Vista vs. XP

[ming]

What do you think is safer?

 

[NetRyder]

As far as just online shopping and banking are concerned, there really isn't much of a difference, since IE 7 on XP includes the same anti-phishing features as IE 7 in Vista. And if you use Firefox or Opera, they're obviously identical on both OS versions.

With that said, Vista is more resistant to malware because of the multiple lines of defense built into the system, so it would be harder (but not impossible) for a password-stealing keylogger/trojan, for example, to install itself on the system without some sort of user intervention. In that sense, the system, in general, would be more secure.

There's a pretty good rundown of the new safety/security features in Vista on Wikipedia, if you're interested:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_and_safety_features_new_to_Windows_Vista

 

[ming]

Would you go to the extent to say you'd shop and bank online with Vista without the need to use 3rd party Personal Firewalls and Anti Malware products installed?

I'm just a bit wary of the online security of this new OS. I like the system very much, but not 100% confident at this moment in time.

 

[Mastershakes]

Should be fine, I echo much of NetRyder's assessment. Proceed.

 

[j79zlr]

Yea, this is the OS I want to be doing online banking with: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Forg...s-Harvest-User-Data-for-Microsoft-58752.shtml

 

[LordOfLA]

128bit and 256bit encryption would take a huge cluser thousands of years to crack. Any browser that supports them is safe. Human error is the problem.

 

[NetRyder]

Would you go to the extent to say you'd shop and bank online with Vista without the need to use 3rd party Personal Firewalls and Anti Malware products installed?

I'm just a bit wary of the online security of this new OS. I like the system very much, but not 100% confident at this moment in time.

Been using it since November of 2006 and haven't found any causes for concern in those areas.

I personally run without a realtime antivirus monitor and third-party firewall, but if you'd like the additional peace of mind, there's a Vista-compatible version of AVS which is free and based on the excellent Kaspersky scanning engine.

Yea, this is the OS I want to be doing online banking with: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Forg...s-Harvest-User-Data-for-Microsoft-58752.shtml

(Thanks, Sazar)

 

[j79zlr]

Good to know that its not a big deal they are data mining you.

 

[NetRyder]

Good to know that its not a big deal they are data mining you.

If it makes my experience better and saves me time, I don't care.

Plug in a new device and it contacts Windows Update in order to automatically find a driver. Great. If it finds something, that means I don't have to search for, download and install it myself. Time saved.

Play some media and it tries to automatically find missing codecs or track metadata. Great. If it works, that means I don't have to go hunting for codecs, or manually tag all my music. Time saved.

Pretty much everything else - CEIP, control panel searches, product registration, etc - is opt-in. The user explicitly has to give his/her consent before any of this data is collected or transmitted. Even the report you linked to acknowledges that.

Besides, I fail to understand how this has anything to do with online shopping or banking in Vista. It's not like IE is harvesting your bank account numbers (or any personally identifiable information for that matter) and transmitting them to BillG's inbox. In fact, I'm pretty sure nobody at Microsoft cares about what you ate for lunch today, or how much porn you have stashed on your disk.

 

[j79zlr]

"It's not like IE is harvesting your bank account numbers (or any personally identifiable information for that matter) and transmitting them to BillG's inbox."

You have no idea what information they are sending.

 

[NetRyder]

"It's not like IE is harvesting your bank account numbers (or any personally identifiable information for that matter) and transmitting them to BillG's inbox."

You have no idea what information they are sending.

And you do? Care to enlighten us with some proof?

 

[j79zlr]

And you do? Care to enlighten us with some proof?

I have no idea either, but I also have absolutely no reason to trust Microsoft.

So the OS is admittedly transmitting user data back to its servers and you fail to see how this would be related to online shopping security??? Being naive would be so much more enjoyable I guess.

 

[madmatt]

So quick to blame Microsoft. Do you feel the same way about other operating systems? Just curious. I would assume you "have absolutely no reason to trust" them either?

 

[Vanquished]

I'd definitely say that Online shopping is secure through both.
I mean whenever I buy something online, i never think twice about someone stealing my info.

 

[NetRyder]

I have no idea either, but I also have absolutely no reason to trust Microsoft.

So the OS is admittedly transmitting user data back to its servers and you fail to see how this would be related to online shopping security??? Being naive would be so much more enjoyable I guess.

You keep mentioning this so-called "user data" that's supposedly being transmitted back, but you can't bring up proof when you're asked to do so. Honestly, that doesn't do much for your credibility.

I'm not being naive; unlike you, I just don't have random trust issues in cases where there's no clear proof of privacy violations. You might want to try taking that tinfoil hat off once in a while.

 

[ming]

I used to think MS gathered "user data" back in the days, not anymore though... now I just think the CIA does it. 😛 Hope I've not just been flagged by them for mentioning their name. tee hee. 😉

 

[ElementalDragon]

j79zlr: so if you're worried about what that article states.... then i guess you don't play World of Warcraft either? their EULA/Terms of Service say the exact same thing.

edit: just checked into WoW's terms of use again... don't remember seeing this one there before. really makes you wonder what Blizzard is really interested in. it's the Acknowledgements section of the Terms of Use that's the real killer with all this stuff.

1. BLIZZARD MAY RECORD YOUR CHAT SESSIONS AND OTHER ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION TRANSMITTED OR RECEIVED THROUGH THE GAME AND YOU CONSENT TO SUCH MONITORING OR LOGGING.

 

[ming]

j79zlr: so if you're worried about what that article states.... then i guess you don't play World of Warcraft either? their EULA/Terms of Service say the exact same thing.

edit: just checked into WoW's terms of use again... don't remember seeing this one there before. really makes you wonder what Blizzard is really interested in. it's the Acknowledgements section of the Terms of Use that's the real killer with all this stuff.
[/list]

Did anyone read the news about how some 31yo woman got arrested who tried to meet up with a 17yo in the US? They met each other through WoW. 😛 I don't know the full details.

 

[LordOfLA]

some people need to get a grip on reality.

Some need to tone down the Microsoft criticism. This is not a bash your favourite target thread.

 

[j79zlr]

So quick to blame Microsoft. Do you feel the same way about other operating systems? Just curious. I would assume you "have absolutely no reason to trust" them either?

I can view the source code on Linux or BSD. Not that I would actually sit their and read through it but others have and do, and I guarantee if there was some strange sockets being created and transferring data, it would be found and exposed. There is a layer of transparency there.

I wouldn't trust Apple either, but to be honest I've never seen their privacy policy or been interested in it.

j79zlr: so if you're worried about what that article states.... then i guess you don't play World of Warcraft either? their EULA/Terms of Service say the exact same thing.

Nope, absolutely not.

Look, I spent a few years removing spyware from a lot of computers. The EULA in those programs look a lot like the Vista EULA. They say the information is not personally identifiable yet they also state that "Microsoft may disclose personal information about you if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary..." well if it is not personally identifiable then how can they do that?

Microsoft has done illegal activities in the past and been convicted of them in a court of law. Do you give trust to known criminals?