If Mac and Linux can be a MUCH safer computer, why can't MS Windows?
Because Windows is VERY popular.
If ever the days come that Mac and Linux have very large portions of the Market, very large portions of the viruses, trojans, exploits, and worms will be targeting these systems.
This isn't to say Windows isn't insecure, because everyone here knows it is. This isn't also to say that the default installations of Mac OS X and some distros of Linux aren't safter out of the box, because they are. Windows can still be secured by disabling the really stupid shit (if you don't believe this, you don't know what you're doing), but then you're back on a level playing field with the Mac and Linux -- Some stuff won't work right.
Should people make some kind of massive exodus to other operating systems? Some people definately should. I've recommended Macs to a lot of people I now who have destroyed every Windows PC they've ever owned. Might they do better with a Mac? They might.
In the end though, the Mac and Linux are insecure as well because there are ignorant users behind the helm. It's only a matter of time before those on their high horses about the Mac and Linux are knocked off by a devastating wave of exploits that they previously felt they could never become victim to. When it happens, maybe everyone will wake up.
The only real security, is proper education. Don't rely on the software design alone.
Nearly everyone has at least one name in all of the services, and they still only use one service (the one most of their friends use).
An IM protocal is only as important to someone as the need to keep in touch with the people they know (who use such things).
When it comes to AIM, ICQ, MSN, and Y!M they're really all not that much different, so I use Trillian Pro (registered). My ICQ number is 6 digits.:)
What really matters to a lot of people who actually chat is the chat features of these clients.
IRC of course being the most opened, it has it's obvious problems though many people it enough to cope with them.
ICQ's chat has always and still sucks.
AIM's chat has very few selectable rooms of interest and entering them results in joining a chat room with about 5893493847 bots and 2 live people that don't know how to say anything but "ASL".
MSN's chat isn't all that great either, and most of the people I do know who generally use it at all complain about it most of the time.
The last remaining one worth mentioning then would be Yahoo chatrooms. Yahoo chat rooms have the most topics, including some divided by geographic location. They support voice in the room (a real plus) and though the bots are bad they're easily spotted.
Overall, I can honestly say I think Yahoo's chat rooms are the best of the major services though they too have serious problems. For starters, you almost HAVE to use a 3rd party client such as YahElite (Only available for Windows, but runs in Wine just fine) to stay safe from skript-kiddie boot-codes. And you will get private messages from tons of bots. Most importantly though, creating private rooms will not grant the person who created the room any kind of special room privileges so the rooms go mostly unmoderated. For some people this might be undesirable.
That's why this whole thing has been so high on my mind lately. Because I do like to chat and as I see it none of the chat services are perfect.
What's needed is a chat service that...
1. Is free or inexpensive. 2. Is opened (and possibly opened source at both the server and client levels). 3. Supports voice and webcams. 4. Supports user level moderation and room creation. 5. Supports a structured and oragnized listing of the rooms (similar to Yahoo's) to better bring together people that desire chat on specific subjects. (IRC's ungodly long list of seemingly random rooms just never really has cut it). 6. Is safe from exploits and boots. 7. Is cross platform. 8. Doesn't suck.
I have a lot of ideas on how a service like this could be done, but how to do it without either ungodly amounts of capitol or without making the system expensive to users is something I often ponder.
Even starting an opened source project to do this has the major issue of running the master servers for the service, something that a free and opened source project probably couldn't afford to do for long if the service ever got popular.
Chat is still a largely unsatisfied niche, since nobody has really done it right. Instant messages are so 90's. Someone needs to take chat to the next level, and Google could do it if they gave it some thought.
Since you're paying for it, use it. Yes, yes, I know, you use Linux and can't. Blah. Find a Windows PC, download a song. Follow me here...
Now, since it's that DRM encoded garbage AAC or whatever, you're going to want to strip that crap out.
Use Hymn for that. Now add your unlocked song to your collection in iTunes. Use iTune's built in "CONVERT TO MP3" feature, which it will do nicely and you now have a file you can use on your Linux machine. iTunes has a built in converter that works really well, but it won't convert it's own DRM protected trash. So once you've taken that out....
There are a few things to note. First off, when iTunes converts it to MP3 it will grow in size, nearly almost double it's original depending on the content. Next, your MP3 player has to support variable rate MP3s, which most do.
