ReactOS selling computers in stores

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PurpleGurl
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Re: ReactOS selling computers in stores

Post by PurpleGurl »

milon wrote:That's a VERY unsafe practice, especially with a Windows platform. (I could make an analogy relating viruses and human behavior, but I shall refrain.) Also, how would you know that you don't have any viruses? You have no way of detecting them. I really hope you don't do anything financial with that computer, like online shopping or banking. o_O
I know which human behavior you were eluding to, so wear protective gear when you do that so you won't catch anything. Now Windows is much more secure than it used to be. Windows 7 is pretty good on it, and it contains a bidirectional firewall. They finally got the warning message of Steve Gibson and other security experts that outgoing firewalls have value too. Incoming helps reduce hacking attempts, while outgoing helps reduce information leakage and reduce it from installing more stuff from the web, if by chance malware does get in. That is not a guaranteed solution, since malware writers work to hone their skills.

Also, a lot of ISPs block the worst abused ports and try to stealth most of the rest. So that is a firewall too in a lot of cases, in addition to the NAT routers that so many run or are given by their ISP. Then there is Windows Firewall. So you may have up to 3 firewalls that you didn't specifically install (the ISP filters, your router, and Windows Firewall).

Also, since XP, there has been DEP. That helps prevent certain types of attacks, but it functions best with the right hardware. In 64-bit mode or 32-bit PAE mode, the CPU itself is incapable of running certain types of code (assuming the no-execute feature is correctly implemented in the OS and software). Again, this is no magic bullet, but it certainly reduces the attack surface.

Then a lot of "bareback" computing can be done if you avoid certain sites and apps. I had a friend who kept getting stuff under XP. It turned out she was going to porn sites and running file-sharing programs. Also, the Pentium 4 lacks the no-execute instruction. I tend not to run AV programs and haven't had problems in years either. Also, I make various tweaks, like disabling all network stuff I don't need, and manually inserting DNS servers I prefer. Since I run only one machine, there is no need for file and printer sharing, the messenger service, or any of that to be enabled or running.

Often, you can get by with disabling Scheduled Tasks, as it tends to keep ports open. Instead, someone could add the RunIdleTasks command manually or add it to a boot entry. That way, the prefetcher will still work (since the scheduler is what does the maintenance for the prefetcher, despite having no entries for it - hard coded).
Antivirus is beyond the scope of the ReactOS project. The project aims to create an operating system that is binary compatible with Windows NT. The goal is that you'll be able to install any Windows anti-virus software on ROS such as Avast!, AVG, Norton, etc. The same likely goes for firewall software, although newer versions of Windows have some level of firewall ability so ROS may one day have a mild firewall ability too.
I do wonder what would happen if an AV could be OS-specific and tied in at such a deep level that malware couldn't tamper with it. In the more bulky AV programs, about all you have to do to infect it is disable the "watchdog" or "supervisor" service for the entire package, change the registry start bits in case it is set to reload, kill the apps connected to if they don't end on their own, and then run your own infectious code. Of course, to do it like Microsoft, they usually automatically run the latest copy of Windows Defender. It isn't everything, but it scans for the worst ones that are still around, and probably only scans within the OS files. In a way, it is like bathing once a month. Still, that is better than doing it annually or not at all.
Maybe your system is underclocked? The last computer I build had a 2GHz processor, but it was set to run at 1.6GHz (I think) by default. A little BIOS tweaking was all I needed to run the system like I wanted. =)
Keep in mind that Intel stuff seems to be the leader at the moment. I think the latest AMD stuff is better than the Pentium named chips, but they don't hold a candle to Core i7 and newer. Of the AMD stuff, the AMD FX-8120 Eight-Core is about the best bang for the buck. However, the latest Xeon can outperform it about 2.5:1, according to Passmark (if you don't mind paying over $2K, though 16 threads are nice).

Another thing of note is the power management stuff. If you want maximum performance, turn a lot of that off. Windows 7 will drop your CPU to 10% or whatever by default until it is in demand, and it will fall back on the PCIe lines, so if you have the latest PCIe 3.x video card and bus, it may fall back to 1-4 lanes at 1.x speed until you run games. Mine still won't go past 8 lanes for some reason, but it will go into PCIe 3.x mode. I think that is the power supply issue. I'm using an ATX connector in an EPS socket (which is allowable depending on the board design unless the wires get hot), so the PCIe might not be getting the voltages to come to full bus width (which is a good way to do it, to split the load across the wires and power different parts of the bus). I will need to do something about that soon since the PS fan is already starting to fail (hey, cheap case and PS combo that is geared more to AMD motherboards).
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Black_Fox
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Re: ReactOS selling computers in stores

Post by Black_Fox »

PurpleGurl wrote:Then a lot of "bareback" computing can be done if you avoid certain sites
The last time someone told this our teacher of computer security, he laughed him in the face :) E.g. If there's a forum on the site, it can be exploited to distribute malware (this happened a few times on my favourite compression forum) even if the site and its intentions are clean.
However, I agree that it is more likely to infect the computer on porn/warez sites and such.
PurpleGurl
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Re: ReactOS selling computers in stores

