Good ol microshit ! This from Sophos. Now that we in the northern hemisphere have had some time to digest the Windows 7 hype and settle in for the coming winter, we thought we would get some more hard data regarding Windows 7 security. On October 22nd, we settled in at SophosLabs and loaded a full release copy of Windows 7 on a clean machine. We configured it to follow the system defaults for User Account Control (UAC) and did not load any anti-virus software. We grabbed the next 10 unique samples that arrived in the SophosLabs feed to see how well the newer, more secure version of Windows and UAC held up. Unfortunately, despite Microsoft's claims, Windows 7 disappointed just like earlier versions of Windows. The good news is that, of the freshest 10 samples that arrived, 2 would not operate correctly under Windows 7. Table of malware samples tested against Windows 7 User Account Control did block one sample; however, its failure to block anything else just reinforces my warning prior to the Windows 7 launch that UAC's default configuration is not effective at protecting a PC from modern malware. Lesson learned? You still need to run anti-virus on Windows 7. Microsoft, in the Microsoft Security Intelligence Report released yesterday, stated that "The infection rate of Windows Vista SP1 was 61.9 percent less than that of Windows XP SP3." But let's not get complacent. Microsoft seems to be saying that Vista is the least ugly baby in its family. You can be sure the next report will highlight its even less ugly younger sibling, Windows 7. Why do I say this? As of October 31st www.netmarketshare.com states that Windows Vista has a 19% market share against Windows XP's 70.5% and Windows 7's 2%. Approximately 1 in 5 Windows users is using either Vista or Windows 7. These users often have newer computers, automatic patching, and firewalls and anti-virus software in place. With millions of hosts still infected with Conficker, ZBot and Bredo, it is obvious a lot of unprotected machines are still out there, and it is no surprise that most of those are XP. As the chart above shows, Windows 7 users need not feel left out. They can still participate in the ZBot botnet with a side of fake anti-virus. Windows 7 is no cure for the virus blues, so be sure to bring your protection when you boot up. Posted on November 3rd, 2009 by Chester Wisniewski, Sophos
I actually thought this Win7 was supposed to replace the MAC... wow, same shit different OS... I'll get a MAC for the internet eventually. Currently I run two winboxes. I keep a whitelisting firewall between the trading computer and all the hellish stuff out there.... the day I got that setup up and running I had an epiphany.. I knew that was the only way to run a windows machine, 1)for business, 2)very narrow focus, 3)whitelisting firewall.. yes.. I just consider the surfing winbox here to be a "throwaway", if it starts acting up I reinstall the OS after a full hdd format... most people are so f%^ked, they don't have an OS disk and they wouldn't know what to do with it if they did.... CHEAPASSES, get on ebay and get the OS disc and learn what to do with it.... :eek:
What is the verdict on Windows 7? I am still using XP because Vista has to many issues to deal with. Overall is the windows 7 upgrade a drastic improvement?
i havent used anti virus software since the win 98 days. havent had any problems with win 2000,xp, and now vista on 3 diff machines. i do run adware every now and then to clean out the tracking cookies. i think anti virus software slows things down too much for my taste.
That depends on the Vista issues that bothered you. Windows 7 is not a major overhaul of Windows but rather an intermediate step. For me, I'm satisfied and have ordered Windows 7. As for the tenor of this thread, that Windows & MSFT are crap cos all security issues haven't been unbreakably plugged, I find childish and somewhat naive. I'm no fan of MSFT but favour a more balance viewpoint that that. And please don't try to present Apple as some sort of White Knight; that are not. They have always been in the vanguard of the proprietary technology sphere, continually working to usurp and undermine open technology and interoperability. There are zero (or very few) White Knights out there. Thx D
So, one vendor of anti-virus software suggests that you are not safe and should buy an anti-virus software from them - I'm sold. I guess I need a brand new vacuum cleaner and life insurance from them as well? Could it be that Sophos is very nervous about MSE (MS Security Essentials) which is free, so they may have some PR scare campaign out there?
Yeah sure, we don't know what we are talking about... I was writing diagnostics for a Mini Computer in 1975 and watched the whole world of computing unfold over 4 decades as a high tech worker.... Windows was not designed for networking in the first place. It's very badly designed for networking, in fact... Unix was designed for networking from the get go and Apple's OS is based on Unix ideas... Windows behind a whitelisting firewall for business only, MAC for the internet... I'm not at all wrong about this. Win 7 gives a pc the look and feel of a MAC but not the networking security...