[quote]I applaud the efforts MS has been taking to ensure that people are patched. It's actually very easy to keep your system patched if you follow their recommendations (patches are automatically downloaded and reminders automatically occur until you install them). [/quote]
but i sure know a lot of ppl (including myself) that run just about any m$ update and everything crashes ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: Jim Davis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Mon, 06 Dec 2004 16:06:39 -0400 >> On Mon, 06 Dec 2004 11:35:06 -0400, Jim Davis >> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> > >> The question is whether or not FireFox in mass use would reduce >> spyware - >> > >> I'm not sure it would. It very well might - I just don't know. >> > > >> > >IE installs software without your consent - so yes it would reduce >> it >> > >(using logic and experience not stats). After I install firefox on >> > >systems and run spybot a month or two later there isn't any spyware. >> >> > >> > No it doesn't. >> >> I am afraid it does. Run spybot on your system every once in a while, >> bet you'll find some if you browse with IE - patch system or not > >Beleive me - I religiously run scanners and with a fully patched system have >yet to encouter any getting through. Do you have a URL that could demonstrate >this? > >> > Or will we continue to compare the initial release of IE with the >> current release of FireFox? Anonymous installation of software was a >> bug. A bug that's been addressed. Any software that took advantage >> of that bug is legitimatly "viral" and can and should be caught by any >> off-the-shelf virus checking software. >> >> So what you are saying is, those people who "can't install software" >> are supposed to keep their system patched? IE will be a problem for a >> long long time, because if you find a flaw in it you often get to 0wn >> the whole box. > >I applaud the efforts MS has been taking to ensure that people are patched. >It's actually very easy to keep your system patched if you follow their >recommendations (patches are automatically downloaded and reminders >automatically occur until you install them). > >> > I think we're all in agreement that the first step to good security >> is to patch your systems as recommended by your vendor. (Even the >> gentlemen in Jochem's reference link admits that none of the software >> installed could have been installed with a fully patched system. >> Although I can't see what good point can be made by testing on five >> year old, unpatched software.) >> > >> > I think we can also all be agreement is that the second step in good >> security is to run up-to-date virus checkers and firewalls. >> > >> >> Thirdly run software that is well written, under active development, >> and had something added to it this century. > >This isn't really helpful. It's the hyperbole and fanaticism that get my >hackles up more than anything else. IE IS in desperate need of an update - >however it is under "active development" as we do see quick service to address >security issues. > >> > Also, there will be spyware on many people's ForeFox machines >> because, just as always, they can easily be tricked into installing it. >> Can you (or, humbly, I) be tricked? Probably not - but that's not who >> we're talking about - "the masses" definately can be and are. >> > >> >> I have yet to find a piece of spy ware on my girlfriends or her >> bosses >> computer after we moved them to firefox. I just don't think you are >> talking form experience here. > >A lot of it depends on how you use the machine and where you browse. My >father, for example, used to spend a lot of time on file sharing programs >looking for vintage music: LOTS of spyware, but essentially no IE activity. > >Many sites link directly to EXEs, other link to downloads that have to be run >manually, but also install spyware. > >I also maintain that as soon as FireFox gains the market share it deserves the >installation procedures for spyware will be modified to adapt. > >> > FireFox is a great browser, but it's not a panacea for bad human >> behavior. >> >> True that > >I guess one aspect of this that bothers me is that I rarely here any chants >against the actual spyware vendors. It's all "MS sucks! They're why we have >spyware!" > >I think it's the spyware vendors, the ones tricking my dad and mom and wife >and mother-in-law that need to be strung up by the short and curlies. ;^) > >Jim Davis > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Special thanks to the CF Community Suite Gold Sponsor - CFHosting.net http://www.cfhosting.net Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:186395 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
