I need to vent... Winblows SUCKS!

[Chuckles]

I just reformatted for the second time in 3 months! A few months ago, I found keystroking software. Spybot removed it, but I reformatted anyway. It had been a good year since I did it last. All was well until yesterday. I was defragmenting my hard drive when I see it move a video file with an offensive name. It moves a few more and I realize IT'S P0RN! I find p0rn offensive. Right away, I searched my system for it. I couldn't find it for the life of me. I fired up Spybot and it removed 30 pieces of spyware. I still couldn't find the p0rn. I did the extreme - I reformatted AGAIN! I wouldn't be able to sit at my computer without being disgusted if I hadn't. It gets worse, though. I lost reports I was working on! I could have SWORN I put them in my back-up drive (I remember copy and pasting the file!), but they're not there!

Oh yeah, and Winblows screwed up my boot loader as well. I'm going to have to repair it.

You Mac users are so lucky.

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

The dream is to have PC hardware running a Mac OS. Thats my dream and yes windows does kinda bite.

 

[floriflee]

Duuuuude.... sorry for your loss. That sucks!

 

[GoCubsGo]

windows is not the cause of the spyware. Sure, it's more vulnerable, but it's not the reason why you have spyware. You have spyware because it was tossed on your PC by going to some site or downloading some program--perhaps some p2p file share program.
Your own choice to reformat is exactly that, a choice. With some creative searching you could have found that porn video...I know it would have taken time, but really.

Mac's aren't fool proof either. I know this from being in a completely windows environment and then switching to a mac. I've copied things onto a backup drive only to find out that they're not there or somehow they're corrupt. Sure, my computing experience is better on a mac thus far, but it's only been a year. I didn't have nearly as many complaints about windows until I learned just enough to get myself and my pc into trouble.

I find it amusing at best that windows gets so much bad press around here. Yes I get that it's a mac site, but really now. There is a sort of fanboy cult thing that goes on where people get a mac and suddenly windows is the devil.

 

[greatdevourer]

The dream is to have PC hardware running a Mac OS. Thats my dream and yes windows does kinda bite.

Then why not do it? My Opteron runs it quite nicely

 

[Chuckles]

windows is not the cause of the spyware. Sure, it's more vulnerable, but it's not the reason why you have spyware. You have spyware because it was tossed on your PC by going to some site or downloading some program--perhaps some p2p file share program.
Your own choice to reformat is exactly that, a choice. With some creative searching you could have found that porn video...I know it would have taken time, but really.

Mac's aren't fool proof either. I know this from being in a completely windows environment and then switching to a mac. I've copied things onto a backup drive only to find out that they're not there or somehow they're corrupt. Sure, my computing experience is better on a mac thus far, but it's only been a year. I didn't have nearly as many complaints about windows until I learned just enough to get myself and my pc into trouble.

I find it amusing at best that windows gets so much bad press around here. Yes I get that it's a mac site, but really now. There is a sort of fanboy cult thing that goes on where people get a mac and suddenly windows is the devil.

Actually, I personally believe it is. I use Firefox for my web browsing, Thunderbird for my email, run Spybot every week, make AVG scan every email and download, etc. I'm even behind a firewall router AND Zone Alarm Pro. I've never had any of these problems with Linux. Oh and I don't use P2P.

 

[sebisworld]

It moves a few more and I realize IT'S P0RN!

Could you upload that video somewhere? I might be able to help you better when I know what you are talking about.

 

[Chuckles]

Could you upload that video somewhere? I might be able to help you better when I know what you are talking about.

O_O LMAO!

 

[Timepass]

Actually, I personally believe it is. I use Firefox for my web browsing, Thunderbird for my email, run Spybot every week, make AVG scan every email and download, etc. I'm even behind a firewall router AND Zone Alarm Pro. I've never had any of these problems with Linux. Oh and I don't use P2P.

well based on the list that you just made it is clearly your fault. You downloaded something and installed it because firefox and thunderbird do not have access to anything at the OS leval. Your problems are users stupidity plan and simple.

Also spybot misses a lot of stuff.

Lets see I am running over a year since my last reformate on my windows box and I have not hand a single problem.

