Doug; Of course it is not lost that the fact that you haven't run a virus checker leaves you in the absolute dark as to whether or not your PC is loaded with spyware/adware ect... How do you know? You could be the trap door to the mountains of spam that get sent via infected machines every day. The only reason we hear more about MS getting hit by hackers so much is because that's what the majority of the world is using. Linux or Mac are NOT immune to infection and should they become more popular they too would see the happy litte bugs showinig up in droves looking for a home.This not to say that they have not been targeted in the past, as they have, sucessfully, so to say that this OS or that is "better" and immune is a false sense of security that could end up costing you big time should one of these little mignons decide that seeing as how Linux and Mac users are so not looking for an attack that that just might be "fun" to hit next. The "better" solution is to invest the money the hackers have forced you to dish out and get GOOD anti-virus/anti-hacking software as well as spyware and adware removal software and be happy that you did it BEFORE you lost your hard drive to some "helpful" hacker. Personally I run Norton's Internet Security combined with Spybot Search and Destroy for spyware and Ad-Aware by Lavasoft for the adware and although many many attempts have been made at gaining access to my Windows XP equiped machine none have yet suceeded in so doing, thank God, although NO system is 100% ironclad shut to hacking we owe it to ourselves to make the job as difficult as possible and then the hackathons will simply find an easier target, such as one who isn't expecting them, like say, a Linux or Mac user who thinks he/she is impervious to them. The fact is, if you DO NOT run anti-virus checks then HOW do you know you aren't infected? Answer: you don't.
Luc --- In biofuel@yahoogroups.com, Keith Addison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > And another way - get a Mac! > > >There is another way: just run Linux! I have yet to have a virus problem, & I > >do not even run a virus checker! > > Same. > > >regards Doug > >(A die-hard Linux user of 3 years+) > > So what it does indeed come down to is dear old M$. > > Best > > Keith > > > >On Fri, 21 May 2004 09:45 am, malcolm maclure wrote: > > > Unfortunately folks, no matter what Microsoft or any third party s/w > > > company produce to counter this situation, it will be hacked in a very > > > short time. > > > > > > A similar situation exists for online gamers, a world dogged by a > > > minority of people who cheat using hacks to give them an unfair > > > advantage over honest "just wanna have fun"" players. Many anti-cheat > > > software systems have been developed to counter the problem but all are > > > hacked within days of release and are rendered useless. There is a new > > > anticheat being released shortly, written by a very clever programmer, > > > it could be a big breakthrough in the gaming world, if it works. The > > > problem is there are very clever hackers who just love the challenge of > > > cracking a new system - what a waste of amazing talent & intellect. If > > > only these people could direct their energies to contribute rather than > > > abuse. > > > > > > > > > The best advice would be: > > > > > > Keep your Windows system updated > > > > > > Run antivirus software, regularly updated > > > > > > Run a firewall, regularly updated - Best of all - get a router with a > > > built-in hardware firewall > > > > > > Run anti-adware software so you're not broadcasting your IP or e-mail > > > addresses > > > > > > > > > > > > None of these will truly protect you from the most determined hacker, > > > but the harder you make it the more likely they will move on to an > > > easier target. > > > > > > If anyone needs any advice with any of the above, I'd be glad to lend a > > > hand, just mail me. Between myself, my stepson & his co- workers we have > > > quite a wealth of knowledge on internet security & programming (one > > > co-worker has written system control software for Powergen, the QE2 etc) > > > > > > Cheers > > > > > > Malcolm > > > > > > > > > ----Original Message----- > > > From: Keith Addison [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Sent: 20 May 2004 20:04 > > > To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com > > > Subject: Re: [biofuel] Received a message from > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] <biofuel-unsubscribe > > > > > > >I received a message from that email address. The email contains an > > > >attachment. Being the suspicious type, I expect it's an attempt to > > > >infect me with a virus, since I have not yet unsubscribed from this > > > >list. Anyone else seen such emails? > > > > > > > >Bryan > > > > > > False sender's address, can't be helped. Certainly a virus. We've had > > > quite a few viruses purporting to come from Yahoo. We've even had > > > viruses purporting to come from Journey to Forever, even from us > > > personally, doing things like warning us that our email service is > > > going to be closed down, please see the attachment (not!). It's > > > happening to everyone, including a lot of the big environment groups, > > > NGOs, businesses, all sorts of people. Keep your system properly > > > patched and protected, keep your virus gear up to date, be a > > > suspicious type. > > > > > > You can't get a virus via the group, by the way, it just can't > > > happen. But you can get a virus from a false address pretending to be > > > from the group, though you should be able to see the difference, as > > > you did with this. > > > > > > Dear old Micro$oft, what a disaster. Yes, sure, if you keep it all > > > squeaky-clean then there's no problem, right. Maybe it's even true, > > > but during the most recent virus onslaught something like 70 million > > > Windoze computers were infected and spewing out viruses and spam, the > > > owners all cheerfully unaware. A security survey of a million > > > computers in businesses in the US found an *average* infection rate > > > of 28 viruses and worms per machine. It won't get better until M$ > > > wakes up to the idea that maybe a secure OS might be something to > > > think about. Holding your breath is contraindicated. Dumbo system > > > administrators who set up protection systems that automatically send > > > the damned things *back* to where they almost certainly didn't come > > > from don't exactly help, but it seems to be their default mode. > > > > > > :-( > > > > > > Keith ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
