Thread: Landy's n Linux

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

Just out of interest, how many OS X viruses have you actually seen present on a computer in front of you? What about OS X and spyware?

I'm just interested as I haven't found a mac user yet that has had a virus. UOQ use a lot of macs and occasionally they think someone has a virus but it's always a mis-diagnosis.

To be fair, none... and none.
It's just this whole thing I often get from business clients that use MACs of "they don't/can't get viruses", "thats why we only use MACs on our network" (to which I ponder that there is a Linux box as their Gateway, but anyway, they don't know that so it doesn't matter).

Best regards
DarrenR

Originally Posted by incisor

i will let you have the last post, if you really want it....

really i will

Yeah that's right.... stubborn bloody Land Rover owner.....

Best regards
DarrenR

Originally Posted by incisor

..............
my argument isnt that it doesnt work, it certainly does work, my argument is that in most cases it is no more secure than windows out of the box. sure it doesnt have the virus worry that windozs does, but linux boxes are compromised just as easily as windows boxes if they arent setup properly...they are just compromised a different way ...

I asked my brother (in Houston) to have a look at your post and comment on it. He has been a system administrator on various *nix systems (mainly Solaris and Linux) as part of his business (primarily running high end graphics systems doing geophysical interpretation) for years, and has in recent years moved everything to Linux including all his (small) company's desktops and laptops. His company has recently been doing consulting work for the largest geophysical company in the world - and they run almost everything on linux including most of their desktops (Suse). So presumably he has some background.

This is his comments:-

"He's right in one sense -- FreeBSD is probably more secure in some ways than
Linux. *On the other hand, most Linux distributions I've installed insist on
at least having a password for the root account, and on having at least one
user account. *Many do tend to automatically start all sorts of unnecessary
services, some of which can be dangerous: an FTP server, for example. *But
I've run a Linux system directly connected to the internet with a high speed
connection for years without incident (with modest precautions such as
careful checking of services running, and a firewall).

On the other hand, my new laptop, with Windows XP installed, booted the first
time into a setup wizard which led me to setting it up with a user account
with full administrator privileges and no password, and by default had no
firewall and file sharing turned on.

I'm pretty sure the number of viruses (etc.) observed in the wild which attack
Linux is less than ten (total), whereas the total for windows is many
thousands -- so to equate any version of Linux with Windows is just silly."

He advises me that he has now installed Gentoo on his new laptop, although he did have problems getting XP to coexist with it. Not sure why he kept the XP, probably for the benefit f his wife, whose company uses Windows.

John

Originally Posted by JDNSW

[I]"He's right in one sense -- FreeBSD is probably more secure in some ways than
Linux. *On the other hand, most Linux distributions I've installed insist on
at least having a password for the root account, and on having at least one
user account. *Many do tend to automatically start all sorts of unnecessary
services, some of which can be dangerous: an FTP server, for example.

is he inferring freebsd doesnt?, if so it is a very erroneous presumption, as for the linux root password, some, but definetly not most distributions will not accept the enter key as the root password.. as for ftp, that is a very minor worry, most linux boxes are comprised by the "lEEt" set using ssh or via code in a web page using a browser, and you certainly dont need root access to do the damage...

Originally Posted by JDNSW

*But
I've run a Linux system directly connected to the internet with a high speed
connection for years without incident (with modest precautions such as
careful checking of services running, and a firewall).

my point exactly!, it has been secured or hardened to some degree, same effect as a windows user installing a $100 internet security suite.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

On the other hand, my new laptop, with Windows XP installed, booted the first
time into a setup wizard which led me to setting it up with a user account
with full administrator privileges and no password, and by default had no
firewall and file sharing turned on.

odd version of xp to have file sharing turned on by default but whats the difference when it is all said and done? he just admitted above he had to harden linux to put it on the net safely did he not?

