comp operating systems...which is better for pc?

saltycurofaseadog · #1 06/14/2004, 03:11 PM

Tired of doing system restore on my comp. Running windows xp system and all it takes is one virus to compromise the whole system... As of right now I have elimenated 17 trojans and malware but still have 9 trojans and hijackers running the system. Have tried all the antiviruses I can find to remove them but left with the above mentioned nine they cannot remove. Even spybot search and destroy was affected.. So.... enough is enough, any other os That would be better to use , like linux? or...?

saltycurofaseadog · #2 06/14/2004, 03:12 PM

Oh forgot to mention.... two teenage boys so go figure

oz · #3 06/14/2004, 03:39 PM

You can always try Linux. Has somewhat of a learning curve but you won't have to put up with what you're doing everyday.

sfaribault · #4 06/14/2004, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by saltycurofaseadog
Tired of doing system restore on my comp. Running windows xp system and all it takes is one virus to compromise the whole system... As of right now I have elimenated 17 trojans and malware but still have 9 trojans and hijackers running the system. Have tried all the antiviruses I can find to remove them but left with the above mentioned nine they cannot remove. Even spybot search and destroy was affected.. So.... enough is enough, any other os That would be better to use , like linux? or...?

I would have created an account that is very limited, then they can not mess things up. When they complain, tell them to buy there own.

saltycurofaseadog · #5 06/14/2004, 04:14 PM

an account sounds good have that set up on the other comp on wireless network and no viruses, but still looking for new operating software thats not as hack prone as windows and can still operate most files one would find (media)

M0E · #6 06/14/2004, 08:51 PM

I dont get it. Ive had my computer for years and not one problem. Since buying it, ive had NAV (auto-protect) enabled, and it seems to do the job. I also scan my system fully every week, and update like mad. Plus i scan for spyware as well.

System restore is BS, unless you disabled it before downloading stuff. This way the virus WONT infect your backup, making the restore usefull in the first place. If i were you, id re format your hard drive, and make sure to buy an antivirus cd. Which antiviruses did you use? Hopefully you didnt download 'trials'. Antiviruses are more effective preventing viruses, than actually getting rid of them after your comp is infected.

So, Reformat and get Norton or something similar.

If you insist however, Linux is a good alternative.

Good luck.
M.N

saltycurofaseadog · #7 06/15/2004, 08:50 AM

running norton antivirus loaded from disk. It only gets about 2 or 3 of the viruses, trojan's,malware,etc. panda online scan finds and removes 75 % of the rest and housecalls finds the rest but can't always remove.

NTidd · #8 06/15/2004, 11:18 AM

You might look into SuSE, if I could afford to I would buy an apple.

/I'm still running XP

beerguy · #9 06/15/2004, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NTidd
if I could afford to I would buy an apple.

Pre OSX - Apple pretty much sucked.

Post OSX - Apple absolutely rocks; I'm never going back.

NTidd · #10 06/15/2004, 11:25 AM

Yeh, I don't know macs that well but from what I've seen I like.

thrlride · #11 06/15/2004, 11:26 AM

Isn't it true that there are only so many viruses because most of the units out there are PC based? Meaning, if Apple had 95% of the market wouldn't the viruses be there?

zenguitar · #12 06/15/2004, 11:31 AM

You could try Lindows. Costs less than XP and will run on your PC.
www.lindows.com I have not tried it so I can't speak from experience but might be a worthwhile alternative to explore.

Personally I would just password protect the PC so the kids could not use it all or build them a cheap PC they can mess up all they want.

zenguitar · #13 06/15/2004, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Isn't it true that there are only so many viruses because most of the units out there are PC based? Meaning, if Apple had 95% of the market wouldn't the viruses be there?

With no doubt what so ever.

beerguy · #14 06/15/2004, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Isn't it true that there are only so many viruses because most of the units out there are PC based? Meaning, if Apple had 95% of the market wouldn't the viruses be there?

Possibly, but it's deeper then that. Today, 75% of the servers on the Internet run on Unix. Using your logic, there should be tons of unix viruses attacking those systems.

There aren't any. An occasional exploit, but no viruses.

It has to do with how the OS is constructed. With Windows, even trivial applications have to touch system memory space. That interaction is automatically trusted and therefore very easily exploited.

With *nix operating systems, there is no such trust and each process and file must be authenticated separately. Mac OSX is based on FreeBSD Unix, which was certified as the most secure OS Internet operating system on the market.

saltycurofaseadog · #15 06/15/2004, 12:33 PM

so linux might be the one to go with?

pnosko · #16 06/15/2004, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by beerguy
Possibly, but it's deeper then that. Today, 75% of the servers on the Internet run on Unix. Using your logic, there should be tons of unix viruses attacking those systems.

Not a Comparing the corporate user base to the home user base is a tad unfair. If home users were 75% Linux, you'd definitely see more attempts and successful exploits. But no where near as many as on Windows. Open Source is just plain cleaner code; more eyes see it.

pnosko · #17 06/15/2004, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by saltycurofaseadog
so linux might be the one to go with?

Go get yourself the latest SuSE release and give it a shot.

saltycurofaseadog · #18 06/15/2004, 01:46 PM

SuSe I assume is linux? or some other code?

pnosko · #19 06/15/2004, 02:00 PM

SuSE is a flavor of Linux, recently purchased (I believe) by Novell. It has been more polished IMHO than Red Hat for a number of versions now, especially the installation. You can download it for free. If you pay for the packaged version in a store, you're paying for the pretty box and some support. SuSE has been a good bit cheaper than Red Hat too. The only drawback to me is that, being a (formerly) German company, the support pages seemed, well, more foreign to me than, say, Red Hat's.

beerguy · #20 06/15/2004, 02:05 PM

This is another option, especially if you're new to Linux.

http://wwws.sun.com/software/javadesktopsystem/

Sun has created a bundle that consists of SuSE, Open Office and Ximian Evolution.

We demo'd a few systems at a recent technology show - it was very well received. It's all stuff that you can get seperately but at $50 it comes with a year of support and upgrades; it's a good deal.

pnosko · #21 06/15/2004, 02:35 PM

I'd spend $50 on that without hesitation. AAMOF, I have a spare PIII-733 and will spend $50 on that. Thanks for the heads-up, beerguy.