[MacNNUK]

[Athens]

I'll take Windows over Linux any day.

[reader50]

Originally Posted by Athens 

I'll take pay for Windows over Linux any day.

Suggested correction. If you're going to take an OS, Linux would be the best choice. Taking Windows might bring beefy guys to your door. Their conversation skills could use improvement.

[Athens]

No no no, your correction is incorrect. I don't pay for Windows.

So it really is I'll TAKE Windows over Linux any day. Canada does not have big beefy guys knocking at doors of takers. Only those that profit from taking

[imitchellg5]

I used to hate using Linux (finding it too nerdy to use in real life), but the most recent releases, especially Oneiric Ocelot, have really improved UI and are fairly innovative when compared to the typical OS X or Windows 7. It's fun to play around with, but I'd still much rather use OS X as my main OS.

[Athens]

For me its not Linux itself. Its the software for Linux that sucks

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Athens 

For me its not Linux itself. Its the software for Linux that sucks

That's just it - it all depends on what you use your computer for, and therefore what software you depend on. If you just need internet access, Chrome and Firefox work just great on Linux and I can think of a few advantages Linux would have over Windows for some people. If you are into mastering content (graphic design, broadcast/video stuff, etc.) you no doubt will not be happy, unless you are a web developer in which case your first preference might be Linux.

If you are into games and hardcore about this you oddly enough might prefer Linux too, since a lightweight OS + WINE makes a pretty potent combination that sometimes is actually faster than native Windows gameplay.

It all depends.

[el chupacabra]

Does linux have less viruses than windows and mac? Thinking of switching to it; all I need it for is checking email, online banking, stocks, and macnn. How much faster is linux?

[besson3c]

Viruses are not a good reason to switch to it because they aren't a problem on the Mac either, really

[el chupacabra]

Well my main computer now is windows; I mentioned mac because I figured now that they've been getting more popular, they'd probably have viruses at this point. I wont be buying another mac in the foreseeable future for a number of reasons; one being that the last 6 I got were broken out of the box and had to be returned, but only after I let apple waste hours of my time (for each one) over the phone walking me through all the basic tech steps up until reinstalling the OS. They didn't give system discs for the last one so I had to reinstall the OS over the internet; and the guy walked me through a process where it installed the wrong one...

[Eug]

On the desktop (or laptop), I'll pay for Windows over taking Linux for "free" any day.

[olePigeon]

Every now and then I try some new flavor of Linux again with enthusiasm. Every time I've tried, something goes wrong, and I can't even get the time of day from anyone on a Linux forum. My experience has been pretty consistent over the past 10 years, and I don't see it changing.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by el chupacabra 

Well my main computer now is windows; I mentioned mac because I figured now that they've been getting more popular, they'd probably have viruses at this point. I wont be buying another mac in the foreseeable future for a number of reasons; one being that the last 6 I got were broken out of the box and had to be returned, but only after I let apple waste hours of my time (for each one) over the phone walking me through all the basic tech steps up until reinstalling the OS. They didn't give system discs for the last one so I had to reinstall the OS over the internet; and the guy walked me through a process where it installed the wrong one...

How tech savvy are you? You probably won't enjoy Linux unless you are tech savvy, or do work in certain areas that Linux serves well.

[besson3c]

el chupacabra: I'd suggest trying a Linux flavor that would work well for whatever you're going for in a VM via Virtualbox/Parallels/VMWare/VirtualPC to see whether it is to your liking.

[Athens]

Originally Posted by el chupacabra 

Does linux have less viruses than windows and mac? Thinking of switching to it; all I need it for is checking email, online banking, stocks, and macnn. How much faster is linux?

If you do stupid things like browse porn sites, download torrents and well run anything from anywhere you will get a virus. Mac, Windows and maybe Linux. Because most software for Linux comes from repositories its not as problematic. But you can still get them if you download something from a unknown website.

It all really comes down to the user and what they do that makes it safe or not. In the past Windows suffered badly from bad design flaws and the user was not at fault. But today its pretty rare for a Windows machine to just get infected with out a stupid user at the helm.

[Athens]

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

Every now and then I try some new flavor of Linux again with enthusiasm. Every time I've tried, something goes wrong, and I can't even get the time of day from anyone on a Linux forum. My experience has been pretty consistent over the past 10 years, and I don't see it changing.

BINGO, that is exactly how it has been with me. Linux users are smug twits who from there own words hate non Linux users. And many of them are programmers and only want to deal with other programmers. If you are not a programmer you are not a contributor and you are shit to them.

I had Debian on one laptop dual booted with Windows and Ubuntu on my Macs Bootcamp as well. All I ever did was go into them once a month just to run updates. Was a waste of space.

[Athens]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

el chupacabra: I'd suggest trying a Linux flavor that would work well for whatever you're going for in a VM via Virtualbox/Parallels/VMWare/VirtualPC to see whether it is to your liking.

Ubuntu would be my suggestion, its the most consumer friendly one in my opinion for those moving from Mac or Windows. Do 32 bit though because 64 bit on Linux can be a pain.

