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Richard Haselgrove
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Message 83455 - Posted: 2 Dec 2017, 13:03:36 UTC - in response to Message 83454.  

It's more likely a job that lets you hold state secrets on your employer's computer. No, I wouldn't want one of those either.
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Message 83456 - Posted: 2 Dec 2017, 13:21:57 UTC
Last modified: 3 Dec 2017, 16:35:51 UTC

For it to work, anti-virus software like that sold by Kaspersky Labs requires extensive access to files on computers and networks to scan for malicious code.
It also requires the ability to communicate back to the company in order to receive updates and share data on what it finds.
However, the concern is that this could be used by the Russian state for espionage.
This is what all antivirus products do, as else they cannot find new baddies in the world and react to that.

So let's see whose government you're otherwise giving data to:
Tencent is China, BitDefender is Romanian, Avast is from the Czech Republic, Avira and GDATA are German, AVG is Dutch, Trend Micro is Japanese, Bullguard and Comodo are British, Checkpoint is Israeli, ESET is Slovakian. Their governments are as likely to spy on friends and foes alike as Russia or China.
PC Matic, Microsoft Security Essentials, Windows Defender, McAfee, Norton, Fortinet, Webroot and Vipre are all based in the USA.

I pay for my licenses because I did an intensive search for a good AV two years ago and found that the free ones are one year on top, the next they're at the bottom of the pile. That depends on the review as well, one review will put them top, the other bottom. But Kaspersky and Bitdefender are always on top.

The free ones will also add telemetry so they can spam you with all kinds of advertisements. They're slow, they're having a high impact on the system, probably because of all the snooping they do on your system and they certainly don't always catch everything that's out there on the bad interwebs.
Do know that you don't have to go to weird or naughty websites anymore, a page that sprouts advertisements that are infected and can inject code onto your system, is enough. Not too long ago here in the Netherlands some 200 legitimate websites were showing ads like that, because some group had hacked the advertisement server.

As the last ransomware (Wannacry) round showed, an update to your software can include the bad stuff.
Having an a day-out-date version of Flash on your system may be reason to be vulnerable.

The free AV versions will never have up to date virus definitions, they're always one or two days behind. At least with a paid license you have 4 or more updates per day.
The free AV versions only scan after the fact, you cannot set restrictions to files and folders (edit: you can probably exclude files and folders, but you cannot set restrictions on the files and folders that an external source cannot change the files/folders), or have them scan in real time. When they do scan in real time, they'll put a burden on your system, because they want you to pay for their paid-for package that doesn't have that burden.

So, what did 2 years Kaspersky cost me? A license for 5 computers for 2 years: 34 euros.
The license for Bitdefender, also 2 years, 3 computers: 30 euros.
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Richard Haselgrove
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Message 83460 - Posted: 2 Dec 2017, 17:04:56 UTC - in response to Message 83456.  

You missed Sophos from the UK. Even as a non-customer, I got good service from them when I reported a 'fresh-in-the-wild' virus to them, some 15 years ago.
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anniet
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Message 83466 - Posted: 2 Dec 2017, 23:35:49 UTC
Last modified: 2 Dec 2017, 23:55:32 UTC

I'm deeply suspicious of all the claims being made about Russia. It's not as if our own countries are squeaky clean is it?

I've used Kaspersky before and I will definitely use it again now. Just because extraordinary claims (like Russia is responsible for steering Brits at Brexit and Trump into the Whitehouse) don't stack up when you kind of would really like to see some proof that survives scrutiny, and find there isn't an awful lot of anything that does. We did these things to* ourselves - and we own them.

Even a small war would be overkill...

But that's just me having one of my opinions again... so feel free to ignore it :)

... or leap all over it with outrage - see if I care... :)

* or for (ourselves - depending on our respective views)
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anniet
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Message 83485 - Posted: 3 Dec 2017, 16:02:35 UTC

Due to the very real possibly I'm straying into politics, I'm answering this here.

During and after WWII Russian complicity and war crimes were horrendous
Why do you think I don't know that?

Why do you think Berlin was split by the Wall to keep East and West apart?
Have you laced that question the way you have after pulling in all the information on how that came about ?

Russia were already the west's big bad demon before the end of the first world war. They became progressively more deserving of the label (comparative to others) since the second yes - but again - our big boys suits only gleam as brightly as they do if we blind ourselves in one eye whilst we praise them for their "ethics" in the not so distant past, don't you think? ;) And progress is slow and easily setback - so it's wise to be wary - of all accounts that seem to rely on just believing what your politicians tell you to believe - based possibly on outdated paranoia, whether misplaced or not.

