How hard could it be to make computers stable?

[Go_You_Big_Red_Fire_Engine]

The most secure computer is one that is not connected to the internet at all. That is why I recommend Telstra ASDL.

[elfkin477]

@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.

[rjung]

If you’re using Windows, you deserve all the viruses, spam, and spyware you get.

[Airman_Doors_USAF]

So much for Mac users not being tools. I knew it wouldn’t last. :rolleyes:

[BonoVox]

@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?

[elfkin477]

@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.

[AHunter3]

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!

[TheLoadedDog]

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.

[Tentacle_Monster]

@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, most of the games on this list (these run under WineX, look around the site for details), lots of old Sierra, LucasArts adventure games and other DOS games via Sarien/FreeSCI , ScummVM and DOSBox respectively, Flash games via your browser, MUDs/MUSHes/MUCKs/MOOs via telnet or ssh, and there’s even solitaire. 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.

[Bill_H]

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.

[Basandre]

@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.

[yosemite]

@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.

[RitzyRae]

@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…

[Revtim]

@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.

[Cerowyn]

@cmason32

www.apple.com/switch

…that way your OS manufacturer will just deny all the gaping holes in their security.

:rolleyes:

[Cerowyn]

@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.

[The_Llama]

@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.

[AHunter3]

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.

[Bill_H]

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.

[cmason32]

@Cerowyn

…that way your OS manufacturer will just deny all the gaping holes in their security.

:rolleyes:

Cite?