It not windows fault it is the users fault. Yes windows is easier to cause the those problem and on top of that 99% of the stuff even made targets windows because it is what everyone uses. Yeah it easier and on top of that it is what over 90% of the computers out there run. Why speed large amount of time trying to hack a linux or OSX when you can get over 90% of the people with only one program. Money wise I would write windows only because even if it took me 30% of the time to get lets say OSX I would still make it for windows because I would make it up in raw numbers.

Either way it is user fault. It is YOUR FAULT that you computer has those problem. You clearly downloaded something and installed it. Also I would recomend running the M$ antispy where program You will be admazed at the ammount of stuff spybot and adware miss that it will pick up.

 

[Chuckles]

well based on the list that you just made it is clearly your fault. You downloaded something and installed it because firefox and thunderbird do not have access to anything at the OS leval. Your problems are users stupidity plan and simple.

Also spybot misses a lot of stuff.

Lets see I am running over a year since my last reformate on my windows box and I have not hand a single problem.

It not windows fault it is the users fault. Yes windows is easier to cause the those problem and on top of that 99% of the stuff even made targets windows because it is what everyone uses. Yeah it easier and on top of that it is what over 90% of the computers out there run. Why speed large amount of time trying to hack a linux or OSX when you can get over 90% of the people with only one program. Money wise I would write windows only because even if it took me 30% of the time to get lets say OSX I would still make it for windows because I would make it up in raw numbers.

Either way it is user fault. It is YOUR FAULT that you computer has those problem. You clearly downloaded something and installed it. Also I would recomend running the M$ antispy where program You will be admazed at the ammount of stuff spybot and adware miss that it will pick up.

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree. I've gotten at least 60% less spyware (and no more viruses) since I've stopped using Internet Explorer. I like Spybot a heck of a lot better then that MS anti-spyware stuff. And what did I download and install that did this? I only use well known programs and most of them are on CD. I guess it varies from user-to-user.

 

[plinden]

I can't see myself agreeing with Timespass often, but I'm with him on this one. If you have anti-spyware, anti-virus, a router and Zone alarm, use Firefox and thunderbird, and don't open attachments, you can't possibly get viruses or serious spyware (tracking cookies don't really count) without user interaction. Even with Windows.

I ran a windows machine for two years with only a router between it and the internet, and running Spybot and scanning with AVG only once every two months, and nothing got onto my PC.

If you didn't do anything to cause this, maybe someone else did. Does anyone else have access to your PC?

And use IE only for windows update, Firefox for general web use, and Opera for porn.

 

[Chuckles]

I can't see myself agreeing with Timespass often, but I'm with him on this one. If you have anti-spyware, anti-virus, a router and Zone alarm, use Firefox and thunderbird, and don't open attachments, you can't possibly get viruses or serious spyware (tracking cookies don't really count) without user interaction. Even with Windows.

I ran a windows machine for two years with only a router between it and the internet, and running Spybot and scanning with AVG only once every two months, and nothing got onto my PC.

If you didn't do anything to cause this, maybe someone else did. Does anyone else have access to your PC?

And use IE only for windows update, Firefox for general web use, and Opera for porn.

As far as I know, I'm the only one that uses this PC. I'm a geek - the Unix command line feels more natural then the GUI. I know what's spyware and what's not. It could have been a friend. I have friends over almost every weekend and they use this PC sometimes. None of them are geeks, so instead of clicking on Firefox, they use Internet Explorer. I have a gut feeling about where this p0rn came from. A friend was showing me Family Guy clips (through IE) and the site had a TON of porn advertisements. The video was literally surrounded with them. I had a feeling that it was going to plant something. Guess it's my fault for not telling him to use Firefox or making sure he doesn't go to sites that could put spyware on my PC. I've learned my lession.

 

[miniConvert]

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree. I've gotten at least 60% less spyware (and no more viruses) since I've stopped using Internet Explorer. I like Spybot a heck of a lot better then that MS anti-spyware stuff. And what did I download and install that did this? I only use well known programs and most of them are on CD. I guess it varies from user-to-user.

