1/28/14 8:54 AM

<B>New China-developed OS takes aim at Android, Windows
The company behind the Linux-based OS is still looking for hardware partners to use its software</B>

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9245501/New_China_developed_OS_takes_aim_at_Android_Windows

software from a generally free country like the US is riddle enough with holes and back-doors, i can only imagine what treats lay in store. YOU FIRST!

1/28/14 9:05 AM

But softwares ARE full of backdoors by and large. Virus writers has been finding them all the time. It's the decision to purposely exploit those backdoors for survailence by a government that's the issue.

Chinese goverenment will no doubt demand their software maker to make those backdoor available for the government, just as the US did. The difference being Chinese software writer don't have the option to say no. (on the other hand, they also have the same option as Mr. Snowden of exposing it)

For the average joe using an Android or Windows phone, it doesn't really matter which government is listening in. On the other hand, it always amazes me how any government will be using "black box technology" surplied by a country they're (albeit secretly) at war with.

1/28/14 3:16 PM

On top of the snooping we are all subject too you have to think about the virus checker business. I have always thought that M$ was in cahoots to ensure they kept their partners at mcafee etc in business. M$ wrote shit security in their OS just to keep the other guys in business.

At least I feel like apple made some effort to secure their OS.

No way I would use the Chinese written OS.

1/28/14 3:24 PM

Maybe it would be harder for the NSA to plant spyware in it.

1/28/14 3:38 PM

Instead the Chinese can do it and the NSA super hackers can do it on their own.

1/28/14 4:14 PM

Uhhh, tooo late though. Guess who makes the parts for "Intel Inside" and "Designed by Apple"?!? HTC got its hand slapped big time by the FTC, recently, over hardware security issues.

1/28/14 4:22 PM

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M$ wrote shit security in their OS just to keep the other guys in business.

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1/28/14 4:54 PM

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At the very bottom, Ms lists its product, notably last - Windows Defender. I've been using it happily for quite some time.

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1/28/14 6:30 PM

Like many here. At home I am apple and Linux. No M$.

1/28/14 7:42 PM

"Any thoughts on Microsoft's "Security Essentials" free anti-virus software? We've been using it for a couple of years and it seems to do a good job."

Been using it for about 6 mos. now on 3 Win 7 machines. No issues as far as I can tell.

I think MS finally got something right. It was recommended to me by one of our work ITS guru's. He did say "Just don't play Angry Birds on them".

Not sure why.

1/28/14 8:37 PM

I've been using MS Security Essentials (and a predecessor) for a few years with good luck. I also run Malwarebytes freeware version. It's working for me.

1/28/14 8:41 PM

Security essentials it is. My bad. Windows defender is a complementary security product.

As for the ?, with a new Windows 7 installation, in the notifications pop up dialog that is located in the lower right corner, it will tell you something to the effect...your computer is not protected. click here to protect it....
When you proceed with the instructions, it will bring you to a Microsoft web page. On that security web page is a list of more than a dozen antivirus products listed. At the bottom, as in last, Microsoft's free version is listed. It encourages you to choose one from the list.

Edit: here's the Microsoft endorsed list.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/antivirus-partners

1/28/14 9:48 PM

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Security essentials it is. My bad. Windows defender is a complementary security product.

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1/28/14 10:41 PM

My win8 is pestering me to DL and install a free 8.1 OS version update.

Any one do this yet?

1/29/14 5:05 AM

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My win8 is pestering me to DL and install a free 8.1 OS version update. Any one do this yet?

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1/29/14 7:31 AM

You are correct about should have only one anti-virus program running. Part of the appeal for me using the Microsoft version, it is very unobtrusive - I don't know its there/running unless I actively look for it. The virus definitions get updated regularly with other windows updates.

Microsoft's name of Windows Defender is very confusing. If I recall correctly, it was a latecomer virus protection for windows XP. For Windows 7, its for removing spyware, only. For Windows 8, its anti-virus program.

I was never much of a fan of Mcafee. When you update Adobe Flash or Reader (often!), Mcafee install is checked by default. Stealth install. Sneaky bastard. Their founder is one crazy ass b*trd & (alleged) murderer.

1/29/14 8:24 AM

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I was never much of a fan of Mcafee. When you update Adobe Flash or Reader (often!), Mcafee install is checked by default. Stealth install. Sneaky bastard. Their founder is one crazy ass b*trd & (alleged) murderer

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1/29/14 8:40 AM

Microsoft has been having naming problems of late. OfficeLive, Office365, Skydrive is becoming OneDrive, etc. MSE ->...

Ugh.

That said, I like many of Microsoft's products . I've been running MSE (or whatever it's called) for some years, and have had no problems. I also was an early adopted of Win8 and Win8.1, and have found both to be very stable.

The big user interface differences (if you use the native mode, unlike Nick or me [I'm running Classic Shell]) are that there is now a "start button" that makes use with a mouse rather than a touchscreen a bit easier, and that you can make the start screen tiles smaller. I suspect that there are greater changes under the hood, but I do not know for sure.

BTW, my son, who got a touch-screen notebook for Christmas, really likes the new 8.1 interface. I expect that I would, as well, but that given that I don't have a touch-screen machine, I'm sort of baby-ducked onto the start button.

1/29/14 8:50 AM

Andy - that's interesting feedback on Windows 8. My niece got a non-touchscreen Windows 8 laptop for Christmas. While I immediately noticed the absence of the Start button, what I found more vexxing was the lack of intuitiveness to Close an application. I had to look such up on youtube to figure it out. I'm sure Windows 8 is fine for many, but those without a touch interface they are a bit hamstrung, at least initially.

BTW, after Steve Blamer sat his mom down in front of the computer to test (the "Mom's test") the pre-release of Windows 95, when she finished the usability test, she asked him, "Where's the 'End' button?"

1/30/14 8:29 AM

The Win8 interface is really the Windows Phone interface writ large. I like it a lot on my phone, but without a touch screen on my notebook, I prefer to use something that adds a more Win7-like interface. I agree, it's hard to see how to close things.

BTW, if your niece hasn't upgraded to 8.1, she should. It takes a few hours online, but (IMO) it's worth it. I upgraded my machine when 8.1 was released, and my son's on Christmas day when he got it (apparently lots of folks were doing that, since it took a long time to update compared to my machine).

1/30/14 5:15 PM

I guess since I buy Apple stuff I already bought a Chinese OS.

1/30/14 6:27 PM

Re phone desktop, I have been using classic shell for a while. And I figured out how to keep that charm crap off my screen, hated that...

1/30/14 6:38 PM

classic windows works!

1/31/14 3:49 PM

Thanks, Andy, for the tip.