I know supporting iTunes is kind of like saying you accept DRM, but if you have to pay for it then use it the way you want. After all, You paid and can't listen to it on your chosen platform. Exercise your fair rights!
To update the list of last accessed files? To save different recording preferences like bitrate, input device, etc?
Why should any software such as a media player need the registry?
Software such as this has no business storing it's settings anywhere other than it's own INI file, either in some kind of universal settings directory (and then in it's own subdirectory of need be) or more acceptably, in it's own application directory.
In the case of software that benefits from user specific settings, the user's own personal settings directory(folder/whatever) is the best option.
Things like media players don't need to be fiddling with the registery.
I even find it hard to justify Explorer saving settings in the registry.
This would be a victory if it were legitimate businesses that used such tactics, but it tends to be the questionable individuals who use this the most, so it really won't have much impact, I'm afraid.
It gets even worse when you consider the fact that US law has little effect on operations from other countries. So...
If they hadn't given us a flashlight at all would someone have complained about it just because other games have had one?
Also, you can adjust the brightness of the game. It's SUPPOSED to be dark, that's kind of the point. That is the entire point, even. SOME games put you in a room that is supposed to be dark, but you can still see everything just fine, which isn't like being in the dark for me. I know when I'm in the dark in the real world, I can't see the demons and stuff running around trying to eat me. I don't see why a good game should be any different.
I for one have been enjoying the hell out of Doom 3, and I'm pretty jaded about games in general because on the whole, most of them suck.
Is DOOM 3 perfect? Well, no, but then I'm kind of bias against first person shooters. BUT I still enjoy it, so that should say something alone.
Also, I don't use the flashlight ALL That often, unless I find myself in an unussually dark spot and want to take a better look around, but the areas that are so dark they require that are actually fairly few. Most of the rooms are are lit just well enough that you can make out everything, even if only vaguely.
In my opinion the whole flashlight thing was so unimportant it simply never even occured to me that some children might cry about it.
Actually, the closest thing to the Apple cube I've seen is the FIC Ice-Cube.
I have one, which all in all is a fair system.
It has a similar look to most of the other SFF systems, but clear and bluish like the G4 Cube. It's a nice looking case with a decent motherboard inside and plenty of room to work. Overall I am more or less satisfied with it, but it is just a small form factor system after all, and it is somewhat limited by that for obvious reasons.
On the other hand, it looks absolutely beautiful in the dark.
Oh, and it has a handle (which seems to be removable by screws, but I haven't tried.) Oh, and it's much smaller than it appears in that picture. It's only one foot deep if that gives any idea of the size.
More like, if, whenever someone got near the car it automatically unlocked and started the engine, requiring you to remove the dashboard cover and unscrew something to change this.
I never could understand why people act like you have to trudge through insane registry keys or something to diable Autostart.
It's insanely easy to do, about as easy as changing screen resolution. Can Slashdot users literally know so little about Windows that they simply don't realize the option is right their in their face?
I do admit it should be disabled by default, or better yet, simply not exist. But thinking it's easier to switch to Linux than to disable all of the security risks in Windows is just demented.
And to end your reply on this note means that you completely missed the point, which is why this reply was necessary. Boy, too bad your MCSE test didn't cover reading comprehension.
And you speak of high-horses?
You being unaware that it is possible to lock down a machine so that those exploits people like to gripe about are no longer effective, right?
I don't even know why I'm bothering replying to this post. You are very obviously ill informed. I never once suggested that I would dare browse the web with a stock install of Windows, and I wouldn't even go so far as to say I'd do it after getting all of the Windows updates.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO INSTALL A SINGLE PROGRAM IN ORDER TO GET MALWARE INSTALLED ON YOUR SYSTEM. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS OPEN IE, POINT YOURSELF TO THE APPROPRIATE WEBSITE, AND IT WILL SILENTLY AUTO-INSTALL ON YOUR SYSTEM. IE CAN BE COMPLETELY PATCHED, IT DOESN'T MATTER SINCE THEY'RE USING AN UNPATCHED EXPLOIT.
That you would YELL this horribly misguided statement proves that you are one of the majority who does not realize what it takes to lock down a Windows machine.
