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Weblog:   A Windows Die-Hard Confronts Linux
Subject:   No big deal - isn't this how it should be?
Date:   2004-07-20 21:37:33
From:   vesperdem
Response to: No big deal - isn't this how it should be?

Just wait until he gets creamed by spyware, malware, the next virus, etc. That's been the tipping point for my friends and family who are starting to see the light, and are at least playing with Knoppix to try it out.


He's been using Windows for over 12 years. I think if he was going to see spyware, malware, etc... He would have seen them by now.


If he is like me, he has a firewall between his computer and the Internet, runs Anti-virus software and doesn't open attachments. Oh, and runs a browser other than IE. I have been on Windows for as long as he has, and don't see these problems you mention.


If your friends and family are, then they need to be educated on how to use a computer safely on the Internet. Linux isn't going to save you from hackers, but protection will.


Every time I visit my parents, my father has done something to the desktop that needs me to "fix" it. I can just see him "messing" around with Linux. I'm no Linux Sys-Admin and I would have a very difficult time reparing any damange he does.


Until Linux is foolproof, I think I'll stick to Windows and deal with the issues as they come up.
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Showing messages 1 through 3 of 3.

  • No big deal - isn't this how it should be?
    2004-07-21 10:18:06  codifex [View]

    > He's been using Windows for over 12 years. I think
    > if he was going to see spyware, malware, etc... He
    > would have seen them by now.

    He's a WINDOWS expert. Most windows experts, expecially those with hacking knowledge, know how to avoid most virii and malware. Most windows users, on the other hand, don't know how to avoid the minefield of virii and malware that is waiting for them on today's internet.

    > Every time I visit my parents, my father has
    > done something to the desktop that needs me to
    > "fix" it. I can just see him "messing" around
    > with Linux. I'm no Linux Sys-Admin and I would
    > have a very difficult time reparing any damange
    > he does.

    Yup. Your father may mess up *HIS* desktop but he wont mess up anyone elses while using Linux. (Unless you give him administrator or superuser priveleges - then I'd question your sanity.) So, you could create a SKEL with all the normal goodies and just copy it over... done deal - no hours of configuration and repair. Sounds like you really need Linux my friend. :)

    What are you waiting for... Grey Hair?
    codifex maximus
    • No big deal - isn't this how it should be?
      2004-07-27 07:19:30  steve.common [View]

      >He's a WINDOWS expert. Most windows experts,
      >expecially those with hacking knowledge, know
      >how to avoid most virii and malware. Most
      >windows users, on the other hand, don't know
      >how to avoid the minefield of virii and malware
      >that is waiting for them on today's internet.

      This is a very important point. Today, most Linux "users" are also Linux savvy or, at the very least, computer savvy; this is very different to the population of Windows users.

      The proportion of Linux "lusers" is very small. Getting a real "user" experience / opinion is not easy and specially so in this kind of discussion, which hardly galvanises anyone except enthusiasts.
  • No big deal - isn't this how it should be?
    2004-07-21 02:19:31  grabbing [View]

    First of all, Windows is not foolproof at all. Actually, a user can make much bigger damage to a Windows system than they can to a Linux system.

    Your father couldn't do any damage to a Linux system as long as you don't let him log on as root. If he makes damage it'll only be to his own user account and/or home directory.

    Delete him as a user and make him a new user account so he can start over again.
Showing messages 1 through 3 of 3.