What is Digg?83 Comments
- buckykatt, on 10/12/2007, -2/+20this is inaccurate. I usually get all my viruses and spyware for free.
- klang, on 10/12/2007, -3/+20no, it should be: Viruses and Spyware is a $7.8 Billion industry
- wvdavis, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14I don't want "technitions" like you working on *my* systems.
- digitaldivider, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12no. now go away.
- StatusQuoRules, on 10/12/2007, -4/+12no it should be
Viruses and Spyware Cost WINDOWS Users $7.8 Billion - imtigger2, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Most ALL these types of 'survey' numbers are *****. $7.8 BILLION!? *****.
From the article, "The numbers could possibly be inflated by the way the questions are phrased, especially in an area in which most people aren't very articulate,"
Just like when we hear that business lose BILLIONS of dollars because of a particular day taken off, or when millions of computers are shut down by a virus. Right. So they just throw those jobs/sales orders/invoices in the trash and DON'T get to them the next day when everything and everyone is working, right? Such B.S. - treelovinhippie, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10Haven't the masses learnt about Ad-Aware, SpyBot or AVG??
- ubuntumatthew, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6This Linux virus was quite amusing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bliss_(virus)
A quote: "It writes a neat log of all its actions to /tmp/.bliss and even has a --bliss-uninfect-files-please command line option that sometimes might come handy, and actually does what it promises."
My sense is that most of these are of the "proof of concept" sort and not actually floating about in the wild waiting to affect someone. - oooo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Is it just me or does anyone else get the feeling they are pulling these numbers out of their a.....? No real qualification of the numbers in the article.
- titlesaysitall, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Can we bash you instead? And instead of bashing Windows lets bash major anti virus companies for charging too much for their software. There are plenty of free versions
- wvdavis, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8You're right... that was silly.
- Cronus6, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Format and reinstall every 6-9 months = $0 also....
Really I've never known ANYONE who 'had' to "repair or replace computers" for spyware or a virus.
I nuke my Harddrive and reinstall about twice a year anyway. - MikeSD34, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7None of them are foolproof, some catch more than others, some are cumbersome to use, but most of all, it's a lack of consumer education. They get their new computer and a few months later they're computer is telling them that their license for Mcafee is up and they need to pay for it. They say, what the hell is Mcaffee, I didn't put that on there, I'm not going to pay for it.
Then they get a virus and take it back to the manufacturer who tries to sell them more stuff or charges them an arm and a leg to fix it, then questions them about the anti-virus they didn't pay for, and why it wasn't running, and they ask, what the hell is an anti-virus software? Why do I need that? - Sukino, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Cost for stupidity.
And you don't need Linux to be safe. - liuite, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5How much did MS Security Updates cost users?
of two friends' PCs I've serviced...both were crippled by MS patches.
a XP machine that took about half an hour to boot - patch corrupted auto logon.
ME machine with IE and windows explorer problem - patch uninstalled IE and corrupted os - szembek, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Straight from the department of made up numbers....
- nipuL, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4If it wasn't for these viruses and spyware I'd be out of a job. I use linux and bsd at home and spend most of my time at work bitching about how annoying, slow and unstable windows it (even to customers). Surely this money could be better spent on service contracts for linux operating systems, I'd much rather have people spend their money on me maintaing an operating system, customised to their needs, that I actually like rather than spend several hours a day cursing the day Billyboy was born.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Reported as Inaccurate because the headline is not accurate at all. Instead, the headline should be: Viruses and Spyware Cost Stupid/Retarded Users $7.8 Billion
- striker1211, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2A proxy, wtf?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Alternate title: "Why use Linux, exhibit A"
Though honestly, I'll grant that even when I used Windows I didn't have the expense problem...but I did have the labor of several nights per year of scraping crap out of the system (sorry, I wasn't the only person on the machine).
But I do have Windows users to thank for all my hardware; typically by the time a new computer is deemed irrepairable or obsolete for the new version of Windows, that's just the time when it's coming into it's prime as a Linux box. - astrotrain, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3*pinky in mouth" "One million dollars...."
-Dr. Evil - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6I wonder how much is spent on Mac OS Shareware and software a year? Any money I used to spend on protecting my PC is now spent on making my Mac more productive.
- uownedge, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The best removal and prevention tools are the free ones. I've been pushing Avira and Avast! as well as Spybot, HijackThis, etc to the folks I do support for outside of my regular job, and the results have been great.
I charge less than half of what Best Buy charges for cleanup and removal, and last year I made a killing on this type of work, and I don't even take that many jobs. My customers like me, and refer me to their friends, etc. I've got many people interested in Firefox, and the majority of my work has not warranted a repeat call (with the exception of a few who did not take my advice the first time around for protection). As sad as it is that these problems are costing so many people so much money, it's nice to know that I'm guaranteed to be able to pull an income.
My relationship with Windows is a love/hate one. I hate it because I don't enjoy using it, but I love it because it's the reason I'll be eating filet mignon and drinking expensive wine tonight ;) - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5A more accurate title is Viruses and Spyware cost Windows users $7.8 billion. There are so many alternatives out there now there's no reason to keep surfing the internet with Windows. Use Windows for gaming and do everything online on Linux.
Windows is a fine operating system, just don't use it to surf the net and it will stay working. - justgenius12, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Actually, the masses are not as technically savvy as us. They barely have an idea what spyware and viruses are and how you are supposed to protect yourself from them.
- redxii, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Ya, right here. Costs me $0.
- DASH, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I made 50 bucks just today due to spyware and adware!
