirus wants to identify a threat that is "not the same" as the one Flybynight Computer Security wants to identify, wouldn't one expect them to use different names?
That's like saying Ford calls its car Fiesta, while Toyota calls its car Tazz, but they are not the same car. (To include the obligatory car analogy.)
Free, as in your money being freed from the confines of your account.
Linux has a significantly higher proportion of the server market however, and is dominant in the supercomputer market... The areas where Linux is strong are generally more useful to a hacker, as the systems are more likely to be running 24/7 and have access to far more bandwidth. So yes, Linux is very much a target and has plenty of people working to find ways onto Linux machines.
http://spamdecoy.net - free throwaway anonymous email - avoid spam!
As an extension to the above, the windows mentality of downloading and executing binary installers from websites lends itself to malware
It's not just the Windows mentality. Mac OS X has the same mentality of downloading a disk image from a site and dragging the .app bundle to the Applications folder. Likewise, if Linux ever gets widespread, it will likely have the mentality of adding a software publisher's repository to a machine's software sources and installing software that way.
If you don't engage in risky behavior you don't have to worry so much. For example, paying for all your software should be enough
Whom should I pay for Firefox and GNU Image Manipulation Program? But seriously, my aunt got drive-by-downloaded twice, both times by fake antivirus software, and she spends most of her time in Facebook. I didn't know Facebook had mandatory fees. The first time it happened ("System Security"), I was able to boot into safe mode and run MalwareBytes Anti-Malware, but this time ("Advanced Virus Remover", apparently a newer version of the same threat), safe mode just causes the computer to restart during boot. She's using an Ubuntu live CD until she saves up the money to have the (anti)virus taken off by experts. I'd switch her to Ubuntu permanently, but she needs Windows to get pictures off her Pantech phone running Windows Mobile, and if anything, she needs a working copy of Windows to fix her unclean-shut-down NTFS so that she can even install Ubuntu without blowing away all her files.
The people with the most computing power on the planet right now are Russian hackers (some of the botnets are estimated to total 4+ million machines)
Supercomputers are yesterdays news. These botnets put them to shame on nearly every metric. The idea that you mentioned them as an important target in laughable, because even if hackers got in.. they would get noticed rather quickly even if nobody is watching for it when that 7 hour job instead takes 14.
The key to the success of botnets is that very few ever do anything about it even when they know something is wrong. The masses are the target, not supercomputers.. this isnt the movie Hackers.. that ficticious gibson, even if it existed, wouldn't be worth an organized effort on the level that we see today.
"His name was James Damore."
The areas where Linux is strong are generally more useful to a hacker
Yes, but also more likely to be controlled by someone competent, who won't open unexpected attachments, download cursors, or fall for the "Your computer has N threats, click here to remove them" scams, and knows about updating software. There are plenty of Windows servers out there too, and I doubt they're infected very often. Malware writers target desktops because there's a decent chance of getting onto them.
Just wanted to make a comment regarding anti-virus/malware vendors and how they co-operate with each other. Recently I took on some Sophos training for work - Sophos makes security software which includes (among other things) anti-virus.
From what I was told, they DO work with other AV vendors in one particular situation: samples. If a new virus/trojan/nasty is detected by any vendor in a partnership of vendors, they will provide a sample to others, but won't tell them their detection algorithms. That way the separate vendors are free to determine what to do with it, while at the same time ensuring one vendor doesn't hog all the info.
Apparently it's a mutually beneficial arrangement for everyone, possibly because there's no point hogging the samples because actual infected binaries will appear anyway. At least that's how I remember it. If anyone can add or correct this, feel free.
Hi there, APK, I'm the same AC who apparently managed to stick a burr under your saddle a little while ago. (Not the "Dude..." dude -- the other one.)
I have a 4-digit /. user ID -- which I came by in the regulation manner back in 1990-something. I have excellent karma.
Over the last 12 years, I've authored or co-authored over a dozen technical books (14, the last time I counted) from major publishers like Apress and A-W, edited 4 more, and for the last 5+ years I have worked as a technical writer and editor for an IT company that gets mentioned on this site at least once a week. I've also rewritten several books originally authored by non-native English speakers.
And no, I don't have a PhD, but I do know spelling, grammar, and usage much better than you do, apparently.
So, yes, I *am* an experienced professional in the field, thank you very much. And yes, the "Dude" dude is essentially correct to complain about your use of the ampersand. But don't take my word or that of "Dude" dude for it. By all means, go buy yourself a copy of the The Chicago Manual of Style and check it for yourself.
