On Metacritic: The Oscars: Who Will Win Best Picture?
BNET Business Network:
BNET
TechRepublic
ZDNet
TalkBack 21 of 111:
Next »
« Previous
Okay
so ask an average everyday Windows user what runas is or how to run an application using runas.

Ask a Linux user the same question but change runas to su or sux for SuSE.

I think you will be amazed at how many Windows users will give you the deer in the headlights look. The response from the average Linux user would be something like "Duh!"

Point is even with Linux, the users are taught to use su (or sux for SuSE) for those extremely rare apps that need root level access to run. And those apps would be things that deal with firewall configuration changes, system changes and application installations.

Linux users are told numerous times DON'T RUN AS ROOT!!! If needed use su to accomplish the one task you need. It's in all the user manuals that I have seen for Mandrake, SuSE and Red-Hat. It's all over the news boards and chats. Hell the OS will even warn you when you log in as root. SuSE has a nice splash warning message that is very clear on the dangers of running as root PLUS the background image is bright red with exploding bombs.

Therein lies the weakness of your counter to my post. I gaurantee you can ask 10 average Windows users (not sysadmins or MCSE's) how to run an application with Administrative rights as a normal user, you may get 1 that knows how.

Ask 10 average Linux users (again not sysads or RHCE's) the same question and I would venture a good guess that 7 will answer correctly, if not all.

BAD - Windows does nothing to train the average home user on the danger of running the OS as Administrator.

Good - Linux does.

BAD - Windows defaults to an Administrator account, even the ones bought from the store or dealer.

Good - Linux does not.

BAD - Windows does not hide the Administrator account (well I think XP does but I am not sure.)

Good - Linux does.

Training of the Windows user base needs to occur, like it is with the Linux user base. Sure there are a few idiots running thier Linux boxes as root, but I would venture to say they are very lazy people.

In all honesty on a properly set-up Linux box only requires root access to conduct updates and patching.
Posted by: Linux User 147560   Posted on: 08/22/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
Reply to Story Reply to Message

