Posts by 0D0A

Secret mailing list rocks Wikipedia

I wonder

So much for free speech

Build malware protection into operating systems

Root

Well, yes and no. There are two ways to access root. One is for temporary root privileges for specific commands on a time-limited basis. The other is effectively a root shell and has full system privileges.

Logging in as root is not encouraged in Linux, but it depends on the distro. Some, like Ubuntu steers the user away from root right from the install. Others, like Debian set up a root account and a user account upon install and won't let the user log in as root (at least through the xserver). SUse allows both forms of logins.

In all of the distros, gaining root is possible if one knows the password and can spoof its way past iptables. Or if they have physical access to the pc.

And while it always comes down to the end users and how responsible they want to be, it certainly helps if that extra step needs to be taken.

*nix was always multi-user and therefore protections had to be built into the system right from the start. If a thousand people had access to a mainframe, there would have been a lot of namespace conflicts, not to mention people stepping on other peoples' apps and intellectual property.

An excellent way for MS to improve its security would be to implement a keyboard passphrase when things are being installed and get away from that reflexive double-clicking. Unless, of course, it is marketing strategy.

IThink someone has been spending too much time on the intergalactic putting greens.

US mercenary outfit shoots 11 Iraqis - and self in foot

Oil?

There is oil in Iraq?

Well, it is a good thing law abiding citizens went over there to restore order.

Who knows what would have happened if that country was allowed to plunder its own resources.

You can always tell a Texan, but you can't tell him much.

Microsoft dispels rumors of stealth Windows updates

Not Surprised

It is not the broken code, lazy programming practices, or the phenomenal number of exploits that everyone is getting excited about. It is the attitude of a BIG corporation flaunting its wealth and sneering at its end users for paying top dollar for a poorly written operating system.

It just happened that a point and click interface was just what a suitably numbed workforce needed. And since they were in a hurry to get it to market...

After they realized all of the holes in their code and the amount of work required to fix it...

Data mining and AV were born. Two more lucrative industries that bright-but-too-busy end users could subsidize.

The reason why linux and open source hasn't taken over is because people really do need to make a living. Maybe they could live with less, but who would do that willingly? And certainly not if they have a family to provide for.

Now, if the world, collectively, more or less, stopped and asked themselves: "Why are we making all of these widgets and who exactly is benefitting from them?"

The answer to that question might provide some progress as a civilization because if you weren't born in the back seat of a Rolls Royce then you will probably never own one.

Since M$ has clearly overstepped their legal rights, why not file a class action lawsuit? Count me in.

Dell's Linux sleight of hand

menage a trois!

Even less expensive is to build one. A little research, some shopping and two afternoons to put it together and install whatever OS one desires.

In fact, install two or three! These days, I would think, multiple OSes is a prerequisite.