I say 2 years until any 12-year old script kiddie that took a Visual Basic tutorial online can download a.frm or.bas file from LimeWire, inject it into their project, and call a sub to hide it in the kernel. Then, we'll have regular spyware all over again, you just can't see the.exe
On the other hand, look at spam originally. Nothing prevented a mass mailer propagated with addresses harvested from websites. When it became a pain in the ass, stuff started blocking it. Programs were released to fight it, MTA's used a internet-wide blacklist, and users could tune the Bayesian filter by ticking a check and clicking "Report as spam". I don't even get spam anymore, not even on my well-known email accounts. Now, even the stupidest, most naive PC user won't read the "YOU CAN ENLARGE YOUR PENIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" email
Now spyware. Nothing fought that originally, and Mom and Pop would download an.exe if the website sugared it up for them and gave it a nice name. Now, nobody opens an exe file, mainly because of the "This will $*#( up your PC. Continue/Cancel?" messange XPSP2 gives. Everybody has AV software, and AntiSpyware software, because they buy Symantec's security ads.
Logically, anything unfavorable but profitable will be invented. People (including Symantec, Webroot) will find ways to fight it. Malware writers find ways to circumvent it. Companies sell products to remove, malware finds ways to hide.... Is this so suprising? All it means is that *ware has hit 1 of it's infinite lulls. We will NEVER see the end of spyware, because no operating system (yes, even *nix) that is even halfway functional is bug-free. Ever. And you *still* have the user element, tricking people into thinking it is necessary. What a load of bull.
Not advocating Chinese opression and "dickedness" but as a country, isn't the government allowed to do whatever the hell it wants, unless it interferes with other nations? I mean, if they start nuking people... but this is censorship. Somebody said (I'd look it up but I'm too lazy - just took a midterm about him too...) that a nation was ruled by a social contract. (Oh yeah, wasn't it Rousseau? Hold on, google likes my answer! Good.) Essentially, he said that a nation could do whatever the hell it wants, but if the people don't like it, out they go. That's what Parliment did, in the "Glorious Revolution" (i think). Essentially, when the gov't falls out of favor, they get hammered. So, as much as Chinese might not like censorship, they obviously aren't too pissed about it. Yes, I know they're opressive, but the general will is, and always will be, more powerful than any gov't. Long-winded, I know. Anyways, how is Google (or Microsoft, or Gates, or MSN) doing anything wrong? They are only complying with their stated policy. Yes, it's a slippery slope, but an opressive nation demanding that content be filtered, or else blocked outright. What's new? And, the buisness's interest aren't idealistic. They're buisnesslike. Duh.
No. You can try using Knoppix - one of my personal favorites. If you have a computer newer than about 8yrs old, you can dl the ISO images from http://www.knoppix.com/ and burn it to a CD. Then you restart your computer with the disk in the first CD drive, and use it. If you want, you can also repartition your HD and install it. But that seems like more than you're into.
Is there any "How to use Unix if you don't want to type a lot of code and basically want windows without the bugs
No. There isn't. Windows programs (e.g. Microsoft Word) can't run natively on Linux. Yes, you can use Wine (which comes in Knoppix) but it isn't perfect.
Do they have firefox for it?
Firefox started on Linux. Yes, it is the default browser in Knoppix. You see it as the firefox symbol in the bottom part of the screen.
Note: I'm assuming you don't want straight GNU/Unix because it has no GUI (X-windows) until you install one. I'd reccomend Linux. So, if you're computer literate, you might be able to use it. You just might not find it worth the hassle though. And by the way, OpenOffice does support Word files completely if that's what otherwise would keep you back.
Why? They've fixed it up a lot. I can't wait for Vista, and like anything else, it has bugs. However (if you actually use Windows Update), they are usually fixed within the week. Add that to a good firewall (like ZA Free ed., Windows Firewall sux) and a good AV (like ClamWin) and actually know what you're doing and run spyware checks... it's just as stable and secure as any other OS. In particular, their patching archeticure is much more stable than others, particulally macs. What happens when someone exploits a Mac vunerability? (Yes, there are. They just aren't publicized/exploited as much) True, IE is conceptually flawed, but use thereof in a proper manner (i.e. don't be fooled by the YourSearchBar popup you see) and it works fine. Hard use does require a reinstall, but that's probably a result of the use, and applicipable to Mac or *nix or...
I know I will get flamed, but it just seems awfully unfair to always be bashing MS. And, before I am labelled an ignorant fool, I've been in this buisness for 9yrs. I've used Linux (debian) and Mac extensively. But, for 99% of everything I do, I use Windows. And the other percent, I use either Microsoft VPC/Debian or Cygwin. As an IS/IT admin, windows is the easy, intergrated, and user-friendly path.
Perhaps it's time to re-evaluate those old predjucies? Maybe? Yes, 9x and (particulary) ME were pieces of crap, but 2k and XP (admittedly less) were (are) great and stable. The average user flames on about MS breaking, when it's really their error and stupidity. Linux buffs that bash Windows are basing on old predjuces like ME. Those days are over. Give them some credit, please?
