Virus Warning!!!!!

[Paliden]

Just got this in and snoopes checked it out. Email stating you have a failed delivery is a VIRUS!!!!
http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/ups.asp

[KaosDad]

SPAM

[smltooner]

Thanks for the warning.

[Jakeiscrazy]

I have got similar emails before.But instead they claim I missed a big package and I needed to send my info with a CC number to have it resent or something. I never fell for it but many have.

[CowboyT]

We see that sort of "click me for X" junk all the time. Run Linux and you're immune to that malware.

[Jakeiscrazy]

We see that sort of "click me for X" junk all the time. Run Linux and you're immune to that malware.

And immune to useful programs too!

[CCFan]

And immune to useful programs too!

Such as?

[CowboyT]

And immune to useful programs too!

Such as?

Now, now, he's got a point. There are several, actually:

1.) Srizbi
2.) Zeus
3.) Zlob
4.) The infamous Sony Rootkit of 2005
5.) Torpig
6.) Any number of malicious "drive-by surfing" ActiveX controls

Of course, these are very useful...to the bot-net controller logging all your keystrokes and stealing your credit card info.

Nah, I'll stick with GNU/Linux, OpenOffice, Firefox, Evolution, Kdenlive, and a whole host of other programs that are actually useful to the end user instead of proactively helping the cybercriminals.

[Jakeiscrazy]

And immune to useful programs too!

Such as?

I ran Linux for about a year and a half. All the substitute programs were always, IMO, annoyingly laid out. This just didn't cross over to Windows like I wanted them to. Soon I found I was just booting up in Windows for the start because I would end up there annoyed at the Linux substitutes.

[ZeSpectre]

Linux/Unix operating systems (I'll use Ubuntu as a specific) have come a LONG way since I first started playing with them. Unfortunately there is still just too much "programmer attitude" in the community ESPECIALLY if you are trying to overcome the initial setup hurdles.

"Fill-in-the-blank-hardware-or-software" won't run, oh all you do is compile the kernel with <blah blah blah technical jargon>.

That's great and gives you almost unlimited flexibility -if- you have the educational background and the time/inclination to futz around with the programming but it's a deal breaker if you are just some poor guy who would like to edit a photo without building a whole system to do so.

[CowboyT]

That's where recent versions of Ubuntu come in. I haven't found a situation yet where I've had to compile any software or rebuild the kernel. Slackware and Gentoo, yes, but Ubuntu's much more n00b-friendly; just point, click, and have fun. My video editing station is Ubuntu and is just great.

And even if I did have to compile something occasionally, personally I'd rather have even that than the much worse hassle of identity theft.

[gfost1]

That's where recent versions of Ubuntu come in. I haven't found a situation yet where I've had to compile any software or rebuild the kernel. Slackware and Gentoo, yes, but Ubuntu's much more n00b-friendly; just point, click, and have fun. My video editing station is Ubuntu and is just great.

Howdy, Cowboy,

My experience w/ubuntu has run hot and cold over the past few years. What do you have under the hood? I'm usually trying to build a linux box using cast-off hardware that is at least a generation out of date.


Speaking of viruses, what are some good freeware anti-virus /anti-malware programs you guys would recommend for windows? I run AVG free on all my XP systems in house, and it has done an excellent job keeping malware out of my systems. Unfortunately, my experience appears to be the exception. People all around me are falling victim

Over the past several weeks I undertook the task of removing malware from some PCs for family, friends, and neighbors, with varying degrees of success. My flu shot has been composed of the following:
AVG free rescue cd
Malware-bytes Anti-malware
AVG free 2011 anti-virus
Ad-Aware
HijackThis
Microsoft Security Essentials
Spybot search and destroy

The AVG rescue cd, for those of you who don't know about it, is a bootable cd downloaded as an .iso that boots into a linux shell and can update both its malware definitions and detection engine before scanning the hard drive(s)

It would be great to know what you more experienced geeks are using.

Regards,

George

[CCFan]

Not sure about Cowboy, but I'm usually not running bleeding edge hardware at home with Ubuntu... Most home and business class PCs have great support with Ubuntu. I'm running 10.04 on a Core 2 duo 1.8 Ghz w/ 2 gigs of ram and it's plenty fast. If you get into fancy hardware configurations, you may have some issues, but I have yet to find any problems with most hardware. I have a few pieces of hardware that don't work (Griffin Powermate for one, which some people have done a how-to on, but I'm just too lazy/busy to get to) but nothing that I absolutely can't live without.