Yet again, the Internet proves itself to be humor's kryptonite.
Violence is like duct tape. If it doesn't solve the problem, you didn't use enough.
grab a USB >PATA|SATA cable
For personal reasons that I would prefer not to disclose on Slashdot, she wants to pinch every penny from this fix; otherwise, she would have already taken the computer into a local repair shop. At this minute, without access to ask her, I'll assume that she'll tell me that she can't afford to buy a USB enclosure for this fix.
4 scan her drive on "NSA Paranoid" level (you may of course want to do a scandisk on it first)
My primary computer is a laptop that runs Ubuntu 9.10; her computer runs Windows XP Professional. Ubuntu won't mount an uncleanly unmounted NTFS without a special flag; even then, I haven't been able to get it to mount an uncleanly unmounted NTFS with write privileges. So how can I scan a Windows hard drive on NSA Paranoid level using Ubuntu?
Windows. The sample of reports listed had W32, Win32, or a virus targeting Windows (e.g., Conficker).
I think the results and the solution is pretty clear, and it's the same that it has been for more than 25 years.
I pay $24.95 a month in antivirus updates for my $449.98 netbook. I do a deep scan one day a month just to be on the safe side and I manage to keep infections down in the double digits. But what else can I do? Macs are too expensive and Linux just requires too much time.
Can you be Even More Awesome?!
anyone know what hits port 24477 ?? i get whacked on that port on a daily basis (tcp/udp) and have no clue what worm would use it.
"Hi there, APK," - by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 11, @08:42AM (#30722214)
Hello, troll!
----
"I'm the same AC who apparently managed to stick a burr under your saddle a little while ago." - by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 11, @08:42AM (#30722214)
So you try to "stalk me", WoW... "huge accomplishment" and under AC credentials, no less... we're all so impressed (not). Well, you surely DO put the "coward" in AC now, don't you? LOL!
"Good job" (again -> NOT)
And "a burr in my side?", boy, do YOU have it wrong - More like a feather that's making me laugh hugely is all.
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"(Not the "Dude..." dude -- the other one.)" - by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 11, @08:42AM (#30722214)
What 'other one'? See, to me, as far as You trolls?? You're all the same to me... as you ALL act like adolescent juveniles and you seem to "get off" on trolling others... "big accomplishment" that, lol (not).
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"I have a 4-digit /. user ID -- which I came by in the regulation manner back in 1990-something. I have excellent karma." - by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 11, @08:42AM (#30722214)
Sure, sure... SURE YOU DO (sarcasm). So, apparently, acting like a cowardly troll is "good karma"? WoW... the world certainly has changed (and not for the better, apparently).
----
"Over the last 12 years, I've authored or co-authored over a dozen technical books (14, the last time I counted) from major publishers like Apress and A-W, edited 4 more, and for the last 5+ years I have worked as a technical writer and editor for an IT company that gets mentioned on this site at least once a week. I've also rewritten several books originally authored by non-native English speakers." - by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 11, @08:42AM (#30722214)
Sure sure... & per my subject-line above? I'm Bill Gates too... lol! And? Well - What books are those and who are you??
I guess in that case, since you don't put out any real evidence, then I am Bill Gates and I am telling you that you are full of it and nothing more than another lying troll.
Your COMPANY may get noted, but you surely don't apparently (and that doesn't impress me one bit to be blunt about it).
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"And no, I don't have a PhD, but I do know spelling, grammar, and usage much better than you do, apparently." - by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 11, @08:42AM (#30722214)
And this is what sort of accomplishment? My 7 year old niece knows grammar and spelling too... big deal. Are we supposed to be impressed??
By the way: That's one HELL of a "run on sentence" I am quoting from you above - so much for your "english grammar expertise" & sentence structure!
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"So, yes, I *am* an experienced professional in the field, thank you very much." - by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 11, @08:42AM (#30722214)
LOL - "experienced professional"? In writing?? BIG DEAL... I can write too, & again, so can my 7 yr. old niece.
APK
P.S.=> Above all else though, do you REALLY think anyone believes your b.s., especially posting as a "TOTALLY ANONYMOUS COWARD"? I put out real verifiable evidences as an AC @ least that anyone can check up on... you? You're full of HOT AIR as far as I am concerned... give us a break, please (I can't keep laughing this hard or I will bust a rib or something)... apk
Your prose is that of a 5 year old. I have difficulty with your so called writing (it's more like caveman pictographs). However, from what little I could decipher of your "hieroglyphics", I can only say a lot of talk means zero if you do not supply evidences that others can check up on. I can say I am Steve Jobs too, for example. It's very easy to do. So if you think anyone believes you, provided they want to take the time to decipher your primitive scrawlings, then you are sadly deluded.