- nobogeys217, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3i think somebody is mad because they cant get rid of all of their viruses. Mac users arent arrogant *****. Why would you say that. We like to use computers, not waste all our time running scaning our systems. We also like to utilize our hard drives for things other than anti-virus, anti-spam, and anti-spy software. Im not a mac fanboy but hey its a better system. carry on and dont forget to scan for viruses.
- jejones, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Gee, I wonder if this was added into those bogus "Get the Facts" sponsored studies of TCO.
- khemso, on 01/15/2009, -0/+1PC??? ... you mean Mac
http://gold-price-blog.info/2009/01/paid-surveys-m ... - drysz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I just don't believe the damage estimates analysts come up with concerning viruses and spyware. I guess it will be easier when viruses can actually physically kill your computer.
It's easier to put a dollar value on dead hardware then a corrupted registry file. - nicepants, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I question their definitions of spyware and virus. I've seen MANY more computers infected with spyware come through here than I have viruses. But some spyware is so sleazy it could be defined as a virus.
- VnutZ, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3The real kick is when it becomes a script-automated process to rootkit the Windows machines. Currently the spyware/adware/virus stuff is very simple (often just variants of existing strains that are successful from their difficult nature to remove). But once they mix in rootkits ... not only will you not have a clue that you've been infected, but they can keep modifying it for more 'functionality' without having to reinfect you. Imagine getting the virus which in turn rootkits you and establishes a covert (via network headers, encryption, etc) network channel to IRC to download the latest spyware and upload your personal data. It'd be far more effective than what they're doing today.
Rootkit Information: http://www.omninerd.com/2005/11/22/articles/43 - mattyice11, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Yes, using Linux or OS X avoids this stuff, but Viruses and Spyware really aren't an issue for the type of Windows users who read Digg. I've never had a virus in my life, and I don't bother with anti-spyware. Just for the sake of it, I ran an AdAware scan right before posting this and all it found was a few cookies...I'm really scared.
Any shady porn/software downloads get done in VMware, so I think I'm as safe as anyone running any other OS. - flair1, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I use Red Hat Enterprise Linux on my work laptop and I don't need anti-virus, anti-spyware, or firewall software. So far, it works great.
Now if they can fix the suspend issue, I would be a happy camper. - jejones, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3@gd007: Head for distrowatch.com, pick a good Linux distribution, and install. Back up your data first, so you can wipe the Windows partition.
- CBTF, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1That's nice. I spend $0 on my PC and it's still secure. There's freeware for that.
- Splitt3rxx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I run scans often when I am not on the computer and it never really fins anything, I am not an idiot, I knwo how to keep my computer protected.and why would I call them arrogant *****? because I am going insane because of all the insane fanboys on digg that just LOVE to bash microsoft every chance they get and post worthless articles liek a windows machine crashing or an article about how steve jobs likes grilled cheese sandwiches.
- Werrismys, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I hate Winblows, I really do, but the spyware/adware problem is mostly because most Windows users are morons. Lazy, illiterate, ignorant bastards.
They bluntly refuse to learn even the basics and then imagine their Wincrap will work ok as long as they have anti-whatever running on it. There should be some monetary penalty for keeping an infected Winblows machine on open networks. If it cost them MONEY every time their machine gets infected, maybe they would learn (or get a more secure system). As it is, everyone suffers - even non-windoze users. Placebo companies (antivirus companies) will make profit spreading FUD. - dent, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Headline should read:
"MICROSOFT costs users 7.8 Billion - THIS YEAR"
Stop kidding yourself, you know its true. There is no escape from the horrors of malware, viruses or whatever else with this pathetic excuse for an operating system. No third-party app will save you in the long run either - no matter how much you paid for it. YOU ARE NOT AN EXPERT WINDOWS USER who can protect yourself. You are not smarter than everyone else because you don't use Internet Explorer and you know how to use Hijackthis. If you use Windows, you are not an expert - you are a fool. - Sukino, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1You think Linux would be useful for computer illiterate? OK
And you don't need to understand computers to learn that you shouldn't click on everything on the Internet. You also don't it install antivirus, spybot and firefox :) - CarzorStelatis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Virii and spyware cost users $7.8 billion in total. The software to prevent infections costs $0. You don't even need to have finished grade school to work that one out.
- jvicinanza, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1viruses? what viruses?
Jason - jvicinanza, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I bloody good point well made!
nice one!
Jason - MikeCerm, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2The "run Linux, it's safer" argument is a fallacy. Not because it's not true, mind you, but because if you're smart enough to run Linux, you're also smart enough to not get viruses or spyware in Windows.
- gd007, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3this is scary. how do i make sure my cpu is completely virus and spyware free?
- TomP, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3....On Windows
- MikeCerm, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1If Windows users are stupid enough to pay $7.8 billion to "fix" Windows, they're definitely far too stupid for Linux. If they can't download a few free apps to keep XP clean, what's the likelihood that they can/will download and a free OS and configure NDISwrapper and manually edit x-org.conf?
- kenz0r, on 10/12/2007, -8/+8Did somebody say, Mac OS X?
- Metalcastr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Programs you can use to get rid of spyware/etc infections:
Spybot
Ad-Aware
Rootkit Revealer
A-squared free (kinda new, not so sure what to expect from this)
Windows Defender (just kidding)
There are more out there, but these are free ones that do a pretty good job.
Next I have people asking me "what's spyware?"
I think most people live in a fantasy world where windows has no flaws and you don't need anti-virus software. Now I am going to go talk to my unicorns. -
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