[WinTard]

Our mail servers uses the open source spamassassin and horde projects. We get NO spam at the end-user level. All this is controlled at the server level, pure Debian Linux ^1^ of course! We also use open-source greylisting.

That is in addition to all the spamming protection afforded by the end-user Windows platforms: Microsoft Defender, Microsoft Office, Panda Enterprise, Malwarebytes, and whatever else deemed appropriate.

SPAM? What is SPAM? Malware? What is Malware? Virus? Never seen one in MY zone of influence...

h4. Linux and Windows Rocks! Together! And most of it is FREE!

And at home, my Windows systems are protected with the free and excellent Avast AV, in addition to being behind triple dedicated hardware firewalls/routers, triple homed via three distinct ISPs, MAC address protection, multiple subnets, and multiple DMZ, and local station firewall/kernel protection via ZoneAlarm Pro. 8 dedicated routers so far... Oh, did I mention the anonymizer? Nothing comes in or goes out without MY approval.

You should see what's at work.

Hackers, you found your match... I'll kick ur ass! Bring it on! Heh. B-) ]:) :^0

~~~~~~~~~~
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it.
~ Albert Einstein
-----
^1^ Pure Debian means NO distro. A distro? What's that? That's for amateurs only... We make our own distro. Pick and choose. Home cooking with love and passion is always best. Now that is real Linux! mkproper and all...

[artzy65]

I recommended Zone Alarm to a pc friend years ago.. I don't know if he followed my advice.

I use MacScan for trojan detection and other malware... they sent out a fix for the DNS Changer trojan... I ran it but nothing showed up. I run MacScan about every 2 months... it finds a couple of tracking cookies occasionally, that's about it.

[WinTard]

Security through awareness. You are in the 1% percentile! Good for you! (Yes I said 1%). It is an honor to discuss with an enlightened Apple aficionado! Sincerely.

Tracking cookies are harmless IMHO. I use the freeware Crap Cleaner for that. At least 3 times a day. Ad-hoc fashion. It just blows everything away. Potential malware included, lurking into temp files?

Last updated on 7th May 2009
Over 275 million downloads!!!
CCleaner is a freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. Additionally it contains a fully featured registry cleaner. But the best part is that it's fast (normally taking less than a second to run) and contains NO Spyware or Adware! :)
http://www.ccleaner.com/

Features

CCleaner allows the user to remove unused temporary files from Internet browsers and other supported applications along with browsing history, cookies, recycle bin, and AutoComplete form history. It allows for the cleaning of the recycle bin, memory dumps, file fragments, log files, system caches, application data, and various other data. The program also includes a Registry Cleaner to locate and correct problems in the Windows Registry such as missing shared DLLs, unused file extensions and application paths.

CCleaner supports the cleaning of temporary and unneeded files from certain programs, including Firefox, Opera, Internet Explorer, Safari, Google Chrome, Foxit Reader, Microsoft Office (2000, XP, 2003, 2007), Nero Burning ROM, Java, Windows Live Messenger, ZoneAlarm, Flash Player, QuickTime, VirtualDub, Windows Media Player, 7-Zip, Avira AntiVir, Spybot - Search & Destroy, Windows Registry Editor, eMule, KaZaA, Google Toolbar, Netscape, Adobe Acrobat, WinRAR, WinAce, WinZip, and many other applications.

CCleaner assists in the uninstallation process by allowing users to uninstall programs from CCleaner itself. In addition, CCleaner also allows the alteration of start-up programs, similar to the Microsoft Windows MSConfig Utility. Users can disable several start-up programs to free up processor speed at start-up. As of version 2.13.8, CCleaner also allows users to delete System Restore Points.

Eraser also offers secure deletion, including an option to use the 35-Pass Gutmann.

There are several reported instances of systems that have been infected by the Vundo Trojan (also known as Virtumonde) after downloading CCleaner. However, it appears that this problem only occurs with people using Spy Sweeper.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCleaner

I couldn't live without CCleaner...

Another reason my systems are optimized, I perform a chkdsk once a day, then defrag. It may seem onerous, but once turned into a good habit, becomes transparent, and only takes mere minutes. Perhaps explaining the fact my systems NEVER crash, XP included. No BSOD. No troubles at all.

Contratry to the urban myth that Unix/Linux/OS X filesystems do not need defragmentation, inodes do grow up to a limit, but do not self-repair themselves and don't shrink either... Disk optimization is critical under ANY OS. Just ignoring the problem doesn't make it disappear. The point being people saying one doesn't need to worry about this or that are only fooling themselves. Further interesting reading at Google: Results 1 - 10 of about 3,290 for defragmenting unix file system inode. (0.30 seconds)

Just good computer hygiene habits. ;)

~~~~~~~~~
People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing that's why we recommend it daily.
~ Zig Ziglar

[danield]

A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it.
~ Albert Einstein

Oh, the irony!

