Free source and open source software (choose your favorite term here) means never having to trust...you can:

(a) verify the human-written code if you can read the language(s) a program or programs are written in and compile the code yourself...

(b) with the exception of "binary blobs" that sometimes come bundled with a product (like some operating systems). OpenBSD and gNewSense are exceptions to unreadable operating system code "blobs", but then you have to be diligent about adding "blobby" applications such as Adobe Flash. A replaceable Flash -- Gnash -- is far from completely functional. YMMV.

Depending on your level of paranoia, you can use Tor ( http://www.torproject.org/ ) for online anonymity and GNU Privacy Guard ( http://www.gnupg.org/ ) for email encryption, etc.

And to add another level of security, it's possible to use a product like Puppy Linux which runs only in RAM, requires no hard drive, and as of version 4.3 does have both Java capability (for the Eunuch Chat) and Flash (for other forums' chats).

Sabayon Linux 5 is also capable in that regard, running in Live DVD mode, and it has a more attractive interface. I'd recommend at least 1GB RAM for it.

The big problem is that all of that takes effort. And most of us are pretty lazy. On a good day, I champion Truth and Justice. On a bad day, I pull a Dietrich ("I just vant to be left alone.")

Everyone has a comfort level when it comes to trust. I'm extreme because I've seen and been around too many people for way too long and know how black the human heart can be while presenting a cheerful countenance to the world. (Damn, what a long sentence!) Or as Eric Hoffer wrote, "What monstrosities would walk the streets if some people's faces were as unfinished as their minds."

Considering all that, I'm actually pretty cheerful. All in all, "Trust, but verify."

WTF? BSOD? F-N Gibberish

Honey, Ms Nun, are you having a seizure? did you take your meds this morning? Because you just pressed a bunch of random keys

IbPervert (imported) wrote: Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:55 pm Honey, Ms Nun, are you having a seizure? did you take your meds this morning? Because you just pressed a bunch of random keys

Quoted the wrong post. Get you unsettled a bit?

kristoff wrote: Fri Nov 13, 2009 5:15 pm Quoted the wrong post. Get you unsettled a bit?

I figured your poor old tired fingers just slipped a bit! ;)

Why I trust Microsoft, usually:

Viruses and trojans I wish not. So I buy, install, and regularly update and use software that will most likely project my computer data.

Just how much harm and benefit have Microsoft caused me?

More good than harm.

Trust can be granted to others based upon the combination of who the other is, and the value of trust granted.

The amount of effort you exercise when deciding on whether or not to trust someone or something depends on :

What is the benefit to be gained

What is my personal willingness to accept risk

What is my desire to gain benefit

Who or what might harm me.

What might the harm be.

Is there / are there other alternative(s) that would have less risk

I automatically don't trust anyone or anything, but experience and my personal risk factors influence how much effort I exercise in deciding whether or not to trust someone or something.

For the extreme example, if someone could kill you and get away with it, would you trust being in a secluded place alone with them? Depends on who they are. That someone "could" kill you doesn't mean that they WOULD kill you. In your own mind you make value judgements to assess the risk.

People you know who you would think would never kill anyone, let alone you, might surprise you; BANG!.

People you don't know at all would have no reason to kill you, but you just never know what is going on in their head.

In spite of what I say, we can not function in life if we trust no one or nothing ever.

As I drive or walk into a road intersection I trust that someone approaching a stop sign or red light in their vehicle is going to stop and not run into my vehicle or run over me.

But until they do or don't start to stop and actually stop, my assessment of risk and level of trust are an ongoing process especially when walking; I always keep a wary eye on approaching vehicles to assess the risk......are they slowing down? And at some point the risk elevates quickly and I take evasive action. Sometimes this evasive action is unwarranted because the driver just has a habit of approaching intersections at a higher than average rate of speed and stops quickly and abrubtly. But, you never know. It's not that easy when driving as things happen so quickly and avoidance is more difficult. Before walking or driving into an intersection do you look both ways when the light turns green? I do because I believe it is in my best interest to do so and avoid a red light runner. Maybe you are more trusting and just forge ahead. Good Luck.

You believe.

You assume.

You trust..........up to a point.

We live and hopefully learn, so we don't repeat past similar experiences.

Past experiences can and do deprive us of potentially new productive experiences.

Your personal willingness to accept previously experienced risk anew with a new person, or not, is unique to you. Accepting the advice of others regarding acceptance of risk is, well, unwise and quite risky for their risk assessment factors and past experiences are unique to them.

I stay with Microsoft because I am a computer idiot.

I am so happy with Mozilla's Firefox as an alternative to IE

or any other browser I have tried, I might purchase a

Mozilla PC platform as an alternative to Microsoft if it were offered.

Until then, I wish "the government" would require Microsoft to

maintain a product with updates or substitution for fifteen years upon

purchase. The idea that my XP is no longer supported is absurd.

And not the first time Microsoft has "discontinued" a platform I

purchased from them.

Moi



for 15 year product support