Outlook hooks in with MSE...

Talking 'bout home not enterprise.

And no one sensible sends a password protected file in the same email as the password itself.

If you've got a sensitive file forget passwords unless its acting and an encryption key. Passwords by themselves don't do jack.

Most webmail will scan attachments before allowing you to download and you're avoiding something like outlook with autodisplay firing up the virus before you get a chance to delete it.

If we're 'just' talking about home, then commenting about your multiple layers of protection at work only serves to cloud the issue.

So, to home protection then:

Most AV will scan as a file is downloaded on 110 (and for that matter sent on 25, although the updated Virgin servers don't use 110 & 25, I know that Avast will also scan 995 and 465), so it will have already been scanned before being opened in a local e-mail client (Outlook included). In fact many AV software act as a proxy, so <insert favourite e-mail client here> is not exposed to mail without it having been checked first.

Your "issues" with Outlook are easily solved by switching the reading pane off anyway (all of about 2 seconds). Plus most normal people won't have Outlook at home as it is in excess of what they need to use. (MS Office Home and Student doesn't include Outlook for this reason.) They probably don't even have Office.

Home-servers are gradually infiltrating the world, like them or not. Programs such as VPOP3 act as mail-servers on these and allow many plug-ins to filter for both malware and spam.

And we're not talking about sensible people here, we're talking about people who will click on "you are our 1,000,000,000th visitor - this is not a joke". ;)

And we're not talking about sensible people here, we're talking about people who will click on "you are our 1,000,000,000th visitor - this is not a joke".

In that case they're BoFH'd and deserve all they get

Linux isn't immune. Most webservers run Linux or Unix, and how many of them get compromised even behind hosts firewall?

Take the steps above and you'll evade most things, but as with most things don't get complacent. That's one reason the latest mac virus infected so many machines so quickly and easily.

........when (if) Linux ever catches up with the breadth of software that is available for Windows, that statement will be true. Sadly, Linux-based PCs won't allow me to play Portal2* on them.

At the moment Linux is like the electric car: it has a lot of potential, just not very practical..........yet.

*other games are available.

Apologies Gallego, just gotta say the following mate...and hope it may help you too eventually.

Watcha Rainbow, see you don't know much about Linux then! Which is fine actually as many people don't. I try to educate where I can as OS's are very important from the security point of view, and it sometimes helps someone to do this. My credential are: a Linux network manager of 5 years, a home user of Linux for 8 years, a trained Ethical Hacker in Linux software code.

Firstly, it's not about Linux catching up, more the other way around. If you've read the trade journals or PC Pro and other mag assessments of Linux up against Windows 7 and previous versions of Windows, you'll see what I mean. I've been a Linux user for over 8 years now at home and work and in fact I don't now run Windows OS's of any kind on any machines I own. I've worked with MS Windows for years at home previously and at work and found it pretty good at the time but not quite as secure as I would have liked inspite of layered protection. When it became clear Windows was no longer a viable OS from the security viewpoint at work, I went to Linux for work and home. Which also saved us and the taxpayer around £75,000 in license fees. I control a network of Linux machines at work and these fully interface with other work departments around Essex that run Windows of various flavours on their networks. It works so well that many other remaining departments will convert to Linux next year.

Let also be clear. Linux is immune to all Windows viruses and malware. Even Macs are not that hardened, but they are better than Windows. Let us also be clear, there are no known Linux viruses or malware threats in the wild that can infect your laptop or desktop computer. There are 51 known viruses that can infect a Linux machine, but these are in captivity. And Linux machines have been around a very long time and yet still it isn't possible to infect one through normal channels even if you are smart enough to write a virus or obtain one somehow. How do I know this. I've tried as have many others for years. I would point out this has been done many times by me for my work on Ethical Hacking Courses under the watchful eye of some of the best industry leading security 'eggspurts' on the planet. To the knowledge of these eggspurts and the nice people at Canonical, the Linux providers, there has never been a case of a Linux computer or server being outright hacked and having information taken from it. Although you may read of such things happening in organisations that run Linux, it just doesn't happen. Virtually the only way a Linux machine ever gets hacked is by someone on the inside with access to codes and passwords stealing information. Hacking in from the outside is just possible under some circumstances but it's very rare and incredibly difficult to do compared to a Windows machine. Normal hacking script just don't work properly due to Linux being so hardened no matter what browser you use. However, if someone got lucky, once in to a Linux system it's very very difficult to plant anything or steal information, but you could conceivable do damage in some limited way. Thankfully, Linux wont' fall over easily if it's damaged like many Windows machines will, so hackers don't really get anywhere. Anyone who thinks they have hacked Linux is almost certainly mistaken and have merely hacked a Windows virtual machine running Linux. Linux will stop the hack as it did in all our simulations on the EHC.