[el chupacabra]

Originally Posted by Athens 

If you do stupid things like browse porn sites, download torrents and well run anything from anywhere you will get a virus. Mac, Windows and maybe Linux. ....

It all really comes down to the user and what they do that makes it safe or not. In the past Windows suffered badly from bad design flaws and the user was not at fault. But today its pretty rare for a Windows machine to just get infected with out a stupid user at the helm.

Yeah I hear this all the time but it's not true in the slightest. Maybe how it used to be in the past. My computer is used for strictly business and it still gets a new virus every week. I never download anything, I'm even reluctant to update programs in order to resist downloading anything. It's literally used for only stocks, email, banking, macnn and news... and photoshoping but thats not related to internet. If I wanted to go to another site for some reason, such as youtube, hulu shows or whatever, I have another older computer for that.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by el chupacabra 

Yeah I hear this all the time but it's not true in the slightest. Maybe how it used to be in the past. My computer is used for strictly business and it still gets a new virus every week. I never download anything, I'm even reluctant to update programs in order to resist downloading anything. It's literally used for only stocks, email, banking, macnn and news... and photoshoping but thats not related to internet. If I wanted to go to another site for some reason, such as youtube, hulu shows or whatever, I have another older computer for that.

Do you use Internet Explorer? Are you referring to spyware, or actual viruses? If your machine got a new virus every week it would be unusable.

[Athens]

Originally Posted by el chupacabra 

Yeah I hear this all the time but it's not true in the slightest. Maybe how it used to be in the past. My computer is used for strictly business and it still gets a new virus every week. I never download anything, I'm even reluctant to update programs in order to resist downloading anything. It's literally used for only stocks, email, banking, macnn and news... and photoshoping but thats not related to internet. If I wanted to go to another site for some reason, such as youtube, hulu shows or whatever, I have another older computer for that.

That's the problem right there, not updating programs out of fear. The number one reason for a update to a program is to fix a flaw that allows a virus to get into the computer. If Adobe 9 says hey update me, you should allow it to update. Because if you don't a web page you go to with a PDF exploit will be able to exploit the unpatched Acorbat.

If you do not update update Windows and Antivirus software and the software you use then trouble is to be had. If you are not using a router and have the computer plugged directly into a cable modem trouble is to be had. If you are using unsecured wifi trouble is to be had.

If you do these things you will never get a virus
- Keep Windows Patched up when updates happen
- Run Windows in regular user mode only if XP or with UAC on for Vista and 7
- Use Firefox with Adbloc (because the ads can be viruses sometimes. One even came through Macnn once)
- Run Antivirus software, MS Security Essentials or Avast are my picks
- Keep the Antivirus software up to date
- Go to websites you trust and for the LOVE OF GOD type in the URL in the address bar don't go to the websites you like using google seach like typing in google Apple, Macintosh, iPod and iPhone news | MacNN just to click the link to go to macnn. This is a major human error. If you know the URL use it dont search it.
- Use a secure password for your computer even if you are the only person who uses it and no one lives with you. Besides the fact it can get stolen, a strong password prevents virus infections as well from network sources.
- Use OpenDNS and set it to block questionable sites
- Use a router that is setup secure even if you only have the one computer. Never plug directly into a modem period.
- If you use wifi make sure it is secure
- Don't download from any site. Unless its a company you trust or a place like download.com which checks the software don't download it.
- Use webmail like Gmail or hotmail instead of a mail program that downloads the mail locally.
- Don't click on links people send you in the email even if you know them with out first emailing them, Did you send me this and what is it.
- Keep all software on the computer up to date

- Don't ever go to non english websites, with Chinese and Russian sites being the absolute worst.

There is more then this but this covers most of it. And a lot of this applies to Mac and Windows too. By default Mac and Linux runs you as a limited user. Windows does not and UAC attempts to make it so you do but the safest way is to run as a limited user and learn how to use the Run as Administrator command. On Windows it is best to have 2 accounts. A Admin account you don't use and the account you do use as a limited user. Because even after all this you do get infected which can sometimes happen a virus has as much access to the computer to infect it as the regular user account. You can usually login as the Administrator and clean up the infection pretty easily vs if the virus had the Admin rights to root deep into the computer.

And spyware is not a virus, its usually programs you agree to install by not reading whats in a installer of a free program like the Ask toolbar.

[Athens]

I like to add this, if you have a computer you do limited stuff on but its plugged into the network and you are not using a good password on it and don't have it patched up, any computer in the house that gets infected can still infect that computer through unpatched flaws or through the lack of a password protecting it.

This is why secure wifi is important because if some one out side of your house uses your connection and has a virus they can infect you. Cable internet is a giant network and viruses can move from one customer to another in the same internet zone which is why a router is important. Its a hardware firewall. But routers can get infected or manipulated too which is why its important to keep it up to date and a strong password on it as well.

[Eug]

I haven't had a Windows virus at home in years. Both my Windows machines are Windows 7, and I keep both of them up to date. The only anti-virus I run on them is the free Microsoft Security Essentials, and I keep that up to date as well.

[el chupacabra]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

Do you use Internet Explorer? Are you referring to spyware, or actual viruses? If your machine got a new virus every week it would be unusable.

