[Off Topic] Re: Linux security

[Daniel Carrera]

Michael T. Richter wrote:
> The difference is that day-to-day affairs are simpler under Windows for 
> the most part.

The things *I* do day-to-day are easier under Linux. Linux's terminal 
beats the pants out of anything Windows has. Installing software is 
easier. Virtual desktops make my work easier, etc. Could I survive a 
switch to Windows (ignoring the evil monopolist and propietary part) 
yes, I think so. Most of the applications I use are available under 
Windows. I'd need to find a different text editor, alarm and password 
manager (Schneier's PasswordSafe would do fine). I would *really* miss 
the shell, Gnome, apt-get, sbackup, and the zillion text manipulation 
tools Linux has (wget, sed, grep, perl, awk, locate, find, etc). So, if 
I had to use Windows I'd hate every minute of the day, but I could 
survive it. That's the thing about Linux (for me). It's not *one* 
program I can't live without. It's a huge set of relatively small 
programs that I love to have (did I mention Kmplot?) which together make 
for a great user experience for me.

> You can work with Windows out of the box.

I'm sure most people can. I couldn't. I'd need to start by installing a 
large set of applications that Windows doesn't have, and learn to live 
without some that I just can't find equivalents for (e.g. LyX).

>>and all that viruses, worm, trojan horses and the like;
> 
> The viruses, worms and trojans that haven't impacted my life at all 
> since my DOS days, you mean?

The same trojans and viruses that rendered my family's computer unusable 
last week (and is still unusable) inspite of having an anti-virus, 
firewall, spyware scanner, never using IE, installing security updates, 
and being conscious computer users. Those viruses and trojans.

> Idiots are idiots no matter what operating system they run.

The problem with Windows is that you need to be an expert to not get 
hit. My family members are far from idiots. They are knowledgeable and 
conscious computer users who take every precaution. And right now the 
only computer that works at their home is the Linux one.

Cheers,
Daniel.
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