So, and I'll give you this, Linux often doesn't play the latest big MS coded games straight out the box. Most can be made to work, but it sometime requires a bit of fiddling, even running them in 'Wine' the MS emmulator. However, some won't work but if you wait a while, eventually the games will be released and the Linux coders go to work and they then will run fine. As a game player myself I can tell you that a visit to the various Linux games repositories normally has people foaming at the mouth with joy as there are many really good up to date games, especially first person shooter games for stress relief, and of course they are all free.

You can run your home or office with Linux. There are thousands and thousands of fabulously good, tested programs for FREE. You can just take what you want. The programs load easy and safely. Libre Office is the direct equivalent of MS Office and is compatible with all known word files and every other known type of file system including PDF. You can creat PDF's too if you wish. Adobe reader and PDF also runs fine on Linux as do many other familiar programs. There is a powerpoint program called Impress that again is fully compatible with MS Office. There are Spreadsheets and loads of other stuff to that's all directly compatible with Office of all years. Then there's the usual stuff such as Skype, varous firewalls and virus scanners for free although you don't actually have to run a firewall or virus scanner as ports are always closed and nothing bad can install without your permission. The virus scanners only scan for Windows viruses anyway since there is nothing out there to actually infect you as a Linux user, although I do scan for rootkits also. There's Google Earth of course and too many other progs to mention here. In fact there are tens of thousands of free programs. For every Windows program there is a direct FREE equivalent program or programs that work and is secure. The new interface for Linux Ubuntu 12.04LTS is hugely cool and works so well. Nothing is complicated and there are online features to help a newcomer set up there system if they need it (see link below). There are regular updates of all kinds and no advertising. It's hugely powerful with a wide range of network tools also. I've installed it on many many machines over the last 8 years for beginners and expert users alike and no one has ever removed it to my knowledge. Beginner particularly get on very well with it as it's so easy to use.

So to be clear, it's very secure indeed and it's proven. Nothing is ever completely safe but Linux is way way ahead of everything else. Give it a look. You may just get a surprise, and save loads of cash into the bargain. Here's a link you can take a look at if your might like to try it:

http://debianhelp.wo...olin/#more-3642 A 'To do list after installing 12.04LTS' and a download server to get the OS, plus a jolly good read of just a few of the program available for it and how you can load some of them from the terminal or Software centre. Games are listed on another site/s and there's some good ones. Remember, everything is free, legal and secure.

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop to download the latest version...32bit or 64bit. And to read some about creating an installation disc etc.

Edited 11 June, 201214 yr by Estate Man

So, and I'll give you this, Linux often doesn't play the latest big MS coded games straight out the box. Most can be made to work, but it sometime requires a bit of fiddling, even running them in 'Wine' the MS emmulator. However, some won't work but if you wait a while, eventually the games will be released and the Linux coders go to work and they then will run fine. As a game player myself I can tell you that a visit to the various Linux games repositories normally has people foaming at the mouth with joy as there are many really good up to date games, especially first person shooter games for stress relief, and of course they are all free.

The whole security thing was never in doubt. The availability of the same breadth of software is.

Seems like "wait a while" is the downfall. A game is released and flys off the shelves and is gobbled up by the gaming community. XBox, PC and PS3 gamers are online playing head-to-head within hours of release. By the time the Linux community has "cracked" it (and let's face it - that's what's being done) and put it out there "for free" (piracy?) the next "big" game is available. Patience is not something most teenagers will have, and falling behind isn't usually an option for them. Neither is dicking around to make it work. Put disc in machine....play game......simples.

(Edit/additional: The original iMac scored heavily on its original "three steps to the internet" campaign, showing just how simple it was do to something. That's where Linux needs to head towards if it wants to get mass acceptance. That campaign was got the world looking at Apple.)

Linux isn't an operating system: it's a collective of similar operating systems (you listed 2 towards the end of your text.) You don't run Linux, you run someone's interpretation of Linux. You can't get the Linux, you get a Linux. I can go into PCWorld and pickup a Windows 7 box and it will show me the differences between the flavours. If I buy Home and find I need more, I can upgrade to Ultimate later, which just the change of software key. Oh, and how easy is getting drivers.