Post by PurpleGurl »

Black_Fox wrote:
PurpleGurl wrote:Then a lot of "bareback" computing can be done if you avoid certain sites
The last time someone told this our teacher of computer security, he laughed him in the face :) E.g. If there's a forum on the site, it can be exploited to distribute malware (this happened a few times on my favourite compression forum) even if the site and its intentions are clean.
However, I agree that it is more likely to infect the computer on porn/warez sites and such.
I don't know why you think I like to debate. I don't. As for computer teachers, a number shouldn't be, and like a lot of professors (most of whom have left-wing views which push them to be bullies), they can be abrasive and arrogant. That is not a good learning environment.

Yes, sites can be exploited, but again, IE and others have become more secure over the years, as long as you don't strip the security settings out. I once got hit through a Google ad after I relaxed the browser settings to get rid of warnings - the warnings were there for a reason. That was before Google was much more careful in what it allowed. Now they have gotten into political correctness and allowing only certain viewpoints. Have US citizens ever seen a pro-life ad, an ad again certain sexual behaviors/lifestyles, or an ad supporting Romney from Google? Chances are, they won't. But they are also much more careful on unsafe ads and malware. Hey it hurts their reputation when they send out someone else's viruses and stuff.

So if some jerk you were exposed to wants to laugh, let him. It is true that a collection of user behaviors can increase your chances of safety. It is not foolproof, but certainly better than nothing. It is like in the other arena alluded to. You would avoid getting dates from people selling themselves on street corners, people with multiple partners, or people who are covered with sores. That is not to say you are safe, since most who are sick of STDs appear "healthy," but reducing certain high-risk populations certainly helps. Of course, that should be a 2nd or 3rd line defense, since even more reliable protections are not foolproof. So an accumulative approach to security should be taken. And either in sexuality, property security, or computers, no protections will stop someone determined to take what they want.
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Black_Fox
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Re: ReactOS selling computers in stores

Post by Black_Fox »

I may have used an inappropriate word then, because the guy really knows something and is no jerk at all. It was fun even for the "victim". As for security, I originally had an analogy in mind around the lines "I go to this grocery store every day and nothing ever happened to me, therefore it is secure *roof collapses*", but the another one works as well too.
PurpleGurl
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Re: ReactOS selling computers in stores

Post by PurpleGurl »

Black_Fox wrote:I may have used an inappropriate word then, because the guy really knows something and is no jerk at all. It was fun even for the "victim". As for security, I originally had an analogy in mind around the lines "I go to this grocery store every day and nothing ever happened to me, therefore it is secure *roof collapses*", but the another one works as well too.
I got you.
classicgamelover85
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Re: ReactOS selling computers in stores

Post by classicgamelover85 »

Z98 wrote:Word of advice, if you're going to badmouth a piece of technology, be prepared to defend your position well or be prepared to get ripped a new one.

Yeah but i never said what brand it is... so my hands are clean :lol:

If I were to go into a grocery store where the roof may possibly collapse, I'll just always remember to drive into the store in my armored grocery cart. lol.

I'm not worried about viruses. It may sound foolish to some, but there isn't anything on this computer worth stealing. All that is on a computer that I never have connected to the internet. Don't like paying for AV. I use comodo when I do use AV. But this one usually has nothing installed. For 3 years i've been A-okay. But i did go ahead and install comodo. AV are NOT 100 percent great. Just cuz you got an AV software installed don't mean your safe. And that is a fact. :!:

Its important to note: Hackers work just as hard as Microsoft, MAC, and all of the others who try to keep people safe.

I know how viruses work. I know how to make them. I've made a few just for fun. On my own pc's I'd run them and they'd mess'em all up. Just format your drive and re-install windows. Don't forget to take out the memory to clear it, and the battery on the main board to clear the system totally. That's what I do. Viruses need to be stored somewhere and if they can't be stored somewhere, then they can't survive.
Last edited by classicgamelover85 on Fri Oct 26, 2012 6:45 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Z98
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Re: ReactOS selling computers in stores

Post by Z98 »

Blackhats don't need to steal something from you to make use of a compromised computer. They'll gladly take another volunteer for their botnets.
classicgamelover85
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Re: ReactOS selling computers in stores

Post by classicgamelover85 »

Z98 wrote:Blackhats don't need to steal something from you to make use of a compromised computer. They'll gladly take another volunteer for their botnets.
I don't agree. A computer has a brain. Eliminate the memory of the brain and redo it, and those botnets won't exist anymore if they're not remembered. Its what I've been doing anytime I have ever run into a problem--when and IF I did. Rarely, but honestly, it does happen from time to time. I'd get that windows defender virus. It'd do its crazy junk, and I'd just force my computer to shut down, slap in the windows xp cd, then do a full format. I'd always take out the memory and bios battery to be sure the brain is cleared. Then put it all back and reinstall windows. No more virus. I admit, not everyone is willing to go through the trouble I do to get rid of a virus... but I don't mind ;) I'd rather go through the trouble than pay for a virus protection software. This method works flawlessly for me so far.

