Dozens of European ATMs rooted, allowing criminals to easily cash out

[jimbo45]

This one is more recent - and much more realistic!
Your Linux PC isn't as secure as you think it is | PCWorld

So the biggest thing in that article is mention of a government malware? It doesn't matter what platform you're on, government will find a way.

When People I know that have linux distros start getting malware, keyloggers and pups and all the god awful stuff that appears on windows, I will be sure to let you know.

All I know is this, install linux, never hear from them again.

It is a godsend. Will that change later? Sure. But for now, I am happy.

Hi there.

until we all start using Quantum Computers there's NO SUCH THING as an unhackable machine. The design of Linux makes it harder to do and even IBM mainframes are hackable (manifestly harder still but not IMPOSSIBLE).

Also Hackers perceived (whether rightly or wrongly) that the users of Windows were easier to target (their words not mine) so they concentrated their efforts on Windows.

Of course these days FRAUD via SCAMS etc is a much more prevalent problem --fake websites, fake mobile phone call backs etc etc and most of these cannot be blocked via software / any type of AV / malware detection software.

If you use the Internet in such a manner as you get caught by these scams it won't matter which sort of OS you use. Linux is harder to install a virus on from outside but an idiotic user opening an email containing a link to say a fake website and then clicking on it will get scammed just the same as if he / she is using Windows.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[groze]

I see your point on Linux. Yes of course the market share is the main reason some platforms are more "secure" than others. However, Linux was built from the ground up with security in mind, windows was not. And that does help.

The argument on money could go both ways. If all money was digital, security would have to evolve. On the other hand, if things stay the way they are now, money will become useless and invaluable.

andrew129260
I thought linux was more secure because of the official repositories. People would know in an instant, who did it. That why get you tons of warnings when you use an unofficial repository.

 

[groze]

This one is more recent - and much more realistic!
Your Linux PC isn't as secure as you think it is | PCWorld

So the biggest thing in that article is mention of a government malware? It doesn't matter what platform you're on, government will find a way.

When People I know that have linux distros start getting malware, keyloggers and pups and all the god awful stuff that appears on windows, I will be sure to let you know.

All I know is this, install linux, never hear from them again.

It is a godsend. Will that change later? Sure. But for now, I am happy.

According to Linus Torvalds himself, the government did ask if there was a backdoor? if there was, it would get patched in an update.

 

[andrew129260]

Maybe I am being misunderstood. I never said linux was unhackable. No OS is.

If you use the Internet in such a manner as you get caught by these scams it won't matter which sort of OS you use. Linux is harder to install a virus on from outside but an idiotic user opening an email containing a link to say a fake website and then clicking on it will get scammed just the same as if he / she is using Windows.

Cheers
jimbo

I respectfully disagree, Most of the threats found in these simple phishing emails are targeting windows. They would not even work on linux.

All I am saying is the average user is not expected to be running linux, they are expected to be running windows. Threats target windows as it is the easiest to bypass, the highest market share (amount of users) and the fact that since the majority use it, people who do not know much about computers are more likely to let them in (so to speak) easier on windows vs linux.

I am not saying Linux is bulletproof. I am simply saying that just like chrome OS it is not enough on the radar of people out there who want to infect machines to steal data or money or slow you down to a halt.

Do threats exist on every platform? YES. The difference is I can connect to the internet on windows with protection as a average user, and still get infected within one month. (average user skill level) Linux or chrome OS? Very highly unlikely. Still possible, but extremely unlikely.

Keep in mind I am not diving into the server aspect, (as Alejandro85 accurately pointed out) that is an entirely different matter altogether.

 

[groze]

Andrew129260 Anybodys computer can get infected no matter what your computer skill level is. Sorry, but I had to say that.

 

[jimbo45]

Maybe I am being misunderstood. I never said linux was unhackable. No OS is.

If you use the Internet in such a manner as you get caught by these scams it won't matter which sort of OS you use. Linux is harder to install a virus on from outside but an idiotic user opening an email containing a link to say a fake website and then clicking on it will get scammed just the same as if he / she is using Windows.

Cheers
jimbo

I respectfully disagree, Most of the threats found in these simple phishing emails are targeting windows. They would not even work on linux.

All I am saying is the average user is not expected to be running linux, they are expected to be running windows. Threats target windows as it is the easiest to bypass, the highest market share (amount of users) and the fact that since the majority use it, people who do not know much about computers are more likely to let them in (so to speak) easier on windows vs linux.

I am not saying Linux is bulletproof. I am simply saying that just like chrome OS it is not enough on the radar of people out there who want to infect machines to steal data or money or slow you down to a halt.

Do threats exist on every platform? YES. The difference is I can connect to the internet on windows with protection as a average user, and still get infected within one month. (average user skill level) Linux or chrome OS? Very highly unlikely. Still possible, but extremely unlikely.

Keep in mind I am not diving into the server aspect, (as Alejandro85 accurately pointed out) that is an entirely different matter altogether.

Hi there

I disagree again.

There's NO difference whether you use an EMAIL client on Windows OR Linux. If the email points you to a link which asks you to pay money for a service and you link to that website (whatever the browser) and then send the money via bank transfer or whatever without checking then it doesn't matter WHAT OS is being used. The Scam here is in the SERVICE OFFERED which has really nothing to do with the OS.

It's just like someone coming round to your door as a "Charity worker" and collecting money. If you just give the money without verifying the legitimacy of the collector it's YOUR problem when the money goes astray. And even if the collector DOES appear to have a valid card or ID it could be fake so how many people ever bother to make further checks. Same on utility workers coming round purporting to read the meters (in a lot of European properties these meters are especially in older properties INSIDE unlike the US where these are often outside).

So it doesn't matter what type of property you have and protection measures installed --if you let people in and pay money without ensuring that people are who they say they are then your money is GONE.

Same with email --the OS doesn't matter or the email client itself. It's your ACTIONS that you have to take care of.

My point is that these sorts of scams are much more prevalent these days and will become increasing sophisticated in the future - Online business is a REAL SNAKEPIT and most people aren't prepared for what can happen.

This is NOTHING to do with the OS.

Viruses etc yes are much harder to get installed on any sort of Linux machine -- but these things these days are really a diminishing source of problems now --INTERNET FRAUD AND SCAMS are all where it's happenning now and most if not all of these are "OS-AGNOSTIC". i.e it doesn't matter what OS you are using.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[andrew129260]

Jimbo, I thought you were talking about malware attachments on emails ex. word documents with macros, bad pdf files attached with the scam fill out this form kind of nonsense. Misunderstanding on my part. I misread.

Yes of course emails linking to websites leading you to a scammers site would work regardless of OS.

Of course in my opinion, anyone foolishly sending money anywhere being told to do so from an email should never touch a computer/internet device ever. Or those bank emails that "trick" you into thinking your account is closing or other nonsense. Most people know to call the place/person and verify the email is legit.

Andrew129260 Anybodys computer can get infected no matter what your computer skill level is. Sorry, but I had to say that.

I know that, but I still think windows is more dangerous for the average user to use then any other OS out there.

 

[NoelDP]

Do bears shit in their own territory?

 

[andrew129260]

Do bears shit in their own territory?

What?

Is that a loose way of saying do malware writers target the platform they themselves are running on? No.

?