Fedora, Red Hat, Debian, Unbuntu (to list a few): which one should I chose? Why so many variations on a theme? How should the man in the street pick one? He's not got the time nor inclination to wade through trying each one until he finds the one that fits his needs. Drivers, who's responsible?

We have a Centos Linux (there's a 5th variation to add to the list) machine at work. We did ask if it could be any other flavour (out of interest). "No, we don't support any of the others" was the reply.

The Windows server with which it's software integrates: as long as it's Windows 2000 or later and running SQL Server.....oh any version will do for the size database that's being run.

Linux could so easily dominate the world, but the community needs to work together to do so. Unify it so that there's one strain and all software works with that strain. Then my dad will have one box under his desk because he'll only need one, not three because the software doesn't support that distro. Software houses can then make one Linux version of their software, instead of being limited to one, or having to adjust code to support another. (Oh which one shall I develop for first?) Linux will be Linux, in the same way OSX is OSX and Windows is Windows. Drivers will work with One Linux.

It can keep the "freedom" idea and beat MS over the head with it until Richmond is in ruins. (That would be fun) but the attack needs to be co-ordinated.

When you can "sell it" to the man in the street, it'll be a hughly epic win. Until then.........it'll stay primarily a server operating system.

When I have the time, I'll look into "Which Linux", but it won't be today.

Oh, and if there's a free equivalent of everything: why is there a Windows emulator in the first place?

Edited 12 June, 201214 yr by RainbowFore

Linux will never get on desktops in the mainstream now. That window has closed. It's going to stay mostly a Windows / Apple world for quite a while yet. If there is an alternative it's going to be Android.

My hunch is we'll see Raspberry Pi type micro computers running android appearing shortly. They'll plug into smart TVs (or be built in) and will be able to run terminals which will connect to Linux servers in the background.

Linux will never get on desktops in the mainstream now. That window has closed. It's going to stay mostly a Windows / Apple world for quite a while yet. If there is an alternative it's going to be Android.

My hunch is we'll see Raspberry Pi type micro computers running android appearing shortly. They'll plug into smart TVs (or be built in) and will be able to run terminals which will connect to Linux servers in the background.

I would see the Raspberry-Droid thing in exactly the same way: cheap (in terms of cost) boxes doing a specific job, robustly, securely and with no bloat. Especially, as you suggest, applications where a VDU is required, but not buckets and buckets of processing power. (Our local social club has an MP3 jukebox. A Raspberry-Droid would be perfect in this sort of scenario.)

Isn't Android based on a Linux version too? Given that it's grown to be one of the biggest Linux distros (complete with support), would it not make sense for the community to get behind that one?

Edited 12 June, 201214 yr by RainbowFore

all I can say is that after trying the latest Ubuntu for a couple of weeks, I've decided to completely wipe it and go back to Win7 Pro 64. Hated the sidebar thing, not as intuitive as an older version I tried IMO, awkward to install or even find some drivers etc etc. Until Ubuntu becomes more user friendly and works 'out of the box' I'm afraid it'll be the OS of choice for geeks People who are used to Windows will and do find it a pain in the a$$ to use, that's just the way t is. I'm all for not giving BG my money but at the end of the day, it's what people are used to and seemingly prefer. OK so you can't catch a cold with it (in most cases), but that alone is not a reason to justify using it, even if it is free. Free doesn't necessarily mean trouble free, or free from niggles or free from hassle.

I'm not sure of the link between Android and Linux. I'd be surprised if it wasn't in there as an ancestor but I think it's gone too far down it's own road now to be considered a distro.

The distro world is a bit too feudal to put up any serious competition.

I have heard the HUD in the newest Ubuntu hasn't gone down well with many users. I've not tried it myself but I'd heard they tried to do something different and it doesn't seem to have worked out. Ubuntu has some strong competition from other 'easy' Linux's like Mint. I don't know if they'll persevere with it or not. It was a USP if nothing else.

The whole security thing was never in doubt. The availability of the same breadth of software is.

Why? That's a strange thing to say as there is a direct equivalent program for every MS Windows program plus a whole lot more. You need to take an actual look so you can see this fact. As has been said in the trade journals and the retail mags who road test the various Linux versions, there is in fact MORE software for users who run Linux, whatever version, than there is for Windows users. In fact, in the Linux Ubuntu program software centre loaded into Ubuntu it is packed and you will find a whole mass of different programs including games, system tools (far more useful than Windows by the way), new desktops if you want to change the way it works or looks etc etc for you to choose from, tested and ready to load. And they work! Just ask the software centre for what you want and it'll get it and load it.