I use only firefox. It could be spyware; to me they're the same. The main problem I have is whatever it is, is getting my hotmail password and people are sending spam from my hotmail, they also click forgot password at places like Apple store and then go to see if it sent it to my hotmail; I also sometimes get the google redirect virus which no virus software can catch. When I get that I have to reinstall the OS to rid it. As for the hotmail password it is 12 characters and different from all my other passwords. It's as if an undetectable keylogger is on my system. I don't want to give up hotmail because it's the first address I ever had and everyone I know uses that address.

edit: Until about a year ago I never use to get virus's... even on windows. In the past I never even had virus protection. Now days I have AVG. The puter is behind a router with wpwhatever encryption.

Originally Posted by Athens 

And spyware is not a virus, its usually programs you agree to install by not reading whats in a installer of a free program like the Ask toolbar.

Thats the thing thats installed with the Adobe Flash virus right

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by el chupacabra 

I use only firefox. It could be spyware; to me they're the same. The main problem I have is whatever it is, is getting my hotmail password and people are sending spam from my hotmail,

I highly doubt that. It is most likely just your garden variety header forgery. You can find out for sure though by looking at the full headers of these messages to find the envelope address. Have you done this?

they also click forgot password at places like Apple store and then go to see if it sent it to my hotmail;

What makes you think this? This sounds doubtful too...

[Athens]

That one that changes your search results is nasty. Its a rootkit virus and I have yet to ever clean it totally. ive run into it 3 times in the last 5 months end gave up every time having to redo the system from scratch. The only thing the same about the 2 users (one got it twice) for why they seem to be catching it is they both use google to go to websites. Even though they know UPS is ups.ca they prefer to go to google and put in ups.ca under search and then click the result. The one person stopped doing that and the second person didnt and got infected yet again a couple months after her first time. Avast was the only product that could find it BUT there was more then it could find because it never could fully clean it because it always came back.

As for the hotmail, yes it could be your computer infected. Or its a 3rd party that has your password or valid access to it. You will notice some sits will offer to connect to hotmail to search for friends that might be using the service or to offer you to use your hotmail login for a site like the macnn comments page with facebook connect. Some times you get compromised from one of those fake services or they get access through that part of the system and can start sending out crap as you even if your computer isnt infected. When MY uncle had this happen to him it was still sending email even though his hard drive was formatted and Windows was installing. Found out after some different it was a linked service with his hotmail which is why changing his password didnt originally stop it.

[Athens]

go to your hotmail then go profile in the top right then see what you are connected to on the left like facebook, myspace, lastfm and so on. see if anything in there that shouldnt be,

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Athens 

As for the hotmail, yes it could be your computer infected. Or its a 3rd party that has your password or valid access to it. You will notice some sits will offer to connect to hotmail to search for friends that might be using the service or to offer you to use your hotmail login for a site like the macnn comments page with facebook connect. Some times you get compromised from one of those fake services or they get access through that part of the system and can start sending out bribe as you even if your computer isnt infected. When MY uncle had this happen to him it was still sending email even though his hard drive was formatted and Windows was installing. Found out after some different it was a linked service with his hotmail which is why changing his password didnt originally stop it.

It's not "sending mail out as you" in the sense that it is using your Hotmail account to do so, it is just setting the from headers as your email address because somewhere along the way it became known that this address exists. Forging headers is trivial, I could send an email out as any one of you if I knew your address within 2 minutes.

Check the envelope address. If it isn't Hotmail's SMTP servers, there is no account level compromise, it's just header forgery.

[Athens]

Um that is sending mail out "as" you.... its spoofing your address and sending to your contact list but not using hotmail servers....

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Athens 

Um that is sending mail out "as" you.... its spoofing your address and sending to your contact list but not using hotmail servers....

My impression is that el chup had it in his head that his account itself was being compromised due to a virus.

[Athens]

Thats how I understood his concern as well.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Athens 

Thats how I understood his concern as well.

Well then, his account was not necessarily compromised. In fact, it probably wasn't.

[Athens]

except when they are sending to a users contacts

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Athens 

except when they are sending to a users contacts

Oh, I wouldn't know which Windows email clients expose their address books in ways that can be exploited, but I think the most common way to get email addresses is just your garden variety email list markets and various web forms that trick you to provide your email address, as well as possibly viruses that other people get where your email address is included in their list.

[Athens]

the one im referring to is the one that sends messages as you to all your contacts.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Athens 

the one im referring to is the one that sends messages as you to all your contacts.

I thought these were sort of Outlook Express era viruses that are pretty much obsolete? How would this work given that so many people don't use a standalone email client?

[besson3c]

To me, for servers it's Linux first by a wide margin, Windows and OS X somewhere well below unless you need to run an application/service/language (such as Exchange) that doesn't provide any alternate options.

For desktop computer usage it's OS X by a wide margin, Windows and Linux well below with the same caveats.

Then again, those caveats at times are really big and significant ones - at the end of the day it's all about what you want to do, so I'm not keen on the whole ranking thing. The above ranking is just my personal take on it for when these caveats are irrelevant, but I would bet that most of the time they aren't.