Alert moderator to an offensive message

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

Too bad you can't return Microsoft's "tool" like at Sears.  Xunil_Sierutuf | 08/21/04
Too bad you can't return Microsoft's "tool" like at Sears.  ryanmikhael | 08/21/04
Yes, trial version of Windows XP will get infected in 20 minutes!  Xunil_Sierutuf | 08/22/04
Yes, trial version of Windows XP will get infected in 20 minutes!  ryanmikhael | 08/22/04
ryanmikhael, me thinks you missed the point.... WHOOSH !  Plain Logic | 08/22/04
Missing what?  ryanmikhael | 08/22/04
Okay...  Qbt | 08/21/04
The only thing I hate  php_developer | 08/21/04
You missed the point  Martin Marvinski | 08/22/04
hrmmm....  toadlife | 08/22/04
I agree, but  php_developer | 08/21/04
Eventually Microsucks WILL be held accountable !!!  realitycheck101 | 08/21/04
Bla bla bla...  Christopher McLendon | 08/21/04
Yeah right here is someone that wants to listen to your rants  Squawkbox | 08/21/04
Wow...  Martin Marvinski | 08/22/04
Sounds like somebody else running as Administrator  Christopher McLendon | 08/21/04
You should have read further  Squawkbox | 08/21/04
I guess I missed the part...  bjbrock | 08/22/04
Even if he was running as a restricted user...  Linux User 147560 | 08/22/04
not an excuse.....  JoeMama_z | 08/22/04
Okay  Linux User 147560 | 08/22/04
Run right the first time  realgomer | 08/24/04
What exactly do you spend time and money on?  george_ou | 08/21/04
Sounds like you...  bjbrock | 08/22/04
I get out plenty  george_ou | 08/22/04
You missed the point, but you helped prove it  ByteWriter | 08/23/04
I cannot believe ZDNET allows this drivel  Mike Cox | 08/21/04
The judge from Cajun country awards a 9.8  Squawkbox | 08/21/04
LOL, SP2 is wowing customers.. "Wow, I can't believe I had to uninstall it"  Xunil_Sierutuf | 08/22/04
[snip]  DarbyOhara | 08/23/04
Seriously  TWRX | 08/23/04
Technologies, human are bound to fail  ryanmikhael | 08/21/04
Read between the lines  daedrak | 08/21/04
You are asking for a change that IT cannot allow  mlindl | 08/22/04
The irony is  Linux User 147560 | 08/22/04
But isn't more ironic  seosamh_z | 08/22/04
Right now I would  Linux User 147560 | 08/22/04
That's competition  seosamh_z | 08/23/04
RE: That's competition  Linux User 147560 | 08/23/04
That's old IT  seosamh_z | 08/22/04
Yea, but your world slows down OUR internet!  Xunil_Sierutuf | 08/22/04
Logistics  seosamh_z | 08/22/04
Hhahahahahha.  ryanmikhael | 08/22/04
Not whining, stating FACTS! MS users slow down internet  Xunil_Sierutuf | 08/22/04
But Linux professionals much more qualified to use it!  Xunil_Sierutuf | 08/22/04
Thanks for the career advice  seosamh_z | 08/23/04
Just ignore it...  JustMe99_z | 08/23/04
I have one word for this guy...  toadlife | 08/21/04
Even though...  Qbt | 08/21/04
Tone down the arrogance please  toadlife | 08/21/04
Re must have meant real worms, or real trojans.  Xunil_Sierutuf | 08/22/04
You are?  Linux User 147560 | 08/22/04
Nah, you must be joking  dave95 | 08/22/04
What qualifies you to say...  Rick_K | 08/23/04
take blame for your own actions  Joe Blow_z | 08/21/04
really...  tick | 08/22/04
M$ should  DarbyOhara | 08/23/04
It's truly amazing how many large corporations put up with this...  Plain Logic | 08/22/04
Reader rails against 'obscene' costs of MS insecurity  Loverock Davidson | 08/22/04
Like it is  seosamh_z | 08/22/04
Try updating your info.  Rick_K | 08/23/04
I'm a little confused...  Stellardyne | 08/22/04
Most IT professionals are far...  bjbrock | 08/22/04
The quizzical stare  j.m.galvin | 08/22/04
And this is the reason Linux will continue to gain  Richard Flude | 08/22/04
So there you have it  seosamh_z | 08/22/04
But what's a monopoly all about?  Linux_Developer | 08/22/04
The Monopoly  seosamh_z | 08/22/04
94% of desktop users...  Linux_Developer | 08/23/04
No, you aren't  Fred Fredrickson | 08/22/04
RE: I'm a little confused  DaveCollet | 08/24/04
Is anybody listening?  George Mitchell | 08/22/04
Good opinion piece, it  FilledOut | 08/22/04
There is a solution to MS insecutity  adyck | 08/22/04
booksey  booksey | 08/22/04
It HAS to be said, though, Steve... aren't you glad  mlindl | 08/22/04
I considered it but . . .  njic@... | 08/23/04
It just amazise me how every one thinks  Michael L Hereid Sr | 08/22/04
Just as amazing is some think...  Richard Flude | 08/22/04
Exactly  dave95 | 08/22/04
True enough  FilledOut | 08/23/04
Your computer is a very cheap machine  TheVillian | 08/22/04
bottom line  tick | 08/22/04
IT History 101  Richard Flude | 08/22/04
digression  tick | 08/23/04
Cretinous - READ  theloft | 08/22/04
Why the elitist attitude?  Linux User 147560 | 08/22/04
wait, who's the moron again?  Captain Struggle | 08/23/04
quite the hypocryte....  JoeMama_z | 08/22/04
It's a classic  seosamh_z | 08/23/04
Wow! Looks like the article hit home!  Linux_Developer | 08/23/04
It's not so much the article.....  JoeMama_z | 08/23/04
...It's the rudeness and arrogance of the replies  Grolan | 08/23/04
That was hilarious  JoeMama_z | 08/23/04
authors reply  njic@... | 08/23/04
I am rooting for you man!  Linux User 147560 | 08/23/04
HEY EVERONE!! HE QUOTED ME! NANNER NANNER!!!  Loverock Davidson | 08/23/04
I feel for you  Rick_K | 08/23/04
While a lot of that was IYO  JoeMama_z | 08/23/04
You use Linux?  Linux_Developer | 08/25/04
Authors Reply  DaveCollet | 08/24/04
Why Don't People Get It?  jaoifalkjsdao | 08/23/04
It's some folks concern, but for others its their agenda  FilledOut | 08/23/04
TCO: What about the cost of extra security!?!?!  riff7raff | 08/23/04
And still the MS bashers prattle on.  tlciii | 08/23/04
A word from an "MS basher"  Linux_Developer | 08/23/04
It'd just be nice if the TalkBacks were more technical  FilledOut | 08/23/04
It's a tool, it's a toy  Zorched | 08/24/04
Naivety  kevin.weir | 08/24/04
General Tone in industry.  boomslang_z | 08/25/04
Pop-Up Blocker my @$$  Overcast | 08/25/04

What do you think?

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads