# How hard could it be to make computers stable? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 5, 2004, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792 "2004-06-05T12:07:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eada6e/32.png) [@Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_You_Big_Red_Fire_Engine)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792/21 "2004-06-06T10:43:20Z")
The most secure computer is one that is not connected to the internet at all. That is why I recommend [Telstra ASDL](http://www.bigpond.com/internet-plans/broadband/). ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792/22 "2004-06-06T14:18:22Z")
> [@EsotericEnigma](#): > > It seems like something the great minds at microsoft could create in 15 minutes. Why the hell haven’t they? I’d rather click “yes” 15 times a day to allow legitimate stuff to be written to my hard drive than deal with the bullshit that happens now. Even if they could, what incentive would they have to do so? Stable computers wouldn’t crash as often. They wouldn’t get viruses. If they didn’t crash or get viruses how the hell are they supposed to sell you the newest OS with all the newest secuirty bells and whistles, and the newest virus protection? You wouldn’t even have morons completely killing their computer (so they think) buying brand new ones because they can’t figure out how to re-write their hard drives. Unless they’re going to charge you $5,000 for this new uncrashable computer, they’d lose money. Lots of it. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792/23 "2004-06-06T22:25:20Z")
If you’re using Windows, you deserve all the viruses, spam, and spyware you get. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792/24 "2004-06-06T22:35:13Z")
So much for Mac users not being tools. I knew it wouldn’t last. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![BonoVox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@BonoVox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BonoVox)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2004, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792/25 "2004-06-06T23:19:14Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > If you’re using Windows, you deserve all the viruses, spam, and spyware you get. So what mythical operating system can I use that actually has games availible? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2004, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792/26 "2004-06-07T01:33:41Z")
> [@BonoVox](#): > > So what mythical operating system can I use that actually has games availible? Aww, come on. Mac user get the big games…the following year. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2004, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792/27 "2004-06-07T01:55:58Z")
Hey, I’m a Mac user and I’ve got games!! Look here!! I’ve got _The Uninvited_, and I’ve got _Déja Vu_, and I’ve got _Leather Goddesses of Phobos_. And _Stunt Copter!_ What else? Oh yeah, _Chrismas Lemmings!_ And _Jeopardy_, too! But best of all, I’ve got _Hearts Deluxe_ and I can play it any time I want. 😛 nyaah nyaa na naaaa na! ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2004, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792/28 "2004-06-07T03:34:07Z")
Aaah yes, the latest games… Apart from Microsoft Train Simulator (coz I’m an anorak nerd), I didn’t have any. Not until last night, when nostalgia made me download _The Incredible Machine_. Only upon download did I realise the code is _twelve years old!_. Still cool though. I don’t think the availability of the latest games is going to be a bother for me. I just want a stable platform. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2004, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792/29 "2004-06-07T04:09:44Z")
> [@BonoVox](#): > > So what mythical operating system can I use that actually has games availible? Let’s see… on this here Linux machine, I’ve been playing Unreal Tournament 2004 (2003 and the original UT run, too), Quake 2, Quake 3 Arena, Return to Castle Wolfenstein and Enemy Territory. Also available: [Everything on this list](http://icculus.org/lgfaq/gamelist.php), most of the games on [this list](http://www.transgaming.com/dogamesearch.php?order=working&showall=1) (these run under WineX, look around the site for details), lots of old Sierra, LucasArts adventure games and other DOS games via [Sarien](http://sarien.sourceforge.net/)/[FreeSCI](http://freesci.linuxgames.com/) , [ScummVM](http://www.scummvm.org/) and [DOSBox](http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/) respectively, Flash games via your browser, MUDs/MUSHes/MUCKs/MOOs via telnet or ssh, and there’s even [solitaire](http://freshmeat.net/search/?q=solitaire§ion=projects&Go.x=14&Go.y=9). Oh, and of course Id and Epic support Linux very well, and Doom III and the next installments of Unreal will be playable under it. You may not be able to play _all_ the games under the sun, but we’re getting there. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2004, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792/30 "2004-06-07T16:23:46Z")
**EsotericEnigma** wrote > [@](#): > > How hard could it be to make computers stable? I’m afraid it’s very very hard. And I’m afraid your post makes clear you really don’t understand what the problems are and what’s required to solve them. However, careful usage will make it so you suffer none of the problems you describe. As one example, I (and a lot of other security people) scoff at anyone who gets a virus. Perhaps people who get viruses don’t deserve them, but they certainly bring them on themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Basandre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@Basandre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Basandre)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2004, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792/31 "2004-06-07T21:12:24Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > Well, we’re _hoping_ that Apple will revamp the URL-based part of its application-launching services so as to fix the MacOS X gaping hole before someone writes malware that exploits it in a big way. More information below on this. So far, it’s a security risk but there are no worms or viruses that take advantage of it. According to one of the security newsletters I read (SANS), this has _just_ been patched. