Top Left corner of my screen is "dead".

It's definitely both. With m$, modules will normally be loaded
in the same order, on many systems. If an attacker can figure
out a buffer overflow in one module, that overwrites the next
module, and then transfer control to the overwritten second
module, that attack will work on all similar windows systems.

Most linux distributions use a randomizer that select which
modules will go where, so you'll find very few, with the modules
loaded in the same physical order. Even on the same computer,
after a reboot, the order may change.

Most linux distributions also strongly discourage users from
running applications, such as web browsers, with the equivalent
of an administrators account. Some don't even allow it, until
the user figures out how to assign a password to the root account.

The file system and network security have always been in the
kernel, rather then being added on later.

When a bug is found in linux, the updates tend to happen much
faster.

Dns poisoning is easy to avoid by running your own name server.
All it takes to do that, is to run one command to install the
server, one to start it (or reboot), and alter one setting
to get all network accessing programs to use it. Changing
that setting can be done by editing one text file, or, with
most distributions, a gui is a available that will edit the
file for you.

For users who are afraid linux will be to complicated for them,
they can always use a Mac, which is based on bsd linux.

Gee, but you're dimwitted twit. Read what I wrote. I _detest_ MS Office,
so why would I use OO, which is a near-clone of MS Office?

And for the record: the problem is the design of MS Office and Open
Office. Klutzy is the nicest thing I can say about them.

Huh?

Oh, sorry, I see that you think that there are are no open source
programs for Windows. Looks like you've ignored any data that might
threaten to enlighten you.

Not only dim but uninformed. You clearly have no idea of the amount of
freeware and open source software available for Windows.

Almost all of the programs I use are freeware, most of the rest are
shareware. I did pay for WordPerfect (the best word processor, IMO.)

Now you are presenting yourself as a fecal orifice. End of discussion.

It's a mix of factors, hard to say which is most important.

AIUI, Unix/Linux's system of permissions makes it harder to write
malware to infect those OSs. But in principle it's possible. There is no
such thing as a 100% secure OS. An OS is essentially a system of
requests for services, and requests can be intercepted. That's where
malware starts its attack.

Windows also has levels of permission, but for convenience sake they are
not rigorously enforced. Eg, you can boot without supplying a password.
Also, for various reasons, many people hate MS, and so most of the
malware effort goes into attacking Windows. The fact that banks, etc,
use Windows is also a motive: malware is lucrative.

Also, all Linuxes (Linuces?) require that you set up a user and password
when you install them, even if there is only one user. You can't boot
without your password, and you can't install software without supplying
the admin (superuser) password. This adds a layer of security: malware
would have to supply the admin password in order to install itself, but
that password is not in the user's keychain, so the malware would have
to get to the admin level of permissions to get the password, which it
can't do without a password. Nice catch-22. That's how I understand it,
anyhow.

The rigorously enforced sytem of permissions is IMO the only real
advantage of Linux. I think Windows 7 should use the same system of
layered permissions. Might annoy some people who want to just turn on
the machine, but there is no reason to let fools' desires for
convenience endanger us all.

OO is far more functional the M$-Office, and is most definitely NOT a clone
because it provides all the functionality, and then some..

For someone who steadfastly denies using OO, your opinion about it is
worthless.

You've obviously never used http://sourceforge.net if you hold such an
ignorant opinion, but that's in keeping with the rest of your mindless
diatribe.

It's actually quite easy to set up a linux system to boot into
a user's account, without the password for that account having
to be entered, aka autologin.

That's how I usually set up systems for people migrating from
windows, on a desktop computer where physical security is not
an issue. The account still has a password, which must be
entered to run commands permitted via sudo, but it normally
doesn't have to be entered.

You twit, I not only have used it, I do use it, I just avoid using it as
much as possible. Because it's such a klutzy program. Too much like MS
Office. Which it was deliberately designed to be, so that people who
knew MS Office would find it familiar.

I Just Don't Like It.

I've used sourceforge many, many times. That's why I know that there are
loads of open source programs for Windows. But the spittle from your
foaming mouth must have gotten into your eyes, because you sure do have
a hard time reading what's written.

Once again, you've failed to show your snips. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Very, very
naughty of you.

He did state that he uses oo when opening a .doc file that word
perfect cannot handle.

The preference in a particular gui is usually based on which
software was the first learnt, and is strictly a matter of
personal preference.

While there used to be a linux version of wordperfect, it is
no longer for sale.
shows that as of last August, running wordperfect under
wine was working ok (rated silver).

What I did on my sister's system, where she does have one required
application that only runs under windows (Thanks to a Sony voice
recorder, that uses proprietary file formats), was install xp under
VirtualBox, for that one application. The Windows install is only
allowed access to the windows update and anti-virus update sites.
All other network activity is done using native linux apps.
Luckily she only uses that application rarely.

This is going to be too easy (and fun!)but first a slight correction. I
originally posted that Linux users make up only around 5% of the
worldwide base. However I was wrong! Linux users make up .9% (less than
1%) of the worldwide total. It is Mac users that make up the 5% portion.

Now as far as YOUR CLAIM bogus stats out of my ass..here is the link
where you may read these so-called bogus stats out of my ass...I posted
this a few days ago too...why don't you pay closer attention?