I use Internet Explorer extensively. I have Windows Defender, Sophos Anti-Virus and my Windows firewall enabled. There's also a firewall on the router. I regularly download and install programs and documents.

I've never had a virus or any spyware.

It's a common-sense thing, it has to be.

 

[Abulia]

I use Internet Explorer extensively. I have Windows Defender, Sophos Anti-Virus and my Windows firewall enabled. There's also a firewall on the router. I regularly download and install programs and documents.

I've never had a virus or any spyware.

It's a common-sense thing, it has to be.

QTF. Heck, I didn't even bother with anti-virus and just used the desktop firewall and the IP firewall on my router. Computer user for over 20 years, never had a virus.

However, with that said, when the Intel PowerMacs come out and I create a dual-boot partition to run some Windows apps/games, I may remove IE entirely. I don't particularly care if the Windows partition dies from something, just as long as it doesn't take OS X with it...

Hopefully by then we can dual boot Windows from an external drive; that'd solve all my problems.

What's that saying, "An ounce of prevention..."?

 

[Timepass]

As far as I know, I'm the only one that uses this PC. I'm a geek - the Unix command line feels more natural then the GUI. I know what's spyware and what's not. It could have been a friend. I have friends over almost every weekend and they use this PC sometimes. None of them are geeks, so instead of clicking on Firefox, they use Internet Explorer. I have a gut feeling about where this p0rn came from. A friend was showing me Family Guy clips (through IE) and the site had a TON of porn advertisements. The video was literally surrounded with them. I had a feeling that it was going to plant something. Guess it's my fault for not telling him to use Firefox or making sure he doesn't go to sites that could put spyware on my PC. I've learned my lession.

You know it is really easy to remove access to IE. First off you tell windows not to display the IE icon on the destop and not to have IE in the quicklaunch bar. and if you want to go one step farther you can make another firefox shortcut and make its icon look like IE. best way to do it is just not make the IE icon very visible.

Either way you just answered your own question. User error and user stupidity. As for thinking you are the only PC geek here that kind of wrong. There are quite a few of us sitting around here who are pretty high in the geek side of things.

 

[jefhatfield]

windows is not the cause of the spyware. Sure, it's more vulnerable, but it's not the reason why you have spyware. You have spyware because it was tossed on your PC by going to some site or downloading some program--perhaps some p2p file share program.
Your own choice to reformat is exactly that, a choice. With some creative searching you could have found that porn video...I know it would have taken time, but really.

Mac's aren't fool proof either. I know this from being in a completely windows environment and then switching to a mac. I've copied things onto a backup drive only to find out that they're not there or somehow they're corrupt. Sure, my computing experience is better on a mac thus far, but it's only been a year. I didn't have nearly as many complaints about windows until I learned just enough to get myself and my pc into trouble.

I find it amusing at best that windows gets so much bad press around here. Yes I get that it's a mac site, but really now. There is a sort of fanboy cult thing that goes on where people get a mac and suddenly windows is the devil.

that is one of the most intelligent things i have ever read here on the subject

i am primarily a mac user first and a pc user second at home, but as a technician, the opposite is true but not because windows is so bad per se and it crashes and terrifies customers, but due much more to the fact that most of my clients are windows users since most people and businesses are windows users in general

from what i have seen from os 7.5 to os x, i think there has been a consistent leap in quality, but windows back in the windows 95 days (when it was truly bad compared to the mac os) has made the bigger improvement and it could be said by many cross platform users that windows xp is as good as os x....too many mac zealots only remember the worst of the windows days ten or more years ago and have never spent any real time on windows xp to see how much better it is than the older versions of windows

if the public was given the chance, if never having seen windows xp or os x, and both microsoft and apple were equally funded, i am very sure os x would be the choice because its superiority is in its simpler and more intuitive design

there was a time back in the earliest days of os x when i avoided it and either used os 9 or windows 98 while the early os x adopters were pulling their hair out

 

[greatdevourer]

However, with that said, when the Intel PowerMacs come out and I create a dual-boot partition to run some Windows apps/games, I may remove IE entirely.

Be warned - many things in Windows will cease to function if you do this, the most notable being Explorer