Should I upgrade to Vista?

[editor]

<Yawn> <Unsubscribes-as-discussion-has-descended-into-name-calling>

You've certainly been guilty of trying to put words in my mouth, but what name have I called you?

 

[Jonti]

I meant that so long as you avail yourself of the ample free software packages available, there's no reason why an XP powered machine can't be secure.

Unfortunately, this is not true. There is more to security than is dealt with by the free-of-charge (but secret source) firewalls and virus detectors available for Windows. Sony and Acer are just two corporate exploits against Windows that remained undetected for years by any of the free "security" packages out there.

For the sake of clarity, I should mention that Macs and Linux boxes were not affected.

 

[editor]

Unfortunately, this is not true.

Er, yes it is in my case.

 

[Jonti]

If you did not play one of the infected Sony CDs, or run a pre-compromised Acer system, then you would not have been affected.

That does not affect the accuracy of what I said.

 

[editor]

That does not affect the accuracy of what I said.

Nor what I said

 

[Jonti]

I was correcting the assertion I quoted, not the one you just quoted.

It is simply not true that "so long as you avail yourself of the ample free software packages available, there's no reason why an XP powered machine can't be secure."

There's more to it than that. Millions (!) of people were infected with the Sony and Acer exploits for years without realising it. The various free security packages for Windows that are available did not flag the trespasses.

 

[Sunray]

If you really want to bother, XP can be tied down as tight as a gnats arse. NT has much great flexibility in its security than most platforms I've used.

Nobody bothers as its complex and a pain in the arse as applications just assumed admin rights. They cannot do that any more with Vista, many applications are not compatible for this very reason.

If you had set it up like that, the Sony rootkit that wouldn't have been allowed. Cant touch the system like that if your not Admin. If you are, can't really prevent it as thats the whole point of administrator.

 

[Jonti]

Nobody bothers as its complex and a pain in the arse as applications just assumed admin rights.

I have!

There's a really neat guide to Computer Security (meaning mainly XP) which I've worked through. I gave the hardened box (dual-booting with vanilla Ubuntu) to my kid last Xmas. In the end, MSN messenger won him over to Windows

Yes it was complex, and strangely horrifying. The most important thing (which I'm sure all XP users reading this already do) is to usually login as an ordinary user, use a password, and only login with Admin rights when you need to change the system in some way. So it is horribly cumbersome when it comes to installing software. But, yes, it can be made pretty damned secure.

But yeah, some programs -- it's mainly console type games that I've come across -- demand to run under Admin. That's so irresponsible it must raise questions about the competance or honesty of the software house. Still, I guess as long as they're not networked programs and you disconnect from the 'net before you play and you don't listen to a Sony CD, you're OK. Oh, fuck it, it is rubbish, isn't it? It's just so much easier to be secure with Ubuntu.

Sony would be shut out by the measures described on basicsec.org. I don't know if all that would have protected against the Acer exploit. From what I've read so far, none of it will prevent you being completely pwned by MS, if you run Vista.

 

[Iam]

I meant that so long as you avail yourself of the ample free software packages available, there's no reason why an XP powered machine can't be secure.

Sorry, but only if it's 100% standalone - ie, if it's not connected to the internet or any other computers.

Otherwise, there's no such thing as definitively "secure".



e2a: Course, that's not specific to XP or Windows of any sort, but computers in general.

 

[DarthSydodyas]

Not true. Chuck Norris's computer is more secure online.

 

[Iam]

Chuck's an urbanite?



*hides*

 

[Jonti]

Was.

Mr Rogers offed him. It was the ultimate showdown.

 

[lobster]

So it seems ATI are not alone in non-working video drivers..

http://www.nvidiaclassaction.org/

 

[dogmatique]

The kinks'll be ironed out. The latest nvidia driver for the 8800 was released a couple of days ago, and sorts out lots of stability issues.

Though VLC media player can't play xvid video anymore. So I've got to use... WMP!

 

[dogmatique]

And the latest grrraahHHHuh!?

"This requires quicktime to view". Pff, okay, twas on my list. Install... Firefox breaks. Twice. Now can't reinstall. Back to Opera!

Oh Opera. "This requires realtime, Quicktime, Flash, Shockwave" BLAH, BLAH BLAH