Cos frankly - paranoia is a poor substitute for reason.

There are also distinct advantages to studying history after the fact. Cooler, less propaganda-based - bigger pictures become available then, than the narrow views that were deemed necessary on many, if not all sides.

That is why it makes sense not to trust Russian software. HM government doesn't but up to you.
Yes...



... it is ;)

*exit thread clutching new paranoia*
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Profile Jord
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Message 83488 - Posted: 3 Dec 2017, 16:24:58 UTC - in response to Message 83472.  
Last modified: 3 Dec 2017, 16:35:37 UTC

Scaremongering. It's because the USA does it. After years of no problems, it's all of a sudden throwing out anything that even sounds slightly Russian. Kaspersky was the AV of choice for US government computers for years with no problems, but Russia must be the new bad, and so all the vassal states should follow suit. It's a new round of 'searching for the commies between the bed sheets'.

Meanwhilst, these countries have no problems importing all the other stuff from Russia: Russian main exports are energy (oil and petroleum products, gas, coal), rolled steel, ferrous and nonferrous metals and minerals. The greater part of Russian exports belongs to oil and petroleum products. Other leading exports are natural gas, timber, fertilizers, machinery and equipment, armaments. The foreign countries receive from Russia over 300 million tons of oil and approximately 250 billion cubic meters of gas.

A big percentage of natural gas used in the UK comes from Russia. Putin is the king of OPEC, and with that Russia dictates how much oil is pumped up and what you pay for all your energy.

I doubt you'll shut down your central heating tonight to protest these Russian influences into your home. Or stop running your computers until you have invested into and placed enough solar cells and windmills onto and around your house, so they can take over. So why the scaremongering about the antivirus product then?

As said, the manner in which it talks to home is exactly the same with any of the other products out there. And with that, any of the other governments can have influence onto the software, or the data it brings back.

January 1st here in The Netherlands the government starts its massive gathering of all data (telephone, internet). If they suspect some person of anything they don't like, they can then listen in on and hack anyone that they want who lives in the same neighborhood as that person. They store just everything they can get their hands on, so that they can at a later date search through all that data for proof of misconduct. All this data is of course stored for 3 years. A secret DNA data bank will be established in which they'll store the DNA of anyone they can get the DNA of, including that of unsuspecting civilians. Data and DNA gathered may be shared with foreign intelligence agencies without impunity.

The reason? Terrorism. We haven't had any terrorism yet, but to make sure that they'll be able to catch these scary terrorists before they act, everyone's got to suffer.
How many terrorists have been caught in the UK before they did their thing, because of the bulk data gathering? (funny, another David Anderson)

But the potential of a couple of scary Russians checking to see what's on your system is bad, huh? Dream on.
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Sirius B
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Message 83519 - Posted: 4 Dec 2017, 10:44:04 UTC

When it's done by foreign leaders & politicians, nothing much happens, but be an extremist...

The trough is emptied
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Profile Gary Charpentier
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Message 83527 - Posted: 4 Dec 2017, 14:48:09 UTC - in response to Message 83488.  

I love it. Is there an open source anti-virus project? Well if you don't trust closed source Micro$oft, how do you trust closed source anti-virus?
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Profile Gary Charpentier
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Message 83531 - Posted: 4 Dec 2017, 16:22:22 UTC - in response to Message 83528.  

January 1st here in The Netherlands the government starts its massive gathering of all data (telephone, internet). If they suspect some person of anything they don't like, they can then listen in on and hack anyone that they want who lives in the same neighborhood as that person. They store just everything they can get their hands on, so that they can at a later date search through all that data for proof of misconduct. All this data is of course stored for 3 years. A secret DNA data bank will be established in which they'll store the DNA of anyone they can get the DNA of, including that of unsuspecting civilians. Data and DNA gathered may be shared with foreign intelligence agencies without impunity.

Clearly it feels it has good reason to. And from what I've seen I wouldn't doubt their opinion. Half the country is barking mad.

Really? Insulting The Netherlands now after your insult of the Indian Subcontinent and the USA.
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Richard Haselgrove
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Message 83534 - Posted: 4 Dec 2017, 17:03:45 UTC - in response to Message 83533.  

FGM is primarily an African (mal)practice, not Indian. WHO statistics.
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Sirius B
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Message 83540 - Posted: 4 Dec 2017, 17:46:59 UTC - in response to Message 83533.  

Got a problem with the truth Mr C? In the free Western world, you can't go to prison for telling the truth.
Would that include other nationalities looking down their noses at the English for being nothing but cowards?