Clever Windows users employ sophisticated measures to combat the daily problematic threat to their OS while wise Mac users avoid the problem altogether just by using a Mac with OS X. Hahaha.

It doesn't get better than this.

3....2....1... WinTard says "Who cares"

[jregooden]

Oh, it's you again. LOL. This is just an observation, and is not intended a an insult. I look forward to your responses. They sound so ethereal. Like you are are among us, but not of us. Keep posting and I'll keep smiling.

[WinTard]

You sir will get no further responses to your trolling attempts. You have not answered any of my prior queries.

[WinTard]

Enjoy your sarcasm. Frankly I do not care about you or your opinions.

[waldojim]

"We Mac users will continue to laugh at those of you PC fans that that do not understand software design. Unix is not Windows."

And you sir do not either.

" Do some research please. After you do, you will be better for it. It will prevent you from looking like a fool. Any flavor of Unix is much harder to attack than windows. I am not saying that it is impervious but the facts speak for themselves. Currently there are roughly 15-20 million Mac users and growing. Add to that the other millions of Unix boxes and then you'll see why your statement about more circulation of Mac OS X is just a pipe dream."

I have, Mac OS-X is a BSD clone, which is nothing more than a Unix CLONE. It is NOT Unix. It contains ZERO licensed Unix code. Furthermore, Mac OS-X has bastardized and STRIPPED the authentication layers that make Unix/BSD/Linux/other clones secure, leaving none of the actual security in place.
http://blogs.zdnet.c...ecurity/?p=2917 (from pwn2own - where the mac was hacked FIRST)
"For the second consecutive year, the security researcher hacked into a fully patched MacBook computer by exploiting a security vulnerability in Apple?s Safari browser."
"?It took a couple of seconds. They clicked on the link and I took control of the machine,? Miller said moments after his accomplishment."
with the UNIX/LINUX/BSD security implementations in place, they would have gotten to a single user account and NO MORE. He would not have had control over the machine. That is a weakness Apple put in place.

I will not get into the rest of your post, because I do not need to. You do not understand security well enough to comment on it. You cannot strip any OS of the security implementations and expect it to be secure.

[waldojim]

artzy, I have been using clam AV on my Windows and Linux boxes for some time, and so far it has proven to be a quite, out of the way, reliable AV software. I can only hope the OS-X port is as solid as the Windows a Linux versions. One downside though, it does seem to be a bit slow at full system scans.

[artzy65]

Yeah, I loaded ClamAV once but it looks quite technical (I'm not a hard-core techie) so I dumped it for now; I'll just continue to sip the symantec kool-aid for now.

[Evildave]

Technically, OS/X and 'Linux' rock together as well, but since the underlying OS/X operating system is also POSIX, you don't have to 'dual boot' to run the GNU/Linux/FOSS apps re-compiled to run under OS/X (pretty much all of them).

One of the reasons I feel myself drawn to OS/X is that I have one application left (Flash) that I have to use on a daily basis, and since the artists give me CS3 files, I end up running it in a virtual machine. Of course, there have been bugs/glitches/differences in Mac and Windoze font rendering and other details that can cause problems when predominantly MAC-using artists deliver things to me to be put into the games. Especially when I'm forced to edit an artist's FLA file to make it usable in the game (always) and export it with the Windoze version.

So, switching to Mac, I'd be natively using exactly the same version of the Adobe tools that the artists use, AND I could use all the same tools I use natively under Linux, natively under OS/X. And it would be a little easier to talk artists through lessons like 'How to use Subversion' if we're both looking at the same subversion client. I mean, sure I could try talking them through using svn from the shell, but get real.

