Posts by Steve

Safari, Opera browsers patch-shy, says study

The problem is the end users

So, Opera notifies me of an update (it actually DOES this folks) and I don't implement it. This is Opera's problem? Sure, I agree "automatic" would be better.

And while we're at it, how many of the actual o/s where these browsers reside have been patched? I thought so.

Opera scrambles to quash zero-day bug in freshly-patched browser

Not just Opera

SeaMonkey initiates also, but warns.

I didn't try it with IE for obvious reasons. I'll give Konqueror a shot later tonight.

And yes, Opera does tend to action things pretty quickly once revealed.

MS products just too cool to comprehend, say MS geeks

Vista...

...is to operating systems what SUV's are to personal transportation.

They both work fine, and they both demand enormous resources.

Bugs casts shadow over Firefox 3

I could never figure out...

the attraction of Firefox, save for it's not a Microsoft product.

Opera, Konqueror, SeaMonkey, yep, but the more I used FF, the less I liked it. Now that it's so popular it's become targeted and vulnerabilities surface regularly.

AVG scanner blasts internet with fake traffic

Chuck - do you work for Linkscanner?

...because I don't care what software you run or what scanner you use - a really crack team can put a rootkit in place right now that's not detectable by ANY off-the-shelf stuff at the present time.

performance

Obviously anything that impacts the performance of my computing experience, particularly when a properly configured system protects just fine, is completely unwarranted. Propoganda can come from many directions, particularly say, lobbists with financial interests in the matter.

The configuration I described previuosly worked just fine on MANY machines and for MANY years, sans exploits and sans LinkScanner.

I'm just sayin...

alternatives

If you employ the use of a hosts file (mvps for eg), tighten up your o/s internet security settings (the defaults are poor), forgo the use of IE, use an add-on lightweight firewall, use Opera as your broswer, and install avast as your virus scanner, this issue is a moot point.

And most of the above is also easily accomplished using a distro like openSUSE as an alternative to windoze.

Microsoft urges Windows users to shun 'carpet bombing' Safari

you installed it in windows because?

The whole thing is a no-brainer. Opera, SeaMonkey (& Konqueror) all eclipse Safari, so what's the issue? "Why'd you allow it to install in the first place on a Windows system anyway?" is the question to ask.

Windows XP SP3 leaps into the tubes

Seems to work

Installed on two laptops and three pcs - no issues during the installation and apps all appear to be working.

Scary stuff.

What information it sent back to Redmond during the process is anybody's guess.

Mozilla CEO blasts Apple for putting security of the internet at risk

The issue is?

Seems like a non-event to me.

Then I use Opera & Konqueror, both of which work flawlessly, are fast, and according to Secunia among others, are very secure. Isn't that what I, as an end-user, am looking for?

Vista SP1 downloaders bite back

use of vista speeds adoption of real o/s

Even though SP1 actually installed without issue, it hasn't stopped my ultimate planned migration to openSUSE, which actually works on 'obsolete-by-vista-standards' hardware much faster than vista on a 'meets-vista-requirements' box. (Which will ultimately become an even faster openSUSE box).

The attraction of vista is what again?

Sequoia attack dogs kill review into e-voting discrepancies

democracy is alive and well then

As long as the regulatory bodies are in the pockets of the corporations, average folk don't stand a chance. Nicely done, oh yeah.

Microsoft rolls out Vista SP1

blasted the sucker on

Took a bit, but went on error free, didn't break Avast a/v (wasn't supposed to anyway).

Everything else (pretty much all non-microsoft) works too, and no updates after the update.

It's all pretty much an under-whelming experience, in line with the o/s in general.

IE8 to follow web standards by default

days (hours?) after release

it will require at least one critical update

Microsoft dropped Vista hardware spec to raise Intel profits

Oh yeah, great stuff

If you want to run this sucker then spring for the hardware, regardless of what the "minimum requirements" are. Everyone has known for years this spec is fiction for every o/s MS has ever released, just so they can flog it to some unsuspecting customer and drive up their bottom line. You wanted Vista again why? Oh yeah, sorry, for the extra stuff it can do for you.

Symantec and Trend grapple with buffer overflow bugs

Use something else

Mark Allen nailed it - exactly!

That Wi-Fi network you thought was secure? It ain't

In place at the office

Are you assuming majority use WEP?

That's easily had.

Vista SP1 kills and maims security apps, utilities

or...

you could get a real o/s like openSUSE.

I'd played around with various distros of linux before, but once I got involved with vista testing it delivered the necessary boot in the rear end to motivate my migration to something else.

I do not regret it.

Opera screeches at Mozilla over security disclosure

And...

now it's fixed, as Opera usually does, quite quickly too. No idea what the fuss is all about, there are some good and bad browsers out there, theirs is the best if you care to learn it imho. A lot of homegrown hype about Firefox seems to get the attention, Opera was remiss initially about requiring folks pay for it. Regardless, Opera, Konqeror, SeaMonkey, all good stuff.

Web browsers on the front line of exploitation

use a better browser

IE has a history of being hammered, yet people insist on using it. I guess they get what they deserve. Check Secunia for info. Plenty good browsers out there, Opera, Konqueror, the list goes on.