There's more than just patching a machine. One must also adjust the horribly inappropriate default settings. Installing adware prevention software is an obvious step. Last but not least, there is installing software that strips the utter bullshit from incoming HTTP connections (Zone Alarm Pro does this quite nicely).
Sure, some sites don't "LOOK" like they should. Many are littered with big red X's and more ofthen than not activeX controls don't work as they should. I'd rather grant such access on a site by site basis anyway. Stripping the bullshit with something like ZAP ends up with just as many sites that don't work as I would have if I were using Mozilla, only now I have the option of allowing the site access to work properly if I so decide I must.
It's anti-Microsoft people like you that irritate me. You're so wrapped up with your Emaculate Misconceptions that you fail to recognize that most of YOUR problems with Microsoft are YOUR own inadequate knowledge. Yet you'll be quick to bash any user who dislikes Linux for that very reason.
So there is nothing wrong with MY reading comprehension. You're just not as knowledgeable as you think you are, ass-wart. If you're going to hate Microsoft, choose to hate them for all of the many legit reasons. Don't hate them because you're an idiot.
Lots of little gizmos, as you call them, are bundled with this shit. That's why before you accept these useful and "Free" gifts you should ask youself what these companies are getting by providing them.
--I-- actually DON'T get spyware, and I do have AdAware and Spybot S&D, but more often than not they only remove a bunch of cookies.
A little bit of common sense is all it takes to keep yourself clean. Invariably you might download something from a reputable site and find yourself cussing them and removing it moments later when you've found out it was cursed. But here is where it pays to be a knowledgable user.
None of my boxes are infected, and I didn't even need to run away from the problem by using Mozilla. After all, it doesn't matter WHAT browser you use if the spyware comes in via other means.
Once again, the solution is... Don't use M$ Windows. (Sorry Mac people, I have had no recent experience with a Mac to make a comment on it.
No, actually, the solution is to disable AutoStart. It's easy to do. And it's easier than switching operating systems (at least for most people.)
Maybe instead of blaming Microsoft at every chance that pops up, users could try to be more constructive and try to resolve the issues at hand through less invasive, arrogant, annoying, or sometimes just plain stupid means.
A new virus is spreading around the NET, this one spreads itself through users who have installed Microsoft's Antivirus Software by exploiting a vulnerability for which Microsoft has already issued a patch.
But you are right. Should Have is the correct usage, and I don't think Should've is even a proper contraction. But it's easy to understand why someone might use the term.
Re:Replace it with a key labelled [help]
on
Is Caps Lock Dead?
·
· Score: 1
The Amiga has a [HELP] key. It's right next to the delete key.
On the other hand, the Amiga only has 10 function keys (which is precisely 10 more than most programs need.)
Re:Caps Lock has another very important purpose
on
Is Caps Lock Dead?
·
· Score: 1
Video game consoles are better than PCs for certain types of games, mainly action, puzzle, adventure, fighting, driving, and fast passed RPGs.
Until PCs come up with good replacements for very large screens and gamepads*, that fact will remain....
Using your own route of argument, the consoles win.
* Technically gamepads do exist for the PC, but few games properly utilise them, and the quality of gamepads vary extensively from brand to brand. For instance, Grand Theft Auto 3 on the PC does not make very good use of my Thrustmaster Dual Power, and it only marginally works with an XBox controller w/ adapter. So while technically the PC does have gamepads, the mouse and keyboard are still the default (and practically only) really useful means of input available to gamers.
In the 90's, I ran a 10 line BBS on an Amiga 4000 with 16 megs of Fast ram, 2 megs of Chip ram, and 0k for the swap file.:)
I know, I know, the Amiga didn't HAVE virtual memory. Well actually it did if you had an 040 and installed a memory management program such as GigaMem, but so few people had a use for such a thing that it was practically unheard of.
Oh, and before someone jumps in saying that I wasn't able to do anything else, that is totally NOT the case.
Very often I was doing lots of stuff. The difference is developers were used to working within memory constraints, and now days developers are used to systems growing into the applications.
Slashdot Mirror
If Mac and Linux can be a MUCH safer computer, why can't MS Windows?
Because Windows is VERY popular.
If ever the days come that Mac and Linux have very large portions of the Market, very large portions of the viruses, trojans, exploits, and worms will be targeting these systems.