Seems like "wait a while" is the downfall. A game is released and flys off the shelves and is gobbled up by the gaming community. XBox, PC and PS3 gamers are online playing head-to-head within hours of release. By the time the Linux community has "cracked" it (and let's face it - that's what's being done) and put it out there "for free" (piracy?) the next "big" game is available. Patience is not something most teenagers will have, and falling behind isn't usually an option for them. Neither is dicking around to make it work. Put disc in machine....play game......simples.

(Edit/additional: The original iMac scored heavily on its original "three steps to the internet" campaign, showing just how simple it was do to something. That's where Linux needs to head towards if it wants to get mass acceptance. That campaign was got the world looking at Apple.)

Oh, and if there's a free equivalent of everything: why is there a Windows emulator in the first place? Well I think you need to use your brains here. But it's easy to answer...so game fanatics can run their MS software that they have paid for and love and don't want to run the equivalent program or game...and of course if you like a particular game and it's an MS game you just won't want anything else. But there are some games that won't play in Wine even.

And if it's the latest MS games you want and you live for MS games then stick with a copy of Windows as a DUAL BOOT option as there is mostly a wait for the code to be released. and Wine may not support it straight away. Incidentally, Wine will only run legit games, not pirated stuff. The reason for the wait is for the MS gaming community to release the code so it can be Linux-ized!! IT IS NOT PIRATED SOFTWARE AND NEVER WILL BE WITH LINUX so everyone can be sure they are fully legal and the game will run fine and be secure.

Linux isn't an operating system: it's a collective of similar operating systems (you listed 2 towards the end of your text.) You don't run Linux, you run someone's interpretation of Linux. You can't get the Linux, you get a Linux. I can go into PCWorld and pickup a Windows 7 box and it will show me the differences between the flavours. If I buy Home and find I need more, I can upgrade to Ultimate later, which just the change of software key. Oh, and how easy is getting drivers.

Yes, Linux describes an operating system which encompasses different versions. Just like MS operating systems does. These Linux versions are described as Linux operating systems. Just like Windows Vista, Window 7 + Home Premium, Ultimate systems etc etc there are different versions for you to use. The most popular and indeed one of the most powerful is Linux Ubuntu 12.04LTS. It has a 5 year lifespan with major updates as they become available, just like the service packs for Windows. During that time there are other new releases that become available that you can load too should you wish to do so. Just like Windows it's easy to choose the Linux version you want or need with the online help that's available or look in a magazine to find the one you want or talk to the online specialists at Canonical or the various Linux help forums. There are even Linux versions on mag discs that can be tried out at home. You don't even have to load it onto your hard drive to take a look at it and use it. It's a live cd file. When loaded onto the hard drive, at the touch of a button your can completely upgrade the whole operating system to the latest version when it becomes available.

I've never had a problems ever with drivers, even 8 years ago. After loading any Linux system it picks up your hardware very quickly and will supply a download of the correct driver for your machine straight away should it be needed. You can test this by running Linux from a cd and watch what happens to the driver finder program. Before 2002 it was mostly but not exclusively a business operating system that wasn't as friendly as it is now. But since 2001 when it really became a retail consumer product (but free!) and due to it's very fast uptake as an operating system (it runs on over14% of the UK's home computers now) hardware manufacturers support for Linux is now very good. I build machines professionaly for work and indeed home and friends, and I can't think of anyone at the moment that doesn't support Linux with drivers. All mobo & grahics manufacturers do etc etc. It's fair to say that the only system I've had a problem with drivers on has been Windows, particularly Vista, but Windows 7 is much better now than when it first came out. And I've loaded versions of Linux professionally on hundreds of machines and non work machines without a driver problem ever. It is a network managers dream without the nasties sometimes thrown up by MS stuff. Linux provides any drivers you may need for your machine and there is full professional (paid for) telephone support or free online support should you need it. That's not to say someone won't have a driver problem sometimes, just like in Windows, but because Linux operating systems are more fully tested than almost any other OS, problems are rare overall.

Fedora, Red Hat, Debian, Unbuntu (to list a few): which one should I chose? Why so many variations on a theme? How should the man in the street pick one? He's not got the time nor inclination to wade through trying each one until he finds the one that fits his needs. Drivers, who's responsible?

Before you bought a particular Windows version you did some research...doh!! Why wouldn't you do the same with Linux? Linux makes it easy to choose too. Drivers...see above but there is no driver problem and if someone is experiencing a problem it is normally very easy to solve. Just like in Windows only easier!

