Downloading software.

[~BD~]

I quote:

"Downloading freeware, shareware, and other software from unfamiliar Web
sites can bring an infection to your computer. Stick with well-known
download libraries, such as Tucows (http://www.tucows.com/downloads) or
Download.com, that scan files for malware before posting them for
visitors to download."

Read more:
http://askbobrankin.com/why_did_my_c...#ixzz1RvmQguXJ


Now then, gurus, tell me why *you* think it's no more dangerous to
download software than buying a CD/DVD in a pucka retail store in the
*real* world. Is Bob Rankin telling 'porkies'?

I'm all ears!

[Mike Easter]

Zany crosspost snipped.

~BD~ wrote:

> tell me why *you* think it's no more dangerous to download software
> than buying a CD/DVD in a pucka retail store in the *real* world.

Where your pucka term is an alternative spelling to pukka from Hindi
which my dictionary sez means real.

I haven't bought software on a CD/DVD in quite a while, whether from a
storefront or by online ordering for mail delivery.

(But) I download free software all the time, most commonly linux distros
or repos but other ware as well, including that for Windows.

The ware I download is generally from a 'familiar' entity such as a
linux download mirror or a linux repo or a repo associated with a linux
distro. Repo = repository in this context.

Downloading from familiar and reliable sources especially for software
for which the malware risk is almost zero is extremely safe.

For some trollish reason you are trying to compare the low incidence of
malware being distributed by commercial/payware CD/DVD with the
incidence of Windows malware being distributed by various 'free' routes.

The reckless or insecure execution of executables which come by mail or
are allowed inappropriate privileges at a website is dangerous behavior.

Acquiring downloaded free software from reliable sources is not more
dangerous than acquiring CD/DVD distributed payware which has been
produced insecurely.


--
Mike Easter

[~BD~]

Mike Easter wrote:
> Zany crosspost snipped.
>
> ~BD~ wrote:
>
>> tell me why *you* think it's no more dangerous to download software
>> than buying a CD/DVD in a pucka retail store in the *real* world.
>
> Where your pucka term is an alternative spelling to pukka from Hindi
> which my dictionary sez means real.
>
> I haven't bought software on a CD/DVD in quite a while, whether from a
> storefront or by online ordering for mail delivery.
>
> (But) I download free software all the time, most commonly linux distros
> or repos but other ware as well, including that for Windows.
>
> The ware I download is generally from a 'familiar' entity such as a
> linux download mirror or a linux repo or a repo associated with a linux
> distro. Repo = repository in this context.
>
> Downloading from familiar and reliable sources especially for software
> for which the malware risk is almost zero is extremely safe.
>
> For some trollish reason you are trying to compare the low incidence of
> malware being distributed by commercial/payware CD/DVD with the
> incidence of Windows malware being distributed by various 'free' routes.
>
> The reckless or insecure execution of executables which come by mail or
> are allowed inappropriate privileges at a website is dangerous behavior.
>
> Acquiring downloaded free software from reliable sources is not more
> dangerous than acquiring CD/DVD distributed payware which has been
> produced insecurely.
>
>

Thank you for your comments. I appreciate the trouble and time you've
taken so to do, Mike.

FYI, the forthcoming upgrade of Apple OS X - called Lion - will *only*
be available by a download (for the foreseeable future). It will be
available later this month.

This old Trool *will* buy and install Lion, regardless! ;-)

The crosspost to alt.comp.freeware (only) reinstated.

D.

[~BD~]

Mike Easter wrote:
> aps crosspost removed
>
> ~BD~ wrote:
>> Mike Easter wrote:
>>> Zany crosspost snipped.
>
>>> (But) I download free software all the time,
>
>> FYI, the forthcoming upgrade of Apple OS X - called Lion - will *only*
>> be available by a download (for the foreseeable future). It will be
>> available later this month.
>>
>> This old Trool *will* buy and install Lion, regardless! ;-)
>>
>> The crosspost to alt.comp.freeware (only) reinstated.
>
> Your/This message that you crossposted to aps and now back into acf
> belongs in neither.

That is your *opinion* - to which you are entitled.

> Lion is not freeware and it is not spyware.

Did you /deliberately/ miss my point?

That being - I *will* download and use the software! Doh! <rolls eyes>

> Your unconventional usenet behaviors, particularly the migratory zany
> crosspostings are annoying.

Surely you are used to me by now? ;-)

Stay calm and don't let my actions bother you. I mean you no personal
aggravation Mike.

The crosspost to alt.privacy.spyware (only) reinstated (purely so group
members there don't lose the plot!) Please leave thing that way.

[Aardvark]

On Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:57:05 +0100, ~BD~ wrote:

> I mean you no personal
> aggravation Mike.

Yet.