This isn't to say Windows isn't insecure, because everyone here knows it is. This isn't also to say that the default installations of Mac OS X and some distros of Linux aren't safter out of the box, because they are. Windows can still be secured by disabling the really stupid shit (if you don't believe this, you don't know what you're doing), but then you're back on a level playing field with the Mac and Linux -- Some stuff won't work right.
Should people make some kind of massive exodus to other operating systems? Some people definately should. I've recommended Macs to a lot of people I now who have destroyed every Windows PC they've ever owned. Might they do better with a Mac? They might.
In the end though, the Mac and Linux are insecure as well because there are ignorant users behind the helm. It's only a matter of time before those on their high horses about the Mac and Linux are knocked off by a devastating wave of exploits that they previously felt they could never become victim to. When it happens, maybe everyone will wake up.
The only real security, is proper education. Don't rely on the software design alone.
An IM protocal is only as important to someone as the need to keep in touch with the people they know (who use such things).
When it comes to AIM, ICQ, MSN, and Y!M they're really all not that much different, so I use Trillian Pro (registered). My ICQ number is 6 digits.
What really matters to a lot of people who actually chat is the chat features of these clients.
IRC of course being the most opened, it has it's obvious problems though many people it enough to cope with them.
ICQ's chat has always and still sucks.
AIM's chat has very few selectable rooms of interest and entering them results in joining a chat room with about 5893493847 bots and 2 live people that don't know how to say anything but "ASL".
MSN's chat isn't all that great either, and most of the people I do know who generally use it at all complain about it most of the time.
The last remaining one worth mentioning then would be Yahoo chatrooms. Yahoo chat rooms have the most topics, including some divided by geographic location. They support voice in the room (a real plus) and though the bots are bad they're easily spotted.
Overall, I can honestly say I think Yahoo's chat rooms are the best of the major services though they too have serious problems. For starters, you almost HAVE to use a 3rd party client such as YahElite (Only available for Windows, but runs in Wine just fine) to stay safe from skript-kiddie boot-codes. And you will get private messages from tons of bots. Most importantly though, creating private rooms will not grant the person who created the room any kind of special room privileges so the rooms go mostly unmoderated. For some people this might be undesirable.
That's why this whole thing has been so high on my mind lately. Because I do like to chat and as I see it none of the chat services are perfect.
What's needed is a chat service that...
I have a lot of ideas on how a service like this could be done, but how to do it without either ungodly amounts of capitol or without making the system expensive to users is something I often ponder.
Even starting an opened source project to do this has the major issue of running the master servers for the service, something that a free and opened source project probably couldn't afford to do for long if the service ever got popular.
Chat is still a largely unsatisfied niche, since nobody has really done it right. Instant messages are so 90's. Someone needs to take chat to the next level, and Google could do it if they gave it some thought.
Since you're paying for it, use it. Yes, yes, I know, you use Linux and can't. Blah. Find a Windows PC, download a song. Follow me here...
Now, since it's that DRM encoded garbage AAC or whatever, you're going to want to strip that crap out.
Use Hymn for that. Now add your unlocked song to your collection in iTunes. Use iTune's built in "CONVERT TO MP3" feature, which it will do nicely and you now have a file you can use on your Linux machine. iTunes has a built in converter that works really well, but it won't convert it's own DRM protected trash. So once you've taken that out....
There are a few things to note. First off, when iTunes converts it to MP3 it will grow in size, nearly almost double it's original depending on the content. Next, your MP3 player has to support variable rate MP3s, which most do.
I know supporting iTunes is kind of like saying you accept DRM, but if you have to pay for it then use it the way you want. After all, You paid and can't listen to it on your chosen platform. Exercise your fair rights!
To update the list of last accessed files? To save different recording preferences like bitrate, input device, etc?
Why should any software such as a media player need the registry?
Software such as this has no business storing it's settings anywhere other than it's own INI file, either in some kind of universal settings directory (and then in it's own subdirectory of need be) or more acceptably, in it's own application directory.
In the case of software that benefits from user specific settings, the user's own personal settings directory(folder/whatever) is the best option.
Things like media players don't need to be fiddling with the registery.
I even find it hard to justify Explorer saving settings in the registry.
This would be a victory if it were legitimate businesses that used such tactics, but it tends to be the questionable individuals who use this the most, so it really won't have much impact, I'm afraid.