See subject-line above, & answer that question please...
Thanks!
APK
P.S.=> So much for that alleged "excellent karma" (LOL, that's surely get you a nobel peace prize now, won't it? NOT), & so much for all else you stated.
(Because you are NOT "on topic" here whatsoever, and that only makes you an off topic troll... or, are you "on topic" here? "Inquiring minds want to know"...)
By the way - is there an "english grammar" section on /.?
No.
Face it - You are an off topic troll who "talks a lot of talk" but isn't able to 'back up his bluster' with real evidenceable material - so again, I can say I am Bill Gates too you know... apk
They all want you to be afraid of the maleware THEY sponsored the develpoment of so they KNOW they can cure your ills easily.
errr....umm...*whooosh* *whoosh* Is this thing on ?
"And no, I don't have a PhD, but I do know spelling, grammar, and usage much better than you do, apparently." - by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 11, @08:42AM (#30722214)
You shouldn't begin a sentence or paragraph with the word "And". After that, do you think anybody here believes you are some expert writer?
See here -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1505462&cid=30726518
(HILARIOUS!)
So much for the "alleged professional writer", who cannot write correctly himself... NOW? Now, all he HAS is his "excellent karma" and mod points to mod me down with...
However, per the links in the URL above, from english grammar sites?
It proves he does not write correctly, despite his stating all his b.s. (with no name no less to back it up, or what he has supposedly written).
APK
P.S.=> That's when you KNOW you've gotten the better of a troll - all they have are their unjustified "mod downs" but no substance or comments backing them up either (keep burning your mod points boys, especially on myself (as an AC here always): I can take it, but others may not be able to, & I am saving them the same b.s. from you lying trolling morons is all)... akp
swooosh... and im gone..
"And no, I don't have a PhD, but I do know spelling, grammar, and usage much better than you do, apparently." - by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 11, @08:42AM (#30722214)
"The rule against starting sentences with and, but or because is a hypercorrection teachers insist on in elementary school so that kids don't stay in the habit of writing fragments" - http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic7888.html [english-test.net]
"I remember learning in grade school that this was absolutely out of the question" - http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic7888.html [english-test.net]
"Novice writers should be especially careful not to begin sentence fragments with conjunctions." - http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/Section/Is-it-okay-to-begin-a-sentence-with-and-.id-305408,articleId-27216.html [cliffsnotes.com]
"Formal alternatives to 'and', include words such as 'furthermore', 'moreover' and 'additionally" - http://languagestyle.suite101.com/article.cfm/grammar_starting_a_sentence_with_or_and_or_but [suite101.com]
Want more, Mr. "Truly Anonymous Coward", who claimed to be a professional writer above?
(No way you are a professional writer...)
APK
P.S.=> "Judge not, lest YE be judged"... apk
"And no, I don't have a PhD, but I do know spelling, grammar, and usage much better than you do, apparently." - by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 11, @08:42AM (#30722214)
"The rule against starting sentences with and, but or because is a hypercorrection teachers insist on in elementary school so that kids don't stay in the habit of writing fragments" - http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic7888.html
"I remember learning in grade school that this was absolutely out of the question" - http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic7888.html
"Novice writers should be especially careful not to begin sentence fragments with conjunctions." - http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/Section/Is-it-okay-to-begin-a-sentence-with-and-.id-305408,articleId-27216.html
"Formal alternatives to 'and', include words such as 'furthermore', 'moreover' and 'additionally" - http://languagestyle.suite101.com/article.cfm/grammar_starting_a_sentence_with_or_and_or_but
Want more, Mr. "Truly Anonymous Coward", who claimed to be a professional writer above?
(No way you are a professional writer... but you certainly ARE an OFF TOPIC TROLL, & most likely a liar about your alleged "professional writer" status, because when I asked your name or books of note you have written? YOU RAN, lmao...)
