As usual, with Microsoft, you don't have many choices. You can turn updates off and get pwned by the virii, or leave them on and get pwned by Microsoft.
Quicken doesn't keep me from Linux, but it does keep me on Windows. I'm not a business, I'm an individual, and I don't have room for more than one desktop. Yes, I could dual-boot, but it causes additional hassle and "overhead" to do so, especially if I want things to "just work".
But, to put PayPal out of business, it would have to be better than PP (at least for awhile), which is good for us. It's more likely that PP would improve to keep up with Google, which means we'd have two services competing against each other, which is better.
I agree that having multiple competing companies is always better than having one monopoly.
And what about the people who live in parts of the country that will be covered in several feet of snow in 6 months? Global warming sounds pretty good to those people, especially with heating costs rising every year.
Even remembering a password that changes every month isn't too bad. But remembering 50 passwords that have different rules, and have to be changed at different intervals is almost impossible.
Oddly enough, I like sites like slashdot and K5 for my news. The reason is, if someone spouts BS, 1,001 angry posters will call them on it. Of course, if someone tells the truth, 1,001 posters will scream as well, but the discussion is there.
When a media source (liberal or conservative) tries to cram "news" down your throat, you only get the newscaster's POV.
IME, you got decent support for free for Linux. I'd rather have to wade through the "RTFM, n00b" posts on mailing lists, than to spend hours on hold waiting for a Microserf to say he can't help me.
Lots of people on Slashdot seem to think non-Admin accounts are the silver bullet that protects other platforms from malware, and will finally rid Windows of it
I don't think non-Admin accounts are a "silver bullet". I think it's more like adding locks and security alarms to my house. A determined and skilled burglar will still be able to enter my house, but at least I won't have people entering through open windows.
I agree that Windows will always have a malware problem, even if Microsoft made it secure (and they still have a long way to go for that), but it can be reduced considerably, and non-Admin accounts is a big step in the right direction.
Right. Because still being able to reboot is such a relief after having your life's worked wiped out by a virus
Actually, it is a relief. Because now, I can reboot and restore my "life's work" from my backups. Anyone smart enough to run an OS like Windows should be smart enough to make backups.
This is a matter of policy, not OS security
"Policy" is an important part of OS security. Perhaps the most important part!
You haven't described anything Windows can't do. So I guess you're saying Windows is a "truly secure OS".
You missed two important words. "By default"! Windows can, in theory, be somewhat secure, but out of the box, it isn't.
A truly secure OS wouldn't, by default, give the average user delete permission for every file on the PC.
A truly secure OS would discourage running as an Admin for routine tasks.
A truly secure OS might not stop 14 year old Peggy-Sue from messing up her own files, but it should protect Peggy-Sue's dad from her virus-laden downloads (by default).
In theory, NT-based systems should be secure. In practice, every XP Home box comes with one Admin account and no hint that you should or can create other user accounts. And if you DO create non-Admin accounts, chances are half your stuff won't work.
Yes, it's theoretically possible for XP to have multi-user security, but thanks to Microsoft's brain-dead defaults, that won't happen for 90% of its users.
I just found out what a steaming pile Norton is. I had been using it on a new box because it was preloaded. I already knew it wasn't worth paying for because of how it slowed down my computer, but I thought it was decent for finding virii. But when my free period expired and I switched to Avast, it found a Trojan, hiding on my recovery partition, that slipped right by Norton!
I put Symantic in the same category as Windows & AOL. They all suck, but they come with my computer and the average person doesn't know what a steaming pile they are unless he tries something else.
IME, Windows is NOT as stable as Linux. XP is probably good enough (unlike Win9X, which crashed everytime I burped), but I have had it hang, though not often.
Slashdot Mirror
As usual, with Microsoft, you don't have many choices. You can turn updates off and get pwned by the virii, or leave them on and get pwned by Microsoft.