We have a Centos Linux (there's a 5th variation to add to the list) machine at work. We did ask if it could be any other flavour (out of interest). "No, we don't support any of the others" was the reply.

The Windows server with which it's software integrates: as long as it's Windows 2000 or later and running SQL Server.....oh any version will do for the size database that's being run.

Centos is a Server addition and would not normally be recommended to the public on a desktop although of course you can load it if you wish. Anyone would find that out if they did the research. It is not a mainstream desktop OS. There are much better versions of Linux available for desktop use (Ubuntu). Your works obviously has support for it and that's all they support...doh!! You can get support for any version of Linux if you want to, but like many of us you may be locked into a service package. The funny thing is...you could almost certainly change it without anyone knowing and your existing support would be fine. The main kernal in Centos is largely the same as most other Linux OS's. You can of course change Centos itself to resemble a quite different OS with different desktop etc even making it work differently, the way you want it to. Try doing that in Windows!

Linux could so easily dominate the world, but the community needs to work together to do so. Unify it so that there's one strain and all software works with that strain. Then my dad will have one box under his desk because he'll only need one, not three because the software doesn't support that distro. Software houses can then make one Linux version of their software, instead of being limited to one, or having to adjust code to support another. (Oh which one shall I develop for first?) Linux will be Linux, in the same way OSX is OSX and Windows is Windows. Drivers will work with One Linux.

It can keep the "freedom" idea and beat MS over the head with it until Richmond is in ruins. (That would be fun) but the attack needs to be co-ordinated.

It is and has been since 2001 with Canonical and Ubuntu leading the Linux OS's.

When you can "sell it" to the man in the street, it'll be a hughly epic win. Until then.........it'll stay primarily a server operating system. No it won't and it isn't, just check your facts!

When I have the time, I'll look into "Which Linux", but it won't be today. The longer you leave it the more you will lose out...do give it a try. Rarely is anyone disappointed!

Rainbow, please forgive my perhaps pedantic replies, you have been very polite and actually have raised the sort of issues many Linux uninformed individuals raise about Linux OS's. It's important to be careful on forum about what we say as fact. Otherwise others might be put off using a very secure and free OS that might just save them from much heartache. Ignorance is bliss, but information is power in the computing world or anywhere actually! .

PM me if you or anyone else wants some help finding out about Linux or how to set it up. Quite a few on here have already done so and now have very hardened systems running Ubuntu in place of Windows or dual booted with it.

Linux will never get on desktops in the mainstream now. That window has closed. It's going to stay mostly a Windows / Apple world for quite a while yet. If there is an alternative it's going to be Android.

Linux is on 14% of the desktops in the uk with Ubuntu leading the way. It's the fastest growing OS in the world currently.

all I can say is that after trying the latest Ubuntu for a couple of weeks, I've decided to completely wipe it and go back to Win7 Pro 64. Hated the sidebar thing, not as intuitive as an older version I tried IMO, awkward to install or even find some drivers etc etc. Until Ubuntu becomes more user friendly and works 'out of the box' I'm afraid it'll be the OS of choice for geeks People who are used to Windows will and do find it a pain in the a$$ to use, that's just the way t is. I'm all for not giving BG my money but at the end of the day, it's what people are used to and seemingly prefer. OK so you can't catch a cold with it (in most cases), but that alone is not a reason to justify using it, even if it is free. Free doesn't necessarily mean trouble free, or free from niggles or free from hassle.

Thats a shame, but better to DUAL BOOT it with Windows to start with if you are already a Windows user. That way you can learn at a convenient speed for you and continue to use Windows for the important stuff until you are ready to change over. The sidebar can be altered in the way it works or you can load a different 'conventional type' desktop if you had wanted to. Not normal to have driver problems so wonder what you are running. Ubuntu is very friendly but you have to put some effort into getting used to it if you are a Windows user. You also might have found an online 'To do list' useful if you are not used to Linux as this is a good way of becoming aquainted with it. It shows how to change desktops and load software etc in various ways...but maybe give it a try some other time.

Thanks again to Gallego for allowing us to sideline a bit!!

Edited 12 June, 201214 yr by Estate Man

I have Zone Alarm & Avast, both free no issues for the year I've had them. Was running Bit Defender.. Soooo slow!

Use Zone alarm & Avast on XP & Win 2k,though seldom go on line with 2k. . Use Malwarebytes & Superantispyware on all. And seldom use IE, .It's FF for me.

BTW - MOST banks thesae days offer something like Raporteer ( Nat West/RBS version) .