****.



--
"Those who do not make human beings the center of their concern soon
lose the capacity to make any ethical choices, for they willingly
sacrifice others in the name of the politically expedient and
practical." - Dwight Macdonald, “The Root Is Man.�

[Nobody > (Revisited)]

On 7/12/2011 4:57 PM, ~BD~ wrote:

>
>> Your unconventional usenet behaviors, particularly the migratory zany
>> crosspostings are annoying.
>
> Surely you are used to me by now? ;-)
>
> Stay calm and don't let my actions bother you. I mean you no personal
> aggravation Mike.
>
> The crosspost to alt.privacy.spyware (only) reinstated (purely so group
> members there don't lose the plot!) Please leave thing that way.

As if the folks in alt.privacy.spyware give a **** about your posts.....

(just realized ~DeadBrain~ pops up everywhere, so he's now kf'ed here in
ACF as well)

--
"**** this is it, all the pieces do fit.
We're like that crazy old man jumping
out of the alleyway with a baseball bat,
saying, "Remember me mother****er?"
Jim “Dandy” Mangrum

[Andrew Taylor]

"~BD~" <~BD~@nomail.afraid.com> wrote in message
news:m5KdnfFvpqNzW4HTnZ2dnUVZ7tidnZ2d@bt.com...
>I quote:
>
> "Downloading freeware, shareware, and other software from unfamiliar Web
> sites can bring an infection to your computer. Stick with well-known
> download libraries, such as Tucows (http://www.tucows.com/downloads) or
> Download.com, that scan files for malware before posting them for visitors
> to download."
>
> Read more:
> http://askbobrankin.com/why_did_my_c...#ixzz1RvmQguXJ
>
>
> Now then, gurus, tell me why *you* think it's no more dangerous to
> download software than buying a CD/DVD in a pucka retail store in the
> *real* world. Is Bob Rankin telling 'porkies'?
>
> I'm all ears!

David, as far as I am concerned, as long as I have up to date AV software,
and up to date security/firewall software, you are as safe as you can be. It
would be pretty hard to be the first person to be infected, although
obviously, this must happen to someone.

There is a lot to be said about being careful on links that you click on,
and software you download, but you have to make an informed decision as to
whether you think it may be safe or not.

[~BD~]

Andrew Taylor wrote:
> "~BD~"<~BD~@nomail.afraid.com> wrote in message
> news:m5KdnfFvpqNzW4HTnZ2dnUVZ7tidnZ2d@bt.com...
>> I quote:
>>
>> "Downloading freeware, shareware, and other software from unfamiliar Web
>> sites can bring an infection to your computer. Stick with well-known
>> download libraries, such as Tucows (http://www.tucows.com/downloads) or
>> Download.com, that scan files for malware before posting them for visitors
>> to download."
>>
>> Read more:
>> http://askbobrankin.com/why_did_my_c...#ixzz1RvmQguXJ
>>
>>
>> Now then, gurus, tell me why *you* think it's no more dangerous to
>> download software than buying a CD/DVD in a pucka retail store in the
>> *real* world. Is Bob Rankin telling 'porkies'?
>>
>> I'm all ears!
>
> David, as far as I am concerned, as long as I have up to date AV software,
> and up to date security/firewall software, you are as safe as you can be.

That's the view of most folk, Andrew. Indeed, I used to think the same way!

> It would be pretty hard to be the first person to be infected, although
> obviously, this must happen to someone.

Yes - but it will most certainly happen to /many/ folk before the AV
companies get on top of things!

> There is a lot to be said about being careful on links that you click on,
> and software you download, but you have to make an informed decision as to
> whether you think it may be safe or not.

Ah-ha! *That* is the difficult part! ;-)

Cheers!

[Phil]

On 12/07/2011 23:13, ~BD~ wrote:
> I quote:
>
> "Downloading freeware, shareware, and other software from unfamiliar Web
> sites can bring an infection to your computer. Stick with well-known
> download libraries, such as Tucows (http://www.tucows.com/downloads) or
> Download.com, that scan files for malware before posting them for
> visitors to download."
>
> Read more:
> http://askbobrankin.com/why_did_my_c...#ixzz1RvmQguXJ
>
>
> Now then, gurus, tell me why *you* think it's no more dangerous to
> download software than buying a CD/DVD in a pucka retail store in the
> *real* world. Is Bob Rankin telling 'porkies'?
>
> I'm all ears!

Who invited this pompous bore ?

[Aardvark]

On Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:19:02 -0400, Andrew Taylor wrote to BD:

> you have to make an informed decision as to whether you think it may be
> safe or not.

Aye, there's the rub where BD's concerned- informed more by his paranoia
than by any facts.



--
"Those who do not make human beings the center of their concern soon
lose the capacity to make any ethical choices, for they willingly
sacrifice others in the name of the politically expedient and
practical." - Dwight Macdonald, “The Root Is Man.