There is a nice 'open source' web browser available at http://www.mozilla.org/
I like Mozilla and use it. You can also utilize a great number of different themes at http://themes.mozdev.org/ to customize the look of the web browser. Also, there is a bleeding edge browser called Firefox that I use at work, also 'open source' and available at the Mozilla website. Give them a try and you may find, as I do, that you prefer them over micro$oft ie.
Linux is still not for everyone, but it's getting there. Power users can find some good linux distributions at http://www.distrowatch.com/ I do run linux and like the operating system so much that I won't use windows, and these microsoft targeted type of virus attacks won't affect linux.
Maybe this is silly question as I am not all that extremely computer suavy, but is there a way to test drive linux? What is it you like so much better about it?
What are some good firewalls and anti-virus programs? I was using one that Adrian suggested awhile back but it does not work well with Windows XP. I was always getting the blue screen of death so I uninstalled it. No problems now but I feel vulnerable.
Of course!
Right on time; a new version of Knoppix was just released. It is a live Linux distro. Boot from the CD and it (should) work(s) right-away, without having to install anything on the HD!
http://www.knoppix.org/
Give them some time though; since thousands of people are "slashdoting" (rushing to the website to download the ISO) their website... Should be ok in a day or 2.
fallnangel77,
Nagual is right. You can test drive linux without installing it on your hard drive by using knoppix. Give it a try.
What I like about linux is the many options and choices in configuring the way I want it to look and behave. I run Libranet, a Debian GNU Linux system, and find it to be most stable. No freezes, hangs, or crashes...ever. With the distro there is a ton of 'open source' software that comes free. If I want something else I can download it, also free.
I use WinXP at work and make the comparisons every day. Bottom line is that I like the freedom I have with linux.
Look over some of the websites such as the Distrowatch one, or at sites like Linux Central- http://linuxcentral.com/_v3/
Very best,
Thank you both. I will check it out.
I have had to fix a bunch of computers at my school thanks to this worm. My home computer seems to have had the appropriate patch for quite a while now.
I heard that this worm works in almost the same way as the Blaster in that it gives you a timer telling you when your computer will shutdown. This one is apparently only 30 seconds, or else all the rumors I've heard are false.
Here's a trick: The timer runs on your windows clock. Set it back 1 hour and you'll have plenty of time to update your machine and prevent further damage. Once you finish make sure you clear every trace of the worm after the patch with antivirus software and the like.
~Squeek
Thanks again for suggesting mozilla, Nick. I tried it out last night. Not only do I like the themes but I think that it performs better than Internet Explorer. The only problem I found with it so far is that Astral Pulse forums does not display properly. Nothing bad, you can still get around the forums fine. This is the only site that it has done this on for me. Do you run into this a lot?
Hi fallnangel77,
On the computer at work they have WinXP however I use Mozilla Firefox 0.8 (which is a Mozilla 1.6 browser). There is the large white space at the top of the Astral Pulse page. I know others have had this same thing as it was reported in our 'Forum bugs' section.
However, on my desktop at home I use linux and Mozilla 1.5 and my laptop also linux and Mozilla 1.4.1 and in both cases the Astral Pulse pages render just fine. So I haven't figured out just why it renders with that space on Windows yet, but if I do I'll post a fix. Also, I haven't detected any similar problem with any other website.
Very best,
Nick, is Libranet newbie friendly for one new to Linux?
Hi fallnangel77,
What I like about Libranet is it has a nice installer and uses a very stable Debian system. There is a guide to installation on their website that was pretty straightforward: http://libranet.com/guide/install_guide_2.8.1.html . In my opinion, it is relatively newbie friendly, however not to the extent (or so I've read) of a Xandros or Lycoris. The reason I stayed away from the latter, was because I did want a system that was more 'middle of the road'.
One way to do it is get a relatively inexpensive desktop to use just for Linux. I bought one from IBEX PC online: http://www.ibexpc.com/linuxsystems.html
With their inexpensive 'linux' desktops, it was an easy task to install Libranet. I bought the desktop with no operating system installed, however they will install one of three different ones if you want.
Read some online forums too. There is a nice forum called Linux Questions.Org that I am a member at, and there is some good information there. http://www.linuxquestions.org/ Also, Libranet has their own form which is smaller yet good, although geared just to Libranet http://forum.libranet.com/
You will learn with linux there are three ways of downloading depending on the type of linux distro you have: tar ball (used in Slackware, and some others); rpm (used in Fedora, Red Hat, Mandrake, etc.); and apt-get (used in Debian based systems, although Fedora is now adding an apt-get feature). The last one (apt-get) is the easiest way to go, and that is what Debian uses. Since Libranet is a Debian system, you are able to use apt-get and yet have a more user friendly linux (Libranet).
I use Fedora Core 1 on my laptop which is an rpm based package/download manager which isn't too bad. Eventually, I'll switch my laptop to Debian though.
The nice thing about Linux is that while it's all the same linux kernel, there are many flavors to choose from. The best way to start is with a desktop with linux compatible hardware, such as the IBEX one. Then try out different distros and see what you like. Always read over online reviews and information to give you some ideas such as at DistroWatch. Also, there are a few good books too, and I did a lot of reading at first.
My view is that Linux is the (near) future. It has been building a user base for some time. First, it was strictly for programmers and developers, now power users, and it is more quickly making its way to everyday people. There is also a nice philosophy in the GNU (not Unix) Free Software movement that is a bit counter-culture and appeals to me. You can read about it here: http://www.debian.org/ here: http://www.debian.org/social_contract and here: http://www.debian.org/intro/free
All the best,
Thank you for the info, Nick. I had an idea about the Free Software movement, something I like about it as well. I would check up on it every now and then. It seems like it has come along pretty well, so I would like to check it out now a bit more. So I appreciate pointing me to the sites. What are some good books you mentioned?
Hi fallnangel77,
There has been a history of linux books being written at advanced levels but that is now changing, thankfully. One brand new book that is an excellent starter is: Linux for Non-Geeks. It is written using Fedora (cds included) as an example, yet the book is applicable to all distros. It is a great introduction and I recommend it. Here's the link: http://www.nostarch.com/frameset.php?startat=nongeeks
Another great book I would highly recommend, this time using Debian as an example, is The Linux Cookbook. I have the first edition, and think it is a very helpful book. However, the 2nd edition is being released in June so hold off and wait for that newer edition. Here's the link: http://www.nostarch.com/frameset.php?startat=lcbk2
The above books are good starters. For reference, a great book although a bit more technical is Running Linux, 4th edition from O'Reilly.http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/runux4/
That's all I would recommend for starters. One other thing is that one of the better linux magazines for regular home desktop guys like myself is a magazine from the UK called Linux Format Magazine. I usually find a copy at Barnes & Noble or Borders. It's worth a look if you're interested.
All the best,
Yes, that´s it, a new bad virus that it seems be more quickly to spread, than Msblast.
The simple act of conecting to the net (and use internet expl.) may cause the virus to infect your pc.
Make the windows update, by using the "start" aplication on your pc, in order to protect yourself.
And BTW, do not forget to use a good firewall (like zone alarm-freeware; or zone alarm pro-buy) and to update your antivirus (Norton 2004 it´s good, and Mcfee it is said to be even better).
It is always good to make backups of your files.