It gets even worse when you consider the fact that US law has little effect on operations from other countries. So...
How about no Flashlight?
If they hadn't given us a flashlight at all would someone have complained about it just because other games have had one?
Also, you can adjust the brightness of the game. It's SUPPOSED to be dark, that's kind of the point. That is the entire point, even. SOME games put you in a room that is supposed to be dark, but you can still see everything just fine, which isn't like being in the dark for me. I know when I'm in the dark in the real world, I can't see the demons and stuff running around trying to eat me. I don't see why a good game should be any different.
I for one have been enjoying the hell out of Doom 3, and I'm pretty jaded about games in general because on the whole, most of them suck.
Is DOOM 3 perfect? Well, no, but then I'm kind of bias against first person shooters. BUT I still enjoy it, so that should say something alone.
Also, I don't use the flashlight ALL That often, unless I find myself in an unussually dark spot and want to take a better look around, but the areas that are so dark they require that are actually fairly few. Most of the rooms are are lit just well enough that you can make out everything, even if only vaguely.
In my opinion the whole flashlight thing was so unimportant it simply never even occured to me that some children might cry about it.
You're not thinking about this right.
Marking it down doesn't mean marking THAT item down, it simply involves making one item look like another.
For example... if you program a $50 shirt to look to the scanner like a $14 shirt, instant discount.
What would be funny though is a pack of balloons being remarked as a package of condoms or some other such amusing change of ID.
Actually, the closest thing to the Apple cube I've seen is the FIC Ice-Cube.
I have one, which all in all is a fair system.
It has a similar look to most of the other SFF systems, but clear and bluish like the G4 Cube. It's a nice looking case with a decent motherboard inside and plenty of room to work. Overall I am more or less satisfied with it, but it is just a small form factor system after all, and it is somewhat limited by that for obvious reasons.
On the other hand, it looks absolutely beautiful in the dark.
Oh, and it has a handle (which seems to be removable by screws, but I haven't tried.) Oh, and it's much smaller than it appears in that picture. It's only one foot deep if that gives any idea of the size.
Why should I have anything against the company that makes the processor in my GBA? :D
"There's things generals should stay up late at night worrying about," he said. "A talking Coke can isn't one of them."
It's a good thing I'm not a military general. I ALWAYS worry whenever something that shouldn't be talking to me suddenly starts to do so.
I'm not a Bush supporter or a Moore hater - I often disagree with both. But I know which has integrity and which doesn't.
Okay, now you have me. Which one did you say has integrity?
I'll go see this movie when either there is a Fnord Filter available, or someone releases an UnFnorded version.
in order to be remotely effective, the holes would need to be at least the size of a child's fingers.
:)
And to be totally effective as a torture device, the holes would have to be large enough for adult fingers as well.
More like, if, whenever someone got near the car it automatically unlocked and started the engine, requiring you to remove the dashboard cover and unscrew something to change this.
I never could understand why people act like you have to trudge through insane registry keys or something to diable Autostart.
It's insanely easy to do, about as easy as changing screen resolution. Can Slashdot users literally know so little about Windows that they simply don't realize the option is right their in their face?
I do admit it should be disabled by default, or better yet, simply not exist. But thinking it's easier to switch to Linux than to disable all of the security risks in Windows is just demented.
And to end your reply on this note means that you completely missed the point, which is why this reply was necessary. Boy, too bad your MCSE test didn't cover reading comprehension.
And you speak of high-horses?
You being unaware that it is possible to lock down a machine so that those exploits people like to gripe about are no longer effective, right?
I don't even know why I'm bothering replying to this post. You are very obviously ill informed. I never once suggested that I would dare browse the web with a stock install of Windows, and I wouldn't even go so far as to say I'd do it after getting all of the Windows updates.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO INSTALL A SINGLE PROGRAM IN ORDER TO GET MALWARE INSTALLED ON YOUR SYSTEM. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS OPEN IE, POINT YOURSELF TO THE APPROPRIATE WEBSITE, AND IT WILL SILENTLY AUTO-INSTALL ON YOUR SYSTEM. IE CAN BE COMPLETELY PATCHED, IT DOESN'T MATTER SINCE THEY'RE USING AN UNPATCHED EXPLOIT.
