Icarus

[Telarus]

Tried to check the link, Norton had a shitfit.

http://safeweb.norton.com/report/show?url=http:%2F%2Fwww.thehackernews.com%2F2011%2F03%2Foperation-icarus-will-anonymous-shut.html

I just checked that link, it is bullshit. 9 threats on that page? I don't see anything.

[Luna]

Tried to check the link, Norton had a shitfit.

http://safeweb.norton.com/report/show?url=http:%2F%2Fwww.thehackernews.com%2F2011%2F03%2Foperation-icarus-will-anonymous-shut.html

I just checked that link, it is bullshit. 9 threats on that page? I don't see anything.

Thanks, Trip.  Given that I just plain don't know enough to unfuck my machine, and I don't want to harass the folks I know who DO too often ("Yeah, oops, I was stupid again...") I tend to just listen when Norton whines.

(Edited to fix stupid caused by trying to post from phone.)

[Triple Zero]

If you don't have it yet, get http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

That goes for everyone using Windows, btw.

Not sure, but do you even need a virus scanner if you got MSE? (I hadn't heard about MSE last time I used Windows--and yes it did succumb to a virus when I had to ditch it).

[East Coast Hustle]

Meh, Anonymous have been targeting "innocent" people for years.

So have most of the companies and individuals trading on the NYSE.

Nothing changes if they succeed and nothing changes if they fail.

(Either way, calling it "terrorism" is kinda rich.  It's not like Anonymous are actually going to plant bombs in the offices of stockbrokers or send a hit squad in to teach Lloyd Blankfein you can really fuck someone's life up for the very cheap cost of 8 cents, rather than through crashing the world economy).

I want to know where you buy your bullets.

[Cain]

Everything can be bought for 8 cents, if you buy in large enough bulk.

Admittedly, that phrase did come into being in the 1950s, and should be adjusted for inflation.

[Elder Iptuous]

i guess it's possible to fuck up somebody's life with a 22lr

[BabylonHoruv]

If you don't have it yet, get http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

That goes for everyone using Windows, btw.

Not sure, but do you even need a virus scanner if you got MSE? (I hadn't heard about MSE last time I used Windows--and yes it did succumb to a virus when I had to ditch it).

MSE is a virus scanner, if you have it you can't have another one.

It's not bad although personally I prefer AVG or Avast.

[Triple Zero]

Any particular reason why?

Having a virus scanner made by whoever made the OS is a good thing because it's in their advantage to stay right on top of things.

For companies in the anti-virus industry, it benefits them to report as many threats as possible, even harmless or non-existent ones (such as "tracking cookies" and the above Norton "safeweb" report). Because they must sell fear and snake-oil. They only make money when people buy the "upgrade" or "business solution". Your safety and computer's protection is actually of second concern--as becomes obvious when AV company Kaspersky denounces AV research showing how most if not all AV programs can be bypassed as "unethical" and "dangerous".

That's why I think it's such a great idea that Microsoft wrote an AV program for their own OS. Their interests are protecting a positive imago of Windows as virus-free, stable and trustworthy. Which is much more aligned with the user's interest of keeping their data safe, computer protected and running smoothly.

Really, I know it used to be that you didn't have much of a choice, but now you do, and you can take a good and critical look at the AV industry, their fear-based marketing, the bullshit they peddle--ever notice how they never just straight up tell you what their XYZ Shield or BLahblah Guard "features" actually do? It's all marketing buzzwords. Will "AVS Security Protection Agent" scan my email? HTTP traffic? Or just modified files? If so, which ones?

[East Coast Hustle]

AVG used to be OK but now they pretty much suck donkey balls.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

God I fucking hate AVG

HATE

HATE

HATE

[BabylonHoruv]

Any particular reason why?

Having a virus scanner made by whoever made the OS is a good thing because it's in their advantage to stay right on top of things.