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I'm pretty sure the number of viruses (etc.) observed in the wild which attack Linux is less than ten (total), whereas the total for windows is many
thousands -- so to equate any version of Linux with Windows is just silly."

that dam virus fixation again, like i keep saying viruses are a windows security problem, they are a method, a means to an end. they are not irrelevant when talking about *nix security, but you dont need them to get or abuse access on a linux or *nix system that hasnt been secured or hardened.... thats the whole thrust of my side of the discussion...

but really, its like banging your head on a brick wall. get over the virus thing, its a security thing... saying linux has no virus issues is an irrelevance...

the easiest way to compromise a windows system is to infect it with a virus or trojan and thats why they do it that way...

the easiest way to compromise a *nix system is thru one of the system services and dropping a trojan or a rootkit, and thats why they do it that way...

the same ends are achieved, using different methods...

and it is just as easy to do it to either if they havent been secured..

both can be pretty much prevented, on windows with a $100 security package, on a *nix box with some time and knowledge...

and that is my point....

plonk!

I've been away, what's happenin fellahs?
Still all a-fever with virii, are we?

Sorry Dave. I see the flames are still being fanned.

I tried BSD some time back, quite liked it, just not what I needed. I suppose the idea of not being tied to a corporate, appeals to me in Linux. It is still the geeks plaything to a big extent, for the desktop, and I like the newer roll your own versions coming up. Don't play games? Don't need direct media. Play DVD's? Hmm, do need direct media. Can't count? Don't need calculator. Or do I?

I'm still waiting for my copy of Solaris 10, to arrive from Sun Microsystems. So that is one system I want to try out.

And of course, I am really waiting for the PS3 to come out. If that is as good as the early publicity. It might be my only computing device, by the end of this year. Three 8 way proccessors, Linux OS, Web browsing means WebApps,and it plays games too. Yummy.

Shorty.

Originally Posted by shorty943

I tried BSD some time back, quite liked it, just not what I needed. I suppose the idea of not being tied to a corporate, appeals to me in Linux. It is still the geeks plaything to a big extent, for the desktop, and I like the newer roll your own versions coming up. Don't play games? Don't need direct media. Play DVD's? Hmm, do need direct media. Can't count? Don't need calculator. Or do I?

I'm still waiting for my copy of Solaris 10, to arrive from Sun Microsystems. So that is one system I want to try out.

how do you equate paragraph 1 with paragraph 2 ?

am not a gamer so the ps3 will be something i see when i visit my grandson, his father is a game machine nutter... ps1, ps2, atari lynx, nintendo in 5 flavours etc etc etc..

me i something like serious sam episode 2, blood and guts and stress relief, minus the brain cell exercises....

Originally Posted by incisor

how do you equate paragraph 1 with paragraph 2 ?

am not a gamer so the ps3 will be something i see when i visit my grandson, his father is a game machine nutter... ps1, ps2, atari lynx, nintendo in 5 flavours etc etc etc..

me i something like serious sam episode 2, blood and guts and stress relief, minus the brain cell exercises....

I think you refer to the ramble "don't play games? etc", that is my jocular way of describing the various new roll your own Linuxii?

Personally, I do play a racing sim "Live for speed" on PC, but do not at all care for the shoot em ups and the like, that a lot of people seem to play.
(Must have something to do with being shot at too many times for real.)

I own a PS2 and any Speedway game is my fun there. I keep wearing out the throttle pedals on wheel sets. Never the brake, just the throttle.

The PS3 fasinates me as a potential mini personal super computer, of sorts. If the hype is half true. Although, today I heard a disturbing remark, that the PS3 might require "chipping" to run PS2 games.

Has this cleared up some confusion, or have I hung my monitor upside down again?

Shorty.

Originally Posted by shorty943

Any other Landy owners like the security and stability of the Linux system?
Shorty.

Long time lurker, have not been here much. Does a mac count ? Have had one in my rangie for a long while now. Have replaced stereo,stacker etc., and could not be happier.

Been using macs for ages and would not go back. Having a unix background does help but is not a prerequisite.

B4 I start a os war....