More than half of Windows machines are INFECTED with malware

[Fred Roller]

Chan Chung Hang Christopher wrote:
> Fred Roller wrote:
>   
>> Chan Chung Hang Christopher wrote:
>>   
>>     
>>> Edward Craig wrote:
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>>>     
>>>       
>>>> On Tue, Oct 6, 2009 at 12:03 AM, Christopher Chan
>>>> <christopher.chan at bradbury.edu.hk> wrote:
>>>>   
>>>>     
>>>>       
>>>>         
>>>>> Edward Craig wrote:
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>>>>>> On Mon, Oct 5, 2009 at 11:18 PM, Christopher Chan
>>>>>> <christopher.chan at bradbury.edu.hk> wrote:
>>>>>>
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>>>>>>> Michael Haney wrote:
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>>>>>>>> On Sun, Oct 4, 2009 at 12:21 AM, Siggy Brentrup <ubuntu at psycho.i21k.de> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>> Hi Amedee,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> got it right now ;)
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Sun, Oct 04, 2009 at 00:31 +0200, Amedee Van Gasse (on Ubuntu mailing lists) wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>>               
>>>>>>>>>                 
>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>>>> On Fri, October 2, 2009 09:07, Conrad Knauer wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>>>                     
>>>>>>>>>>> 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? ;-)
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>>>                     
>>>>>>>>> Maybe, if they ever get large enough to really play with the behemoths.
>>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>>                   
>>>>>>>> Not likely, there's a little something called the GPL standing in
>>>>>>>> their way of becoming anything even remotely like that.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>>                 
>>>>>>> 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.
>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>               
>>>>>> 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.
>>>
>>>     
>>>       
>> 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.
>>   
>>     
>
> I don't care about Canonical making money selling stuff so long as they 
> do not slip in 'enhancements' into their version of the kernel and other 
> crucial stuff.
>
>   
Agreed.  So where is the line drawn for a well intentioned 
improvement/enhancement becomes a tool for leveraging the user?  How 
much is it worth to know how people surf, shop, or spend their off 
time.  Considering the amount of effort companies put into this I would 
say alot.  How do you collect that information?  Bug tracking is very 
handy for the development of the software and I deeply respect that it 
is something I am /asked/ to sign up for, which I have done.  This 
information may not be specific but it does give conical an idea of what 
software is being used and I imagine how it is being used.  At what 
point does it cross that line?

-- 
Fred
www.fwrgallery.com

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