More than half of Windows machines are INFECTED with malware

[Fred Roller]

Chan Chung Hang Christopher wrote:
> Edward Craig wrote:
>   
>> On Tue, Oct 6, 2009 at 12:03 AM, Christopher Chan
>> <christopher.chan at bradbury.edu.hk> wrote:
>>   
>>     
>>> Edward Craig wrote:
>>>     
>>>       
>>>> On Mon, Oct 5, 2009 at 11:18 PM, Christopher Chan
>>>> <christopher.chan at bradbury.edu.hk> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>       
>>>>         
>>>>> Michael Haney wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>         
>>>>>           
>>>>>> On Sun, Oct 4, 2009 at 12:21 AM, Siggy Brentrup <ubuntu at psycho.i21k.de> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>           
>>>>>>             
>>>>>>> Hi Amedee,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> got it right now ;)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Sun, Oct 04, 2009 at 00:31 +0200, Amedee Van Gasse (on Ubuntu mailing lists) wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>             
>>>>>>>               
>>>>>>>> On Fri, October 2, 2009 09:07, Conrad Knauer wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>               
>>>>>>>>                 
>>>>>>>>> I didn't realize it was that bad, but hey, on average that means that
>>>>>>>>> every other Ubuntu install takes a malware-compromised system out of
>>>>>>>>> commission :)
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                 
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>> Yep. The other Ubuntu install is one less for the other Linux distro's.
>>>>>>>> First we had IBM, then we had Microsoft, then came Google, and will
>>>>>>>> Canonical be the next Evil Empire? ;-)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>               
>>>>>>>>                 
>>>>>>> Maybe, if they ever get large enough to really play with the behemoths.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>             
>>>>>>>               
>>>>>> Not likely, there's a little something called the GPL standing in
>>>>>> their way of becoming anything even remotely like that.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>           
>>>>>>             
>>>>> I am sorry but that does not make any sense. You do realize that Google
>>>>> is coming out with something that uses GPL software right? Their new
>>>>> ChromeOS will be using a Linux kernel and I assume a fair bit of GNU
>>>>> software too unless they intend to rewrite/create a good portion of what
>>>>> goes into their operating system.
>>>>>
>>>>>         
>>>>>           
>>>> The GPL ensures that there can be nothing we can't find in the OS.
>>>> Whether we find it in time requires better concealment than I expect
>>>> malware authors can commit to. Google might include easter eggs but I
>>>> doubt any malware can take advantage.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>       
>>>>         
>>> Oops...lost track of the thread...I thought Michael was going on about
>>> the 'ever get large enough' part. :-D
>>>
>>>
>>> As for evil empire...somebody has to look to check for special
>>> 'enhancements'...
>>>     
>>>       
>> I can't envision Microsoft delivering software to the inernet so
>> raddled with exploits yet there is over a decade's history to
>> contradict that contention. McAfee founded the industry that swallowed
>> it on those exploits. Perhaps I misremember history but it seems to me
>> that a software toolmaker did a side project which was the foundation
>> or model Symantec built on to swallow McAfee.
>>  I have an unusual computing history (roughly abbreviated; IBM
>> mainframe OSs > Windows 3.1 > FreeBSD/S.u.S.E. Linux > Debian > Ubuntu
>> ) and didn't watch PCs closely until I installed Linux on a 486 in '97
>> according to the Linux counter. So I missed viruses, adware, spyware
>> and malware in general except at second or third hand. If it weren't
>> for the spam caches I peruse when I must I wouldn't believe malware
>> could be widespread.
>>
>>   
>>     
>
>
> I meant special 'enhancements' in later distributions of Ubuntu if it 
> ever becomes evil.
>
>   
I don't know about evil empire, but Conical is a business that needs to 
support a project without losing money doing it.  If it is a choice for 
you to either work to feed your family or volunteer on a development 
project; the odds are in favor of you working, I would.  We are able to 
do both so long as sustenance is not compromised. 

Conical will find a way to make money.  Question is, how?  Already the 
tells are there as to the path they would  like to take:  
"Applications->Ubunutu Software Center", at the bottom of any 
application there is a "Price: free" line.  If all software were to 
remain free then why bother with this field?  I don't begrudge a price 
tag on software so long as the GPL et.al is maintained and a value for 
value is realized.

The main thing that will keep any company in check will be the fact that 
if they piss off enough people with their practices then the people will 
fork the project or segments of the project.  This has happened with 
closed source companies where the programmers moved on to form their own 
company.  It most certainly will and is true of Open Source 
companies/groups.  Remember, free speech not free beer.

-- 
Fred
www.fwrgallery.com

"Life is like linux, simple.  If you are fighting it you are doing something wrong."