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I’m a Linux supporter, went through a lot of learning process to get where I am today, never looked back ever since. I often encourage friends, family, business contact to try Linux, with tone like “It’s just that easy!!”, without telling them the time and sweat. I thought it’s a common sense, that you have to learn it, if it’s new to you. Unfortunately this is not the case, people tends to expect everything just work out of the box. So, my experience is, don’t tell someone about Linux, when he/she asks about how to connect to Internet with Windows.

Think Thick, however, has gathered some facts, for those who really want to try out Linux. I’ll quote the 10 facts here.

1. The basic installation of most mainstream Linux distributions is very easy, but a first time user might run into trouble when trying to depart from the defaults.
2. If you want a proper Linux installation, you are going to have to mess around with the partition table.
3. You will have to learn how to use the command line.
4. All those pretty effects of wobbly windows and cube desktops require some work from the user.
5. Yes, more hardware works with Linux than with Windows. No, not all hardware works 100% like it’s supposed to.
6. If you need/want to install a package not included in the repositories, or install from source, you might need to do some research.
7. Most mainstream software manufacturers forget about Linux.
8. Linux is not for the meek of heart.
9. Linux is almost entirely virus/trojan/spyware free, but you will still need some kind of protection.
10. Linux assumes that you are an intelligent person.

How’s that sound? Read the full article here.

BadBunny, a malware targeting OpenOffice documents is spreading through multiple operating systems, namely Mac OS, Windows and Linux. This amazed me so much when seeing this particular virus creator is following the software trend, cross platforms.

How does it spread? In short, this worm enters the computer as an OpenOffice document “badbunny.odg“, once opened by the user, it launches a macro that acts differently depends on the operating system.

1. On Windows - It creates a new file called “drop.bad” which stores in system.ini in the user’s mIRC folder. “badbunny.js” Javascript virus is also executed to replicate files in the folder.
2. On Mac OS - It creates Ruby script viruses in files “badbunny.rb” and “badbunnya.rb“
3. On Linux - It creates “badbunny.py” as XChat script and “badbunny.pl” as a Perl virus.

This virus is distributed via IRC’s DCC file sending (the “badbunny.odg” file).

Read also:
OpenOffice worm hits Mac, Linux and Windows
Multi-platform OpenOffice worm discovered
BadBunny seen in “the wild”? OpenOffice multi-platform macro worm discovered

badbunny, multi platform, openoffice, virus

Do you handle your finance online? Banking services, PayPal, E-Gold, Forex and many more, all these involved money. You would not want someone to get hold of your credentials and consequencely damage your financial status in many ways. Most of all, you would not want someone to steal from you.

PhishTank is a community formed to fight against online phishing scams. The community has also kindly released API for other applications to link to the database, to help massive users to distinguish dangerous websites from good ones.

PhishTank SiteChecker is a Firefox extension that makes used of the PhishTank API. Whenever you visit a website, the program will check with PhishTank database whether the site has been submitted to the blacklist or not. You can also help the community by submitting phishing websites, just a simple click.

fight, phishing, phishtank, sitechecker

It’s been a while since I wrote about Debian, I don’t have much time to try anything new recently so I just use it as it is. During my latest package update, I’ve found out that Compiz has been added into the Unstable repository. Quite an exciting finding to me, I’m always into desktop eye candy.

Compiz is OpenGL-based compositing and window-manager for Linux. Sort of 3D Desktop, like what you get in Windows Vista, only it has relatively more features and plugins. It is pretty much in development, so some tweaks have to be made in order to make it work. Ubuntu has it integrated in the desktop environment pretty well I’ve heard. Let’s get on to it.

First, get these packages in the Unstable pool. Apply necessary dependency.

• compiz
• compiz-core
• compiz-gnome
• compiz-gtk
• compiz-kde
• compiz-plugins
• libdecoration0
• gconf-editor

I have received a very informative forwarded email from Jimmy, thanks to him again. This email is written in both English and Mandarin, credit to the original poster. These tips are noted during a speech by Pat Malone, who was a body guard for famous figures like Farrah Fawcett and Sylvester Stallone. He also teaches hand-to-hand combat in various agencies.

Security has been always a major social issue in Malaysia, you read horrible news on a daily basis. I hope this forwarded email will help, at least to build more awareness around friends.

personal, security, tips