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2004, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792/32 "2004-06-07T21:31:30Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > Ya. Sure. Within 3 days of gracing my computer room a few years back, my shiny new eMac emitted a puff of magic smoke and died. Granted, it was very ‘stable’ after that. And, so? So there are more than a few PC users who buy a new PC and it dies within three days. Do we then conclude that all PCs are no good? Nope. Regarding the OP, yes, it is frustrating, and yes, I am glad that I do most of my web surfing on my G4 running OS X. It makes for a much more peaceful browsing experience. When I’m on my PC, I stay away from Interent Explorer as much as possible. I also update my anti-virus and Windows regularly. So far, so good. But to be honest, it’s just so much more peaceful to just surf on my Mac. ---
**Author:** ![RitzyRae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@RitzyRae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitzyRae)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2004, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792/33 "2004-06-07T21:51:56Z")
> [@EsotericEnigma](#): > > Why the FUCK are there .exe files on my computer that I never put there? This is only a problem for those who don’t enjoy a good round of **SpyBot**. I love hunting down those little devils! Kill, kill! It’s quite cleansing actually. And if I need a good **Spybot** fix, I just hop on over to my parents computer. It never fails to have hundreds of little snacks for **SpyBot**. GO **SpyBot** GO! Search and destroy!! Oh yeah, it’s a sickness… ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2004, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792/34 "2004-06-07T22:16:02Z")
> [@Bill H.](#): > > **EsotericEnigma** wrote > As one example, I (and a lot of other security people) scoff at anyone who gets a virus. Perhaps people who get viruses don’t deserve them, but they certainly bring them on themselves. Not always. The virus has to spread a bit before the virus software makers can create an update. The people first hit before it’s a known threat might not have done anything to “bring it on themselves”. They may have simply opened an email from a co-worker, an action they must do for their job. ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2004, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792/35 "2004-06-07T23:28:48Z")
> [@cmason32](#): > > [www.apple.com/switch](http://www.apple.com/switch) …that way your OS manufacturer will just deny all the gaping holes in their security. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2004, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792/36 "2004-06-07T23:31:24Z")
> [@RandomLetters](#): > > But Windows is almost always running in the root(administrator mode), where getting a virus can wipe out the entire machine. Other design choices in OSX and Linux make them inherently more secure than Windows. Wow! That’s gotta be high on the most disingenious pile of lies I’ve seen here in a while. Way to spread the ignorance and bullshit nice and thick. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Llama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@The\_Llama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Llama)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792/37 "2004-06-08T01:11:11Z")
> [@black455](#): > > To be safe in the mean time, turn your computer off until 2006. No need to worry too much. SP2 for XP has a firewall integrated that is supposedly just as good as Zone Alarm Pro, but without some of it’s annoying traits. It’s in the beta stage right now (a friend of mine has it) and should be a nice addition. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792/38 "2004-06-08T02:54:09Z")
**Basandre** : > [@](#): > > Originally Posted by **AHunter3** > > > [@](#): > > > > Well, we’re hoping that Apple will revamp the URL-based part of its application-launching services so as to fix the MacOS X gaping hole before someone writes malware that exploits it in a big way. More information below on this. So far, it’s a security risk but there are no worms or viruses that take advantage of it. > > According to one of the security newsletters I read (SANS), this has just been patched. Really? ::runs Software Update:: Well, hello Security Update 2004-06-07! Yep, that’s what it purports to fix, all right! Any application process being launched for the first time will require your OK. Very nice. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792/39 "2004-06-08T02:54:56Z")
**Revtim** wrote > [@](#): > > Not always. The virus has to spread a bit before the virus software makers can create an update. The people first hit before it’s a known threat might not have done anything to “bring it on themselves”. They may have simply opened an email from a co-worker, an action they must do for their job. You’re correct, there certainly are some percentage of people who have been hit like this. But the vast majority – and I do mean the vast majority – got infected because they opened some attachment called “hot-lesbian-love.exe” or such. Even the ones from co-workers require executing something. Yes, I’m aware of word viruses and javascript in email before that was automatically disabled, etc. But the vast majority of infections are self-inflicted. They’re like getting taken by some Nairobi con artist. The only way you get taken is if you get caught up in your own greed. Same with viruses: no matter how curious you are, don’t open that picture of Anna Kournikova’s boobies, and you’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![cmason32](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@cmason32](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmason32)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792/40 "2004-06-08T03:00:11Z")
> [@Cerowyn](#): > > …that way your OS manufacturer will just deny all the gaping holes in their security. > > :rolleyes: Cite? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-hard-could-it-be-to-make-computers-stable/248792.md?page=3)