Absolute best anti-spyware program that I've used is Webroot Spy Sweeper (located here) ... Not expensive, but not free either.

I have a Cisco PIX running and I watch what I click...It's hard to get people to quit clicking on everything that pops up on the screen, and I understand the hassle of having to clean up other people's computers! Best of luck to ya.

[gunderwood]

That's where recent versions of Ubuntu come in. I haven't found a situation yet where I've had to compile any software or rebuild the kernel. Slackware and Gentoo, yes, but Ubuntu's much more n00b-friendly; just point, click, and have fun. My video editing station is Ubuntu and is just great.

And even if I did have to compile something occasionally, personally I'd rather have even that than the much worse hassle of identity theft.

+1

My main boxes are run by Penguins too (including the wife's). I keep a Win7 box around for games and a few programs that don't work well under WINE.

[gunderwood]

I watch what I click...

That is the best computer security tool ever!!!

[Yarddawg]

For anti virus, I run Avira AntiVir Personal. Work very well, and it's FREE!

[CowboyT]

Got several boxes running the Penguin, some built by me, some store-bought. Hardware support for GNU/Linux, I've found, is actually more comprehensive out of the box than for versions of Microsoft Windows.

The box I use the most often is an AMD Athlon XP 2GHz with 1.5GB DRAM and 160GB disk drive (runs CentOS 5). Then there's the K12LTSP server, which handles all my thin clients (again, CentOS 5 with built-in LTSP). Next used is a hyperthreading 2.8GHz Pentium 4 with 2GB DRAM and 160GB disk (Ubuntu 10.04 LTS). Last up is my Power Mac G4 with a dual CPU upgrade, running Yellow Dog Linux 6 (2GB DRAM, twin 1.3GHz CPU's). This box is somewhat disproportionally faster than the other two, despite the slower clock speed. Therefore, this box will likely become my new video editing station.

Also, I run Slackware, Ubuntu, and CentOS on various Dell laptops ranging from vintage 2003 all the way to 2010.

My firewall is a Sun Ultra 5 running OpenBSD. In my opinion, there's nothing better, not even a PIX (and PIXes are good, so that's saying something). The mail and Web servers are on Sun Ultra 5's currently running Ubuntu Dapper Drake LTS (time to upgrade that soon!).

One of these days, probably after Christmas, I'll splurge and build one of these hot new hexa-core boxes.

[CowboyT]

Also, the NoScript extension for Firefox is a big help to prevent "drive-by" compromises.

[gunderwood]

Got several boxes running the Penguin, some built by me, some store-bought. Hardware support for GNU/Linux, I've found, is actually more comprehensive out of the box than for versions of Microsoft Windows.

The box I use the most often is an AMD Athlon XP 2GHz with 1.5GB DRAM and 160GB disk drive (runs CentOS 5). Then there's the K12LTSP server, which handles all my thin clients (again, CentOS 5 with built-in LTSP). Next used is a hyperthreading 2.8GHz Pentium 4 with 2GB DRAM and 160GB disk (Ubuntu 10.04 LTS). Last up is my Power Mac G4 with a dual CPU upgrade, running Yellow Dog Linux 6 (2GB DRAM, twin 1.3GHz CPU's). This box is somewhat disproportionally faster than the other two, despite the slower clock speed. Therefore, this box will likely become my new video editing station.

Also, I run Slackware, Ubuntu, and CentOS on various Dell laptops ranging from vintage 2003 all the way to 2010.

My firewall is a Sun Ultra 5 running OpenBSD. In my opinion, there's nothing better, not even a PIX (and PIXes are good, so that's saying something). The mail and Web servers are on Sun Ultra 5's currently running Ubuntu Dapper Drake LTS (time to upgrade that soon!).

One of these days, probably after Christmas, I'll splurge and build one of these hot new hexa-core boxes.

Nice. I build mine from the ground up. Saves money and lets me build exactly what I want.

[allingeneral]

I miss having a linux box around here. The loast one I had was more than 5 years ago. My ex-wife managed to burn up the motherboard by messing with the IDE connector while it was powered up.

Luckily, I get to work with linux machines all day long at work, so having one at home isn't so much of a priority anymore. Not to mention all the hacking I do on this server...I certainly get my fill. OK - I talked myself out of wanting to have a linux machine in the house lol