No, I am not affiliated with Microsoft or, for that matter, any corporation. I am a student. I really have used computers (my first was a Mac) for 9 years. I am not as ignorant as you might believe. Think about it from a clean perspective.
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Like a rootkit? Sony, anyone?
.frm or .bas file from LimeWire, inject it into their project, and call a sub to hide it in the kernel. Then, we'll have regular spyware all over again, you just can't see the .exe
.exe if the website sugared it up for them and gave it a nice name. Now, nobody opens an exe file, mainly because of the "This will $*#( up your PC. Continue/Cancel?" messange XPSP2 gives. Everybody has AV software, and AntiSpyware software, because they buy Symantec's security ads.
I say 2 years until any 12-year old script kiddie that took a Visual Basic tutorial online can download a
On the other hand, look at spam originally. Nothing prevented a mass mailer propagated with addresses harvested from websites. When it became a pain in the ass, stuff started blocking it. Programs were released to fight it, MTA's used a internet-wide blacklist, and users could tune the Bayesian filter by ticking a check and clicking "Report as spam". I don't even get spam anymore, not even on my well-known email accounts. Now, even the stupidest, most naive PC user won't read the "YOU CAN ENLARGE YOUR PENIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" email
Now spyware. Nothing fought that originally, and Mom and Pop would download an
Logically, anything unfavorable but profitable will be invented. People (including Symantec, Webroot) will find ways to fight it. Malware writers find ways to circumvent it. Companies sell products to remove, malware finds ways to hide.... Is this so suprising? All it means is that *ware has hit 1 of it's infinite lulls. We will NEVER see the end of spyware, because no operating system (yes, even *nix) that is even halfway functional is bug-free. Ever. And you *still* have the user element, tricking people into thinking it is necessary. What a load of bull.
Not advocating Chinese opression and "dickedness" but as a country, isn't the government allowed to do whatever the hell it wants, unless it interferes with other nations? I mean, if they start nuking people... but this is censorship. Somebody said (I'd look it up but I'm too lazy - just took a midterm about him too...) that a nation was ruled by a social contract. (Oh yeah, wasn't it Rousseau? Hold on, google likes my answer! Good.) Essentially, he said that a nation could do whatever the hell it wants, but if the people don't like it, out they go. That's what Parliment did, in the "Glorious Revolution" (i think). Essentially, when the gov't falls out of favor, they get hammered. So, as much as Chinese might not like censorship, they obviously aren't too pissed about it. Yes, I know they're opressive, but the general will is, and always will be, more powerful than any gov't. Long-winded, I know. Anyways, how is Google (or Microsoft, or Gates, or MSN) doing anything wrong? They are only complying with their stated policy. Yes, it's a slippery slope, but an opressive nation demanding that content be filtered, or else blocked outright. What's new? And, the buisness's interest aren't idealistic. They're buisnesslike. Duh.
Is there any "How to use Unix if you don't want to type a lot of code and basically want windows without the bugs
No. There isn't. Windows programs (e.g. Microsoft Word) can't run natively on Linux. Yes, you can use Wine (which comes in Knoppix) but it isn't perfect.
Do they have firefox for it?
Firefox started on Linux. Yes, it is the default browser in Knoppix. You see it as the firefox symbol in the bottom part of the screen.
Note: I'm assuming you don't want straight GNU/Unix because it has no GUI (X-windows) until you install one. I'd reccomend Linux. So, if you're computer literate, you might be able to use it. You just might not find it worth the hassle though. And by the way, OpenOffice does support Word files completely if that's what otherwise would keep you back.
Why? They've fixed it up a lot. I can't wait for Vista, and like anything else, it has bugs. However (if you actually use Windows Update), they are usually fixed within the week. Add that to a good firewall (like ZA Free ed., Windows Firewall sux) and a good AV (like ClamWin) and actually know what you're doing and run spyware checks... it's just as stable and secure as any other OS. In particular, their patching archeticure is much more stable than others, particulally macs. What happens when someone exploits a Mac vunerability? (Yes, there are. They just aren't publicized/exploited as much) True, IE is conceptually flawed, but use thereof in a proper manner (i.e. don't be fooled by the YourSearchBar popup you see) and it works fine. Hard use does require a reinstall, but that's probably a result of the use, and applicipable to Mac or *nix or ...
I know I will get flamed, but it just seems awfully unfair to always be bashing MS. And, before I am labelled an ignorant fool, I've been in this buisness for 9yrs. I've used Linux (debian) and Mac extensively. But, for 99% of everything I do, I use Windows. And the other percent, I use either Microsoft VPC/Debian or Cygwin. As an IS/IT admin, windows is the easy, intergrated, and user-friendly path.
Perhaps it's time to re-evaluate those old predjucies? Maybe? Yes, 9x and (particulary) ME were pieces of crap, but 2k and XP (admittedly less) were (are) great and stable. The average user flames on about MS breaking, when it's really their error and stupidity. Linux buffs that bash Windows are basing on old predjuces like ME. Those days are over. Give them some credit, please?
No, I am not affiliated with Microsoft or, for that matter, any corporation. I am a student. I really have used computers (my first was a Mac) for 9 years. I am not as ignorant as you might believe. Think about it from a clean perspective.