ReactOS should still release its own virus protection software. I'm curious of the UI they'd go with. What it would look like. I like comodo's UI its pretty :) I like UI's that are appealing to me.
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Black_Fox
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Re: ReactOS selling computers in stores

Post by Black_Fox »

1) About the easy brain erase:
1a) There's been a demo of virus stored in a MacBook battery. That's just to widen your horizon, it's very unlikely to happen on heterogenous desktops.
1b) If you reinstall your computer and catch the same virus within a few hours/days because of the same security hole, what's the point in spending so much time?

2) About the viruses:
2a) How do you find out your machine has been made another zombie in massive botnet if it operates completely correctly and Defender says nothing? :-)
2b) If you find out, how do you plan to stop it with XP's unidirectional firewall?
classicgamelover85
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Re: ReactOS selling computers in stores

Post by classicgamelover85 »

Black_Fox wrote:1) About the easy brain erase:
1a) There's been a demo of virus stored in a MacBook battery. That's just to widen your horizon, it's very unlikely to happen on heterogenous desktops.
1b) If you reinstall your computer and catch the same virus within a few hours/days because of the same security hole, what's the point in spending so much time?

2) About the viruses:
2a) How do you find out your machine has been made another zombie in massive botnet if it operates completely correctly and Defender says nothing? :-)
2b) If you find out, how do you plan to stop it with XP's unidirectional firewall?
By time that ever happens, it will be time to upgrade to a better machine anyways... so. If a virus stores itself in a battery, throw the darn thing out and buy a new one on the net. Ebay for example sells many types of batteries for many brands and models of laptop, netbook, lifebook, whatever. Where ever that bugger virus is hiding, just take the part out and replace it. Bios Chip? I learned how to replace those a buddy of mine showed me. Its a touchy process though, but not impossible. Anywhere the virus can hide, can always be replaced. Then that virus will find its way to the garbage heap.

Comodo works fine.
Last edited by classicgamelover85 on Sat Nov 03, 2012 7:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Z98
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Re: ReactOS selling computers in stores

Post by Z98 »

Assuming you're aware the virus is there in the first place. A good botnet or trojan does its best to hide from you. Scamware is the easiest to detect because it declares its presence. Other viruses, not so much.
classicgamelover85
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Re: ReactOS selling computers in stores

Post by classicgamelover85 »

Z98 wrote:Assuming you're aware the virus is there in the first place. A good botnet or trojan does its best to hide from you. Scamware is the easiest to detect because it declares its presence. Other viruses, not so much.
Okay, so lets just assume its hiding and I don't know its there. So what now? Is it going to sneakily steal my credit card info? Or my bank account? Maybe it will manage to steal one embarrassing photo of me at last years Christmas party! :lol:

My point is, I'm not worried. I don't worry about anything really. Worring don't do much but minus some time to a person's life span. No. Comodo works fine. I just installed it like last week or something. So, I'll just be using this as virus protection for now.
heat33330
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Re: ReactOS selling computers in stores

Post by heat33330 »

Windows is more secure than Mac, but Microsoft doesnt know how to configure it
LOL!!! Good joke!!! :lol:
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Re: ReactOS selling computers in stores

Post by MadWolf »

PurpleGurl wrote:Windows 7 is pretty good on it, and it contains a bidirectional firewall
windows xp sp2 firewall was turned on by default but it is only inbound blocking windows vista / 7 firewall are better but can be disabled

http://www.windowsecurity.com/articles/ ... ewall.html


most good antivirus software can scan the boot sector to remove virus most viruses are written to run on windows so you can boot a Linux live distribution to remove the virus
BIOS viruses are extremely difficult to get rid of, but fortunately, they are very rare.
http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4809843_re ... virus.html
Black_Fox wrote:There's been a demo of virus stored in a MacBook battery. That's just to widen your horizon, it's very unlikely to happen on heterogenous desktops.
there is a tool to close this security hole
At the Black Hat security conference in August, Miller plans to present his research and also unveil a fix for anyone worrying over the state of their MacBook battery. The tool, named “Caulkgun”, will change the battery firmware password to a random string, preventing hackers from using the default passwords to infect the battery controller. Miller has also contacted Apple and Texas Instruments to notify them of the issue.
http://www.neowin.net/news/macbook-batt ... -dangerous
classicgamelover85 wrote:Okay, so lets just assume its hiding and I don't know its there. So what now?
if you are keeping your os up to date then the M.S.R.T Malicious Software Removal Tool may remove it when you update your os
classicgamelover85
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Re: ReactOS selling computers in stores

Post by classicgamelover85 »

I uninstalled my AV again. Slows the computer down. LOL well anyways. This is how I sink my boat, how do you sink yours? Nobody can claim they've been without computer problems, even if they had AV software installed, everyone has sunken their ship before--either by accident or on purpose. Come on now, lets confess... be honest.
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