For companies in the anti-virus industry, it benefits them to report as many threats as possible, even harmless or non-existent ones (such as "tracking cookies" and the above Norton "safeweb" report). Because they must sell fear and snake-oil. They only make money when people buy the "upgrade" or "business solution". Your safety and computer's protection is actually of second concern--as becomes obvious when AV company Kaspersky denounces AV research showing how most if not all AV programs can be bypassed as "unethical" and "dangerous".

That's why I think it's such a great idea that Microsoft wrote an AV program for their own OS. Their interests are protecting a positive imago of Windows as virus-free, stable and trustworthy. Which is much more aligned with the user's interest of keeping their data safe, computer protected and running smoothly.

Really, I know it used to be that you didn't have much of a choice, but now you do, and you can take a good and critical look at the AV industry, their fear-based marketing, the bullshit they peddle--ever notice how they never just straight up tell you what their XYZ Shield or BLahblah Guard "features" actually do? It's all marketing buzzwords. Will "AVS Security Protection Agent" scan my email? HTTP traffic? Or just modified files? If so, which ones?

I'm prejudiced against Microsoft,  I also like the visual interface for the other two and have had them protect me pretty well so far.

I'm probably letting my prejudice stand in my way though because your arguement makes a lot of sense.

[Triple Zero]

I used to be prejudiced against Microsoft. I lost it somewhere along the years ... Probably when I realized that a lot, if not most corporations are just as bad. And back in the day MS had a monopoly on the OS market, the Office Suite market and the Internet Browser market, and in the bad old days MS abused that position to hamper interoperability. Now they don't have a monopoly anymore, and I noticed that they're actually capable of writing pretty decent software (especially when they're not being haunted too much by their own legacy).

[trix]

I used to be prejudiced against Microsoft. I lost it somewhere along the years ... Probably when I realized that a lot, if not most corporations are just as bad. And back in the day MS had a monopoly on the OS market, the Office Suite market and the Internet Browser market, and in the bad old days MS abused that position to hamper interoperability. Now they don't have a monopoly anymore, and I noticed that they're actually capable of writing pretty decent software (especially when they're not being haunted too much by their own legacy).

QFT

Windows 7 and the ARM compatibility on Windows 8 is definitely softening my hatred of Microsoft.  They have been making some decent strides towards actually making useful software sometimes.

Of course, that point is only valid after a couple hours post-install un-stupifying the OS.  Removing the retarded "You do not have a firewall/AV" constant pop ups and unhiding file extensions and certain file types and all the directories they hide in the Explorer windows etc.  I can see the point ("lets start by assuming everyone who uses Windows is trying to break it!"), and in my experience fixing the 1500 virii per week my relatives always seem to end up with, it's a very good point, but whenever I try to dual-boot and have a Windows partition, I find it frustratingly time consuming to un-stupify the OS.  Especially with the ton of retarded services I have to disable that they enable by default.

Granted though, a lot of the annoyance of Windows come more from the software makers than Microsoft.  Every time I install something it tries to bundle 6 other stupid programs.  No I don't want Yahoo to take over my browser and autostart 16 services, NO I don't want Bonzai Buddy to install itself all over the place, No I don't want this-crap and that-crap and everything else ever made.  God damnit I bought a DVD player, I just want a fucking DVD player.  Nothing else.  Also, every goddamn windows software wants to install a service or ten, and start up with the computer.  WTF?

That's the one thing I like the absolute most about Linux, software repositories.  No crawling the internet risking virii and bloatware and spyware and adware and browser plugins/hotbars/searchbars/hostile-takeovers, no bundled crap, no auto-services and startup crap unless necessary.  Just "packager install vlc-player" and poof VLC player is installed. "packager install firefox" and poof I have firefox and only firefox.  "packager remove firefox" and poof firefox is gone, no residual bullshit, no "are you SURE?  Are you SUPER SURE? Are you positive?  Really?  You keep clicking Yes, do you really mean No?"

So wait, now that I'm thinking about it, FUCK windows!