APK
P.S.=> "Judge not, lest YE be judged"... & of course? My usual "too, Too, TOO EASY!"... lol! apk
"And no, I don't have a PhD, but I do know spelling, grammar, and usage much better than you do, apparently." - by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 11, @08:42AM (#30722214)
"The rule against starting sentences with and, but or because is a hypercorrection teachers insist on in elementary school so that kids don't stay in the habit of writing fragments" - http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic7888.html
"I remember learning in grade school that this was absolutely out of the question" - http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic7888.html
"Novice writers should be especially careful not to begin sentence fragments with conjunctions." - http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/Section/Is-it-okay-to-begin-a-sentence-with-and-.id-305408,articleId-27216.html
"Formal alternatives to 'and', include words such as 'furthermore', 'moreover' and 'additionally" - http://languagestyle.suite101.com/article.cfm/grammar_starting_a_sentence_with_or_and_or_but
Want more, Mr. "Truly Anonymous Coward", who claimed to be a professional writer above?
(No way you are a professional writer... but you certainly ARE an OFF TOPIC TROLL, & most likely a liar about your alleged "professional writer" status, because when I asked your name or books of note you have written? YOU RAN, lmao... Utterly hilarious!)
Heh, I "took you out" on YOUR alleged ballcourt too, WITH EASE...
APK
P.S.=> "Judge not, lest YE be judged"... & of course? My usual "too, Too, TOO EASY!"... lol! apk
"And no, I don't have a PhD, but I do know spelling, grammar, and usage much better than you do, apparently." - by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 11, @08:42AM (#30722214)
"Novice writers should be especially careful not to begin sentence fragments with conjunctions." - http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/Section/Is-it-okay-to-begin-a-sentence-with-and-.id-305408,articleId-27216.html
"Formal alternatives to 'and', include words such as 'furthermore', 'moreover' and 'additionally" - http://languagestyle.suite101.com/article.cfm/grammar_starting_a_sentence_with_or_and_or_but
"The rule against starting sentences with and, but or because is a hypercorrection teachers insist on in elementary school so that kids don't stay in the habit of writing fragments" - http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic7888.html
"I remember learning in grade school that this was absolutely out of the question" - http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic7888.html
Want more, Mr. "Truly Anonymous Coward", who claimed to be a professional writer above?
(No way you are a professional writer... but you certainly ARE an OFF TOPIC TROLL, & most likely a liar about your alleged "professional writer" status, because when I asked your name or books of note you have written? YOU RAN, lmao... Utterly hilarious!)
Heh, I "took you out" on YOUR alleged ballcourt too, WITH EASE... too easy.
APK
P.S.=> "Judge not, lest YE be judged"... & of course? My usual "too, Too, TOO EASY!"... lol! apk
http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1505462&cid=30726518
Straight from that URL above, lol, is where this "allegedly professional writer" troll was critiquing me on 'writing style' & what did that outright screwup troll do? LOL: He got "taken down", right on his ballcourt (supposedly, but after what's below, we all know it was a line of b.s., including his running when I asked he his real name &/or books he supposedly wrote etc. et al):
----
"And no, I don't have a PhD, but I do know spelling, grammar, and usage much better than you do, apparently." - by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 11, @08:42AM (#30722214)
"The rule against starting sentences with and, but or because is a hypercorrection teachers insist on in elementary school so that kids don't stay in the habit of writing fragments" - http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic7888.html [english-test.net]
"I remember learning in grade school that this was absolutely out of the question" - http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic7888.html [english-test.net]
"Novice writers should be especially careful not to begin sentence fragments with conjunctions." - http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/Section/Is-it-okay-to-begin-a-sentence-with-and-.id-305408,articleId-27216.html [cliffsnotes.com]
"Formal alternatives to 'and', include words such as 'furthermore', 'moreover' and 'additionally" - http://languagestyle.suite101.com/article.cfm/grammar_starting_a_sentence_with_or_and_or_but [suite101.com]
Want more, Mr. "Truly Anonymous Coward", who claimed to be a professional writer above?
(No way you are a professional writer...)
APK
P.S.=> "Judge not, lest YE be judged"... apk
----
Now, the REAL beauty of his f-up here? Well, the next time (and there will be one, these nothing to lose (because they haven't done anything notable whatsoever) trolls always come back for more) this 'professional writer (not) troll' tries to "critique my writing" again?
LMAO, I'll just toss this one RIGHT INTO THAT SAME ANONYMOUS TROLL'S FACE... and trust me, it WILL be a pleasure!
APK
P.S.=> Me? I LOVE IT... lol! Thanks troll, for being the PERFECT SCREWUP you always are... more ammo for me, provided by you! apk