BBC defends botnet acquisition

They're still dodging the more important questions of which operating systems are affected, and some sensible security advice from real security experts who are not a/v industry spokesmodels.

Indeed, this really got up my nose.

Quoting:"The BBC takes the view that the demonstration of the vulnerability of PCs to malicious software is in the strong public interest

No mention of the fact that it's PCs with the Microsoft Windows Operating System.

"They're still dodging the more important questions of which operating systems are affected, and some sensible security advice from real security experts who are not a/v industry spokesmodels."

You bet and they never will. Why would reporting the number of desktops and the os version effected be giving an instruction manual to everyone.

It wouldn't but it would make one of their sponsors in redmond very very very angry

What you guys are forgetting is that if there were as many Linux users as there are Windows users, we'd have security problems too. I'm not sure what that has to do with anything, but it's the standard response from Windows fanbois, so I thought I'd be fair and add it to the discussion.

Thanks bigg! And don't forget, all that open code is just like having unlocked doors and windows. It's an open invitation!

posted comment to wrong thread!

Bigg, TC, you had me there for a moment, you really did. The blood-pressure spike had the backs of my hands tingling.

But Bob, I was completely serious!







Was too!





I slay me.

The BBC is often called the British Bias Corporation over the fact that they often take a position on various political issues and report from that perspective as if it was the only factual perspective there is. I could cite examples but only if I violate the TOS. (Oh, and yes, I do have multiple examples, not just the one subject I blog on.)

Quoting:And don't forget, all that open code is just like having unlocked doors and windows. It's an open invitation!

To the pack of hyenas waiting on the inside who haven't eaten all week.

I thought this was rather interesting.

http://www.getsafeonline.org/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=1166

Quoting:Protect Your Linux Computer

Linux needs proper installation and configuration to be fully secure

This article outlines a very high-level security checklist for Linux users.

This article is aimed at people running individual Linux workstations, rather than business or web servers or large networks. It assumes that anyone who sets up a Linux system is technologically sophisticated and doesn’t need a lot of hand-holding.

Most modern Linux distributions are more security-aware and will already adopt many of these points by default and include easy-to-use firewalls and update services. However, it is worth going through the tips one at a time to make sure.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of security advice for Linux systems. The links at the end of the article point to more detailed advice and reference material.

Good catch, TA. It's well worth pointing out that most Linux distributions support tightening or loosening security out of the box, rather than requiring third-party products (and more $$$) to implement standard practices.

I've already sent a feed back to the Beeb

> The BBC is often called the British Bias Corporation...

Political bias at a respected broadcaster??? Who would ever have thought. Aren't you glad that could never happen on this side of the Atlantic?

@jdixon: Of course American cable "news" networks mainly broadcast opinions. The difference is that nobody thinks otherwise. With the BBC many people still do.

Interesting, the talk back on the BBC Click site, I submitted a talkback that critisised the fact that they never mention that their botnet was only comprised of Windows computers, and that they should have added to their suggested remedies the suggestion that people replace windows with Linux. My talk back isn't there, it looks like it's been censored.

> The difference is that nobody thinks otherwise....

Nobody except the broadcasters themselves, who continue to insist that they're "unbiased". :(