Plus I could tinker with the iPhone SDK. Sure, Apple+AT&T take a big cut of the profits, but there ARE profits to split. Too many times I get 100% of my share of nuthin' in my business.

So no need for the extra couple of gigs always standing by to run a VM. Not that I wouldn't run a VM anyways; I still have test cases to build/run on the other platforms.

Between JAVA/Flash/AIR/etc. runtimes that all work on all platforms, it matters less and less what platform you use. So, you may as well use one that doesn't suck.

[danield]

Nice misdirection and failure to acknowledge my statement saying that the Mac was not impervious. Still doesn't address the security differences between Windows and a Unix based system which was my main point. Thanks for pointing out the difference between the Unix variants of which I already know about. Apple's failure to update the open source code they use is the main problem. That is how Mr. Miller was able to hack the Mac system. As it stands now, any Unix based system is more secure than a Windows based machine.

[danield]

I'm an ABW type person. Anything but Windows.

[WinTard]

Yes I agree, that all OSes are just operating systems, thus they all have their own strengths and idiosyncracies. And also agree that OS X would work well with Linux and Windows as well.

Now we're talking a serious discussion.

The reason for my only mentioning Linux and Windows, is I do not yet have experience with OS X.

Overall though, I will probably get into OS X in due time, not because it is any better or superior or sucks less (to paraphrase you), but because it is better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

I'm certain there are many elegant features in OS X, and was convinced by a few true Apple aficionados. I'll get to it.

And I appreciate you and your technical acumen, even though I may come across harsh (most of the times) to you. Point blank, it is because of your condescending attitude towards Windoze, Micro$uck, suck less, and the like. But I respect you and even like you. ;)

Peace my friend and be well!

[artzy65]

I know the party line is that OSX doesn't need defragging.

I use DiskWarrior, MacJanitor, ShredIt, TechToolPro, and so on to keep my OSX systems spic 'n span. I keep an eye on my cookies (I often forget to deny cookies). I also empty the cache after every session online, especially after banking online. Also 'Little Snitch' gives me a sense of extra control and safety.

A book I'd recommend to all OSX users is 'Troubleshooting Mac OS X'... actually it's a pdf download, 641 pages.
http://www.thexlab.com

[Evildave]

Well aww, shucks.

[BGG001]

Honestly, I just quit reading at "Windoze." Seriously, any possible credibility or possibility of a shimmer of intelligence dwindles when "windoze, winsucks, M$, Micro$uck, Crapple, Shunix" or any other similar rude and obnoxious variations of companies and operating systems' names comes into play. Grow up.

[waldojim]

"Nice misdirection and failure to acknowledge my statement saying that the Mac was not impervious. Still doesn't address the security differences between Windows and a Unix based system which was my main point. Thanks for pointing out the difference between the Unix variants of which I already know about. Apple's failure to update the open source code they use is the main problem. That is how Mr. Miller was able to hack the Mac system. As it stands now, any Unix based system is more secure than a Windows based machine."

No sir, no misdirection. Just the truth. You are implying that Mac OS-X has the same security as UNIX because it is a clone. When in fact most of what makes Unix secure is missing. I am reinstating the differentiating factor.

Yes a Unix/Linux/BSD system is more secure, but until you reestablish user accounts, and proper privilege escalation, OS-X is not.

Failure to update code is also an essential security risk. MS has been known to sit on patches for months, and you expect me to forgive Apple for a security flaw that has hounded MS for so many years? You cannot have it both ways (you in this case being the entire Apple community) Either it is acceptable for delayed patches or it is not. MS does it, Apple does it. And in both cases it can compromise the security. The Linux community tries to release patches to security problems as soon as the know what caused it. Beating the big guys by months in some cases. I will not say they are without fault, but they do try.

And sir, I am sorry, but I do not have security problems in Windows, But I also know how to create proper accounts, password protect accounts, and use Privilege escalation.

[danield]

Moving the argument from Unix like Mac OS X vs. Windows to Unix like Mac OS X to a true Unix does not change the fact that the security on Windows was always an after thought from the get go. Marketshare, not a secure system everyone could use was Mr. Gates goal and look what we have since. I'll stick with anything Unix like. Thank you.

[jregooden]

Hmmm, predictable response, but I'll continue to smile.