OK, but the default is not to do this. Which IMO is the way it should be.

OK, I agree, in this case it's acceptable to auto login. But I still
don't like it.

ASLR and MIC may be new to Windows OSes, but they are not new to the
industry (nor to malware writers 'heap spraying' and the use of nop
sleds can *sometimes* get around the ASLR. Windows 7 was in part a
response to whining fools. Linux users are by and large resigned to the
use of non-admin accounts - Windows users by and large don't want to be
bothered by security crap.

By adhering to "security crap" - almost all of the type of lame malware
prevalent today would die out. The market for antispyware, antiadware,
antivirus, and antimalware would almost dry up completely. Only fairly
rare exploit based malware and somewhat less rare human based exploit
based malware would provide the "slipped through the cracks"
distribution channels for other types of malware (and thus the need to
detect them).

The *other* channel, not exploit based, is for the viruses that come
through trusted channels. Viruses don't have to ensure their execution,
they can "infect" source code on the off chance that someone will
compile and execute the resulting program. Linux provides all that is
needed for viruses to exist, and if *other* types of malware become less
prevalent we may well see more viruses which rely on the same
functionality that the average user enjoys.

I somewhat? agree with you, in so far as the decision to use Windows; but
I don't consider those who use linux to be geeks. I don't think Linux is
a serious contender for windows in the home, due to the.. well, obvious
differences between it and something that individuals are more accustomed
too; which would be windows.

I know people who are geeks that use linux and windows, but I don't call
them geeks based on OS preference alone. :) It's those who can quote me
API calls in either of them who rightfully deserve the title.

I'm not really defending windows or any posters when I say the following:

Windows doesn't normally just crash unless theres a hardware issue, or a
piece of software isn't playing nicely with another piece of software.

Windows itself imo, is unfairly blamed for many crashes which could be
blamed rightfully on the user. Funky software that's poorly written that
the individual just had to have. Oddball screen savers, poorly written
"skins" for programs people use. Lets not even count the obnoxious amount
of toolbars and other stupid gizmos and custom configuration tweaking
programs someone can download.

With regard to the malware situation. For the time being, I don't see
many linux machines infected, no. But that's really due to the intended
use of those systems that run it. Malware is usually written for the
widest possible audience, and whether people like this or not, for now,
that is Windows. If things change in the future, the malware authors will
change accordingly.

There is no such thing as a 100% secure OS. And there never will be. an
OS runs programs, follows instructions in those programs, some good,
others potentially harmful.

"FromTheRafters" <erratic@nomail.afraid.org> wrote in news:hmj8ov$t6d$1
@news.eternal-september.org:

> "Virus Guy" <Virus@Guy.com> wrote in message
> news:4B8C5037.929D18D5@Guy.com...
>> FromTheRafters wrote:
>
>>> and many users of the NTFS use Linux's support of that
>>> filesystem when making a bootable tools CD.
>>
>> NTFS is proprietary and any compatibility with NTFS while running
>> third-party boot CD's is still done with microsoft system files.
>
> NTFS support is only a part of the equation. Linux's feature rich
> command line blows away Windows' "Recovery Console" subset of NT's
> command line. The recovery console was minimalist in nature, while more
> recent versions are less so.
>
>
>

Hello. Apologies for responding so late in the thread, but wouldn't a Bart
PE disc be perfect for accessing a system that's down? Surely it's more
friendly than a linux console prompt?


--
"Hrrngh! Someday I'm going to hurl this...er...roll this...hrrngh.. nudge
this boulder right down a cliff." - Goblin Warrior

"Dustin Cook" <bughunter.dustin@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9D3933236A2A0HHI2948AJD832@69.16.185.247...
> "FromTheRafters" <erratic@nomail.afraid.org> wrote in
> news:hmj8ov$t6d$1
> @news.eternal-september.org:
>
>> "Virus Guy" <Virus@Guy.com> wrote in message
>> news:4B8C5037.929D18D5@Guy.com...
>>> FromTheRafters wrote:
>>
>>>> and many users of the NTFS use Linux's support of that
>>>> filesystem when making a bootable tools CD.
>>>
>>> NTFS is proprietary and any compatibility with NTFS while running
>>> third-party boot CD's is still done with microsoft system files.
>>
>> NTFS support is only a part of the equation. Linux's feature rich
>> command line blows away Windows' "Recovery Console" subset of NT's
>> command line. The recovery console was minimalist in nature, while
>> more
>> recent versions are less so.
>>
>>
>>
>
> Hello. Apologies for responding so late in the thread, but wouldn't a
> Bart
> PE disc be perfect for accessing a system that's down? Surely it's
> more
> friendly than a linux console prompt?

Yes, earlier in this thread I mused:

"The OP mentioned not being able to "fix" problems with "XP and above"
in the same manner as with 98 by using the command prompt. The recovery
console is as close as one can get to this functionality without a PE
disk."

Microsoft doesn't want full featured command line environments being
used as an OS for free, so they hobble their "maintenance OS" disks.
Linux OTOH doesn't mind. BART PE is an excellent idea - one should
create such a disk for later use after installation is complete -
include a toolkit.