Quicken doesn't keep me from Linux, but it does keep me on Windows. I'm not a business, I'm an individual, and I don't have room for more than one desktop. Yes, I could dual-boot, but it causes additional hassle and "overhead" to do so, especially if I want things to "just work".
Then you get pwned by the Microsoft virii.
But, to put PayPal out of business, it would have to be better than PP (at least for awhile), which is good for us. It's more likely that PP would improve to keep up with Google, which means we'd have two services competing against each other, which is better.
I agree that having multiple competing companies is always better than having one monopoly.
And what about the people who live in parts of the country that will be covered in several feet of snow in 6 months? Global warming sounds pretty good to those people, especially with heating costs rising every year.
Obviously, you've never met my friend.
I'm sure some customers are @$$holes. But, myself, I'd rather get an honest "I don't know" from a salesperson than a lot of bullshit.
Also, a little scary!
I see a McDonalds commercial. I throw up. My friend sees the vomit, and it reminds him of McDonalds.
Yes!
Even remembering a password that changes every month isn't too bad. But remembering 50 passwords that have different rules, and have to be changed at different intervals is almost impossible.
Oddly enough, I like sites like slashdot and K5 for my news. The reason is, if someone spouts BS, 1,001 angry posters will call them on it. Of course, if someone tells the truth, 1,001 posters will scream as well, but the discussion is there.
When a media source (liberal or conservative) tries to cram "news" down your throat, you only get the newscaster's POV.
The parent mentioned NPR. Fox has no monopoly on non-scientific media.
IME, you got decent support for free for Linux. I'd rather have to wade through the "RTFM, n00b" posts on mailing lists, than to spend hours on hold waiting for a Microserf to say he can't help me.
I don't think non-Admin accounts are a "silver bullet". I think it's more like adding locks and security alarms to my house. A determined and skilled burglar will still be able to enter my house, but at least I won't have people entering through open windows.
I agree that Windows will always have a malware problem, even if Microsoft made it secure (and they still have a long way to go for that), but it can be reduced considerably, and non-Admin accounts is a big step in the right direction.
Actually, it is a relief. Because now, I can reboot and restore my "life's work" from my backups. Anyone smart enough to run an OS like Windows should be smart enough to make backups.
"Policy" is an important part of OS security. Perhaps the most important part!
You missed two important words. "By default"! Windows can, in theory, be somewhat secure, but out of the box, it isn't.
That would only work if My Documents was more valuable than your bank account.
You've either got crappy finances, or some damn good pr0n!
A truly secure OS wouldn't, by default, give the average user delete permission for every file on the PC.
A truly secure OS would discourage running as an Admin for routine tasks.
A truly secure OS might not stop 14 year old Peggy-Sue from messing up her own files, but it should protect Peggy-Sue's dad from her virus-laden downloads (by default).
In theory, NT-based systems should be secure. In practice, every XP Home box comes with one Admin account and no hint that you should or can create other user accounts. And if you DO create non-Admin accounts, chances are half your stuff won't work.
Yes, it's theoretically possible for XP to have multi-user security, but thanks to Microsoft's brain-dead defaults, that won't happen for 90% of its users.
I just found out what a steaming pile Norton is. I had been using it on a new box because it was preloaded. I already knew it wasn't worth paying for because of how it slowed down my computer, but I thought it was decent for finding virii. But when my free period expired and I switched to Avast, it found a Trojan, hiding on my recovery partition, that slipped right by Norton!
I put Symantic in the same category as Windows & AOL. They all suck, but they come with my computer and the average person doesn't know what a steaming pile they are unless he tries something else.
Well, my last 2 computers had Symantic pre-installed. Kinda like AOL and Windows.
Um, we're talking about Windows. Dog food is a compliment!
I had the same problem, and "Run As" didn't work.
IME, Windows is NOT as stable as Linux. XP is probably good enough (unlike Win9X, which crashed everytime I burped), but I have had it hang, though not often.