Re: Warning! Virus!

Dec 31, 2004 2 Replies



> >My Linux computer does not have any ad/spy-aware and anti
> >virus software installed, yet I don't see any harm to my
> >Linux computer after visiting the website. So, what's the
> >deal?
>
> The Commodore 128 that I use to access the web (yes, I have
> Slakware Linux and Windows 2000 boxes, but the C128 is more
> fun and boots in seconds) also does not have any adware/spyware
> or antivirus software installed. In fact, I see one common
> factor to all of these viruses: Microsoft operating systems...
>
>
>

What I don't understand is why it's not obvious to some people that if 95% of people use a particular OS, 95% of the viruses, spyware, etc will be for that OS. The OS itself has little to do with it, the biggest factor is the users themselves, both in number and habbits. A secure OS can be made insecure by sloppy usage, an insecure OS can be made reasonably secure with diligence. As always there's a tradeoff between convenience/usability and security. A bank vault door with a time lock as the only entrance to a house would be very secure, but how long would it take for the typical user to prop it open in the name of convenience?

Yes, it's hard to corrupt a ROM based OS!

OTOH, the C-128 allows for direct access of things like the keyboard buffer registers, and allows for PEEKS and POKES direct to specific memory locations. I suspect that if some malicious dude (an Ohio Scientific owner with a grudge?) gave a rat's ass about bothering the microscopic C-128 user base, he could march in, play a tune on your floppy drive track-zero stop, and reformat whatever storage media you have.

But maybe you're actually running in the CP/M mode?

Ed wb6wsn

The big player is targetted...why target .0001% (probably less) of the online population?

Do you actually believe that a virus can't be coded for a C 128?

Tom

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