[ubuntu-uk] Anybody seen this, thought it might be shown, as nobody has mentioned it on here yet.....

[Paul Sutton]

On 21/08/13 22:12, scoundrel50a wrote:
> On 21/08/2013 17:07, Colin Law wrote:
>> On 21 August 2013 16:57, Gareth France <gareth.france at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> On 21/08/13 10:13, scoundrel50a wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi, I really dont understand the attitude of attack when somebody posts
>>> something like this. Not everybody is competant in using Ubuntu, and
>>> not
>>> everybody understands the risks involved especially considering for
>>> years
>>> its been pushed as a safe OS. All i have done is post this to the
>>> group, I
>>> dont appreciate this attitude. It doesnt give Ubuntu a good light when
>>> people see this.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On the whole I have stopped posting to this group since there are a
>>> number
>>> of people who are obviously on pedestals above us lowly minions. Not
>>> so long
>>> back after starting a thread I was shot down in an unforgivably
>>> harsh manner
>>> by people who made assumptions about me based on absolutely no
>>> evidence and
>>> proceeded to trample all over my opinion and my self esteem.
>>>
>>> I have said it before and I'll say it again, not everyone is an
>>> expert, not
>>> everyone understands things that are obvious to you. Be careful how you
>>> respond as we are supposed to be wanting to encourage mass adoption
>>> and as
>>> many new users as possible. Insulting them, depressing them, making
>>> them
>>> feel small, they will only leave.
>> I don't think we know what it was that scoundrel50a was taking
>> exception to as the post he complained about was not about anything he
>> said.  Scoundrel50a can you clarify exactly what it was that worried
>> you?
>>
>> Colin
>>
> I'm sorry but if you think that Peter Maddison's reply to me was
> acceptable then I dont see the point in saying anything, and you shot
> me down yourself. Which is why I answered the way I did.
>
> I dont see any posts on here that warn people that Linux isnt
> completely safe and whenever its bought up, people are treated like
> they are idiots and its always those people that are knowledgeable
> about Linux.....the rest of us are treated like I have been now.
>
> An its not just this thread its thread after thread that people are
> shouted down in, by the same people every time.
>
>
>
>
If there is a threat out there,  no matter small people should be a)
aware of it, and b) advised on how to avoid problems,  if everyone does
small things to protect their own systems, then surely the wider
community benefits,

Look at how many bot nets are out there,  there seems to be several
million compromised Windows computers out there all chugging away and
awaiting some instruction to do something nasty, 

some of the suggestions offered are easy to implement others not so
unless you understand what it is asking you to do

#


Do not install unsigned packages
# Do not add unofficial repositories without investigating said repository
# Keep your system up to date at all times
# Keep all browser plugins up to date
# If your distribution has SELinux, use it
# Do not let others install software on your machines
# Use solid passwords
# If asked to enter root user (or sudo) password, always know why

Maybe what is needed here are links to sites that advise on all the
above issues,  the reference to SELinux could have a link to the SELinux
website and an explanation of what this is, why its important. useful
and what I should use it,  it says don't install things you don't
understand,  well you have asked me to install SELinux which i sort of
understand does this mean I should or should not install it,  (look at
that from a complete new user viewpoint)



Sometimes when advice sounds like the obvious to an expert it really
does baffle the novice,  lets take a step back and address each of the
above and perhaps help people (esp new users) to make their systems more
secure through education and advice.

I am happy to host information on the dcglug website blog if people can
help me explain each of the above points please, this information will
then be in one place and can act to help others both expert and novice
help others.
Hope this helps

In fact such information could or would quite possibly be something to
include in the ubuntu-manual project and lubuntu documentation, 

Paul


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Software freedom day event - 21st September 2013  - http://exeter.lug.org.uk/

I am committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable groups and expect any school or establishment I am involved with to share this commitment.