Somebody needs to do something about this!

General Topics
1

On the 15th of every month, I boot into Windows to update everything, whether I’ve used Windows the previous month or not.

I just like running a tidy ship so to speak, so this morning was the day…

First, avast wants to update it’s files.

Then, there’s a passel of updates from Microsoft to update Windows security issues.

Once that’s done, the computer needs a reboot, and I have to wait for Grub to load so I can choose to reboot Windows, instead of Linux which is my default OS.

Then, though I didn’t ask it to do so (since I hadn’t been on Windows) Defender insists on doing a scan.

Then, though I don’t plan on running the programs, I update the signatures on:

SpywareBlaster

SpyBot (checksum errors, so I have to download it again from another server).

Ad-Aware

And finally, I update the avast VRDB data base

On my old box, it took over an hour to do all this, which is absolutely ridiculous. Just so you can use Windows?

Give me a break! >:(

(There, I feel better. :))

2

If Windows if for your leisure time, enjoy updating.
I do this with Linux… I’ve update to Kubuntu Feisty Beta… then… imagine… can’t even boot…
Now, after one hour of configuration, just to boot Linux, I’m back to it… 8)

3

Hi Tech,

I get your point, but I don’t use my computer primarily for leisure. I run a business on it, and I do still use a couple of Windows programs, so I keep it around. Besides, I’m not into pictures, music, videos, and games - just work, and stuff like this forum.

I converted to Linux, so I wouldn’t have to screw around with updating virus and spyware programs every day, and whenever I go into Windows, the accumulation of updates you have to do to get to a working copy of Windows, is almost painful. (Today seemed like it was the worse I’ve ever experienced, which is probably why I went off.)

Now, devotees of Windows would say to me, it’s not that bad, if you update everyday. But, I ask the question…

Which hurts worse, to get whacked on the foot with a hammer once a day for a month, or to wait and get whacked on the foot 30 times on one day at the end of the month?

Personally, I would think that getting whacked on the foot every day would be worse, because the fear and anticipation of getting whacked again tomorrow, would probably drive you insane - which is just about where I think most Windows users are now, in dealing with that piece of junk on a daily basis.

Oh, and of course, I’m interested in what happened with your beta copy of Feisty…

But, betas aren’t suppose to work perfectly. I like playing with that stuff too, but until I get another box to replace this one, and keep this one to play with, I don’t download betas. I have to be able to communicate with clients at a moment’s notice, so I only download the final issues of programs, to keep my computer as stable as I possibly can.

4

Right now, tons of broken packages that I must start with the first, repair, uninstall and then a long list of dependencies…
It’s not for leisure time, isn’t it?

I learned the lesson, at least with Linux, no betas anymore.

5

Well, I understand how Linux works pretty well, and I’m pretty comfortable with the terminal, but no, that wouldn’t be fun.

If you’ve already upgraded to a beta, you probably wouldn’t know, that Ubuntu’s been pushing through small updates to libraries, etc. almost daily, with one big one on the kernel earlier this week, getting ready for the big push to 7.04 Final on the 19th.

Edit:

I’d like to try Beryl, but they’re recommending a minimum of 512 meg of RAM, and I only have 384 meg on this box. Have you tried it, and do you like it? I understand it blows away Vista’s aero interface.

6

You can always set Defender so it doesn’t automatically scan. I’m not a big fan of auto scans, I like to see what’s going on.

7

Easy as mud. ;D

8

For others reading this thread…

These are screenshots of Beryl on Ubuntu 7.04:

http://tech.sparkymat.net/?p=12

9

Bob,

If I uncheck automatic scanning, and update manually, the real time protection still is working when I’m on Windows, if I keep that box checked. Right?

10

Yes. The buttom for the real-time protection is a little bellow in that window of settings.

11

O.K., thanks.

12

When I first read this post, I kind of agreed with the sentiment, but then I thought about it a bit more. I have 4 different systems running at home, one Windows XP Home, one Xubuntu Linux, one Windows XP/Ubuntu dual boot and a Fedora server. Both Windows boxes get very regular use and they get updated daily (as does the Ubuntu system). The Xubuntu and Fedora boxes, however, only get used occasionally. When they do get used, I do have to spend a good hour applying system updates before I can do any actual work.

I guess my point is, it doesn’t really matter what system you have, if you leave it idle for a month or more, you will have to spend a while applying updates when you do finally use it. The only real difference is the additional utilities (antivirus, antispyware, etc.) that you use in Windows that may also require updates. My only question is, if you only use the Windows system occasionally and only for certain applications, why do you really need all the additional protection of Defender, SpyBot, AdAware and Spyware Blaster? You strike me as someone who is reasonably security aware and computer literate, how likely are you to infect your own system with malware?

13

Agreed. But, I didn’t say that I let Windows lie idle for a month or more. I said, that whether I used it or not, I update everything on the 15th of each month, as part of a regular maintenance schedule.

Actually, I’m on Windows several times a month, and I update what is necessary when I log on. This particular 15th of the month update session lasted over an hour, which as I said, in my opinion, is ridiculous to just to get a working copy of windows.

Clients dictate when I use Windows, not me. When I’m working on a project requiring me to utilize those windows programs, it might span several days to a week or more. Usually, I’ll just stay on Windows when that happens, and I don’t go back and forth between Windows and Linux.

So, when I’m done with work, I’m surfing the web, emailing, and generally screwing around, like anyone else, and that’s why I keep all those security layers updated and ready to go at a moment’s notice.