That you would YELL this horribly misguided statement proves that you are one of the majority who does not realize what it takes to lock down a Windows machine.
There's more than just patching a machine. One must also adjust the horribly inappropriate default settings. Installing adware prevention software is an obvious step. Last but not least, there is installing software that strips the utter bullshit from incoming HTTP connections (Zone Alarm Pro does this quite nicely).
Sure, some sites don't "LOOK" like they should. Many are littered with big red X's and more ofthen than not activeX controls don't work as they should. I'd rather grant such access on a site by site basis anyway. Stripping the bullshit with something like ZAP ends up with just as many sites that don't work as I would have if I were using Mozilla, only now I have the option of allowing the site access to work properly if I so decide I must.
It's anti-Microsoft people like you that irritate me. You're so wrapped up with your Emaculate Misconceptions that you fail to recognize that most of YOUR problems with Microsoft are YOUR own inadequate knowledge. Yet you'll be quick to bash any user who dislikes Linux for that very reason.
So there is nothing wrong with MY reading comprehension. You're just not as knowledgeable as you think you are, ass-wart. If you're going to hate Microsoft, choose to hate them for all of the many legit reasons. Don't hate them because you're an idiot.
I don't get what it's a demo of?
The skills they have, that most coders do not.
The weather channel's little weather gizmo
Lots of little gizmos, as you call them, are bundled with this shit. That's why before you accept these useful and "Free" gifts you should ask youself what these companies are getting by providing them.
--I-- actually DON'T get spyware, and I do have AdAware and Spybot S&D, but more often than not they only remove a bunch of cookies.
A little bit of common sense is all it takes to keep yourself clean. Invariably you might download something from a reputable site and find yourself cussing them and removing it moments later when you've found out it was cursed. But here is where it pays to be a knowledgable user.
None of my boxes are infected, and I didn't even need to run away from the problem by using Mozilla. After all, it doesn't matter WHAT browser you use if the spyware comes in via other means.
Once again, the solution is... Don't use M$ Windows. (Sorry Mac people, I have had no recent experience with a Mac to make a comment on it.
No, actually, the solution is to disable AutoStart. It's easy to do. And it's easier than switching operating systems (at least for most people.)
Maybe instead of blaming Microsoft at every chance that pops up, users could try to be more constructive and try to resolve the issues at hand through less invasive, arrogant, annoying, or sometimes just plain stupid means.
A new virus is spreading around the NET, this one spreads itself through users who have installed Microsoft's Antivirus Software by exploiting a vulnerability for which Microsoft has already issued a patch.
Groovy.
Should've and Should Of sound similar.
But you are right. Should Have is the correct usage, and I don't think Should've is even a proper contraction. But it's easy to understand why someone might use the term.
The Amiga has a [HELP] key. It's right next to the delete key.
On the other hand, the Amiga only has 10 function keys (which is precisely 10 more than most programs need.)
And you are yelling.
Well, the point is that for certain types of gaming PCs are superior to video game consoles.
I can certainly conceed there! In fact, my reply (intended to be mostly satire) never invalidated the original statements at all.
Video game consoles are better than PCs for certain types of games, mainly action, puzzle, adventure, fighting, driving, and fast passed RPGs.
...
Until PCs come up with good replacements for very large screens and gamepads*, that fact will remain.
Using your own route of argument, the consoles win.
* Technically gamepads do exist for the PC, but few games properly utilise them, and the quality of gamepads vary extensively from brand to brand. For instance, Grand Theft Auto 3 on the PC does not make very good use of my Thrustmaster Dual Power, and it only marginally works with an XBox controller w/ adapter. So while technically the PC does have gamepads, the mouse and keyboard are still the default (and practically only) really useful means of input available to gamers.
In the 90's, I ran a 10 line BBS on an Amiga 4000 with 16 megs of Fast ram, 2 megs of Chip ram, and 0k for the swap file. :)
I know, I know, the Amiga didn't HAVE virtual memory. Well actually it did if you had an 040 and installed a memory management program such as GigaMem, but so few people had a use for such a thing that it was practically unheard of.
Oh, and before someone jumps in saying that I wasn't able to do anything else, that is totally NOT the case.
Very often I was doing lots of stuff. The difference is developers were used to working within memory constraints, and now days developers are used to systems growing into the applications.