History shows that the English would never have built the British Empire without allies. Even closer to home, you couldn't even control your own lands & had to put down rebellions in both Ireland & Scotland with Dutch assistance.

Running down other countries may be all good & proper in your book, but just bear in mind that the English have always been p*ss poor on their own.
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Profile Gary Charpentier
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Message 83541 - Posted: 4 Dec 2017, 18:02:32 UTC - in response to Message 83540.  

Got a problem with the truth Mr C? In the free Western world, you can't go to prison for telling the truth.
Would that include other nationalities looking down their noses at the English for being nothing but cowards?

History shows that the English would never have built the British Empire without allies. Even closer to home, you couldn't even control your own lands & had to put down rebellions in both Ireland & Scotland with Dutch assistance.

Running down other countries may be all good & proper in your book, but just bear in mind that the English have always been p*ss poor on their own.

Waiting is fullness - Brexit.
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Sirius B
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Message 83544 - Posted: 4 Dec 2017, 19:17:41 UTC - in response to Message 83542.  

Says someone that was born in another country, but has chosen to stay here, and I believe now has British Citizenship.

So I'm sure you won't mind if I pass your remarks on to the Home Office, I am sure Amber Rudd will be most interested to learn of your views.
Be my guest.

Truth hurting Mr S? Just what nationality was King William of Orange?

History cannot be denied so what can Amber Rudd do? All the English have been able to do throughout history is blunder. It took Scotch, Welsh, Irish, Dutch, ANZAC. Indian backbone to give British Forces what they needed to win battles.

Your whinging about my birth has got rather stale considering where you were born. As for citizenship, you gotta be kidding.

As if the Home Secretary will take note of the ramblings of an old man, when all that has to be done is to point the relevant authorities to Boinc & the projects you've posted on.

I mean how much worse can it be? I'd be too ashamed to post any comment whatsoever if I forced a project leader's wife to place me on ignore!
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Mark Stevenson

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Message 83545 - Posted: 4 Dec 2017, 19:43:01 UTC

You 2 playing " playground games " again ? look what happened the last time and " history repeats itself " comes to mind , talk about short term memory loss and there's me thinking I'm the pot smoker round here :-)
Speaking of that time to relax and let the " kids " tire themselves out .
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Bernie Vine
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Message 83546 - Posted: 4 Dec 2017, 19:45:40 UTC

I think the petty bickering and insults may well start the up the "post hidden counter" if you are not careful.

Let stop insulting whole countries please.

More like a kindergarten every day.
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Mark Stevenson

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Message 83548 - Posted: 4 Dec 2017, 21:55:47 UTC - in response to Message 83541.  

but just bear in mind that the English have always been p*ss poor on their own.


Really , please tell that to Argentina ;-);-);-);-);-) , that was Britain on her own with NO help from certain others weren't it !!!
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Sir Rodney Ffing
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Message 83549 - Posted: 4 Dec 2017, 22:14:20 UTC - in response to Message 83548.  
Last modified: 4 Dec 2017, 22:21:07 UTC

I think you will find you are incorrect, Sir. :-) :-) :-)

The French - criticised by the press at the time for "assisting Argentina" with arms sales - specifically Exocets which they manufactured - provided your military with all they needed to know to sabotage the missiles. Mitterand and Thatcher were thick as proverbial thieves over the matter.

They also provided the British Air Force with examples of the military jets France had previously sold to Argentina - for pilots to familiarise themselves with. There is no reason you would know any of that at the time, of course. ;-)
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Sirius B
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Message 83550 - Posted: 4 Dec 2017, 22:20:41 UTC - in response to Message 83548.  

but just bear in mind that the English have always been p*ss poor on their own.


Really , please tell that to Argentina ;-);-);-);-);-) , that was Britain on her own with NO help from certain others weren't it !!!
Quite correct - Britain not England :-)
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Sir Rodney Ffing
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Message 83551 - Posted: 4 Dec 2017, 22:22:50 UTC - in response to Message 83550.  

but just bear in mind that the English have always been p*ss poor on their own.


Really , please tell that to Argentina ;-);-);-);-);-) , that was Britain on her own with NO help from certain others weren't it !!!
Quite correct - Britain not England :-)
A good point I missed covering.
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Profile Gary Charpentier
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Message 83552 - Posted: 4 Dec 2017, 23:55:35 UTC - in response to Message 83548.  

but just bear in mind that the English have always been p*ss poor on their own.


Really , please tell that to Argentina ;-);-);-);-);-) , that was Britain on her own with NO help from certain others weren't it !!!

IIRC it was only over when the threat of an American invented weapon was used.
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