6 ms·

Well, the locked-down nature of iOS and Chrome OS are what make them markedly more secure than a general purpose computer in the face of real-world threats. Ju

by Niten 9y ago

Well, the locked-down nature of iOS and Chrome OS are what make them markedly more secure than a general purpose computer in the face of real-world threats. Just this week, my Mom's Chromebook kept her safe from what appears to have been a targeted attack (someone sent her an email with a link to a malicious .ru domain and my name in the From header). That locked-down design is also why I'm writing this response on a Chromebook. It's for good reason that Tech Solidarity and other security-conscious organizations recommend using iOS and Chromebooks where possible: https://techsolidarity.org/resources/basic_security.htm https://techsolidarity.org/resources/basic_security.htm Of course, we must fight tooth and nail against any regulations that would restrict access to general-purpose computing, or put limits on connecting a general-purpose computer to the Internet. But it's important to remember that there are absolutely legitimate reasons to use and recommend locked-down machines, and that the most technically adept of us will use a combination of both categories of computing device in our lives.

gwbas1c 9y ago
I've wanted a locked down computer ever since every program that I installed in 1995 wanted to put a useless icon in my tray and take over every file type association. General purpose computers are great when I'm writing the program, but awful when running someone else's poorly written program that wants to take control over my computer. I like to think of a general purpose computer like a giant truck: great if you like that kind of thing, but not for everyone.
- chtfn 9y ago
  What about a thriving Free Software ecosystem where the code can be audited and modified, and where the best apps (i.e. the ones that follow what users generally accept to be a standard of "respect" to your machine and its user, as well as doing their job) bubble up to the top? Using various Ubuntu-based distros and Free Software apps over the last 8 years, I have never felt like any program was overstepping the boundaries.
- Dylan16807 9y ago
  You want a curated software store/repo. The computer itself doesn't need to be locked down to get the benefits you're talking about.
  - natch 9y ago
    So, which curated software store/repo do you prefer? http://download.com http://download.com? Now owned by CNET, and full of sketchiness. Or maybe you like http://freeware.com http://freeware.com? Oh, snap, it's down and parked by a squatter now. Or maybe an open source site? How about https://sourceforge.net https://sourceforge.net? How'd that work out? Could start by installing Java, let's see, oracle.com, click, ah, what's this? It's installing the Yahoo! browser toolbar by default??!!! Yeah. Curated. And even if you do manage to get a curated software store without lockdown that has a business model, it's not clear to me how you solve the problem of people sharing passwords with sketchy family members and friends who then install hidden software that secretly, behind their back, stalks them without so much as an informational prompt or opt-in. No, I think there are good reasons for having devices somewhat locked down, especially when it's being done for the sake of the end user.
    - Freak_NL 9y ago
      Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch; many Linux distributions provide excellent curated software repositories that just work for general purpose software. Have done so for well over a decade. All without locking the user out of his own computer. And of course Steam, GoG, and the HumbleStore provide curated repositories for proprietary games on many platforms.
      - Macha 9y ago
        Steam is far less curated these days than 2-3 years ago
    - 3131s 9y ago
      You sound like you've been living under a rock for twenty years! Choose pretty much any Linux distribution and you'll get an excellent package manager that plugs into curated lists of software, AKA repositories.
- michaelmrose 9y ago
  You basically want everyone's machine to be locked down to protect people like yourself with bad taste in applications.
confounded 9y ago
You not getting p0wnd is an example of the shareholders of the owner of the machine, and the interests of the data input substrate (you), being aligned. You get this security in exchange for all your personal data being uploaded to their servers (for advertising to try and change your behavior for their clients, and for storage for your government, and perhaps others), and Google getting to decide which apps you can run, and which apps developers can publish in the store. As long as you stay aligned with the interests of the shareholders of the ad-surveillance company (and the government) it's a great deal.

by Niten 9y ago

gwbas1c 9y ago

I've wanted a locked down computer ever since every program that I installed in 1995 wanted to put a useless icon in my tray and take over every file type association. General purpose computers are great when I'm writing the program, but awful when running someone else's poorly written program that wants to take control over my computer. I like to think of a general purpose computer like a giant truck: great if you like that kind of thing, but not for everyone.

chtfn 9y ago
What about a thriving Free Software ecosystem where the code can be audited and modified, and where the best apps (i.e. the ones that follow what users generally accept to be a standard of "respect" to your machine and its user, as well as doing their job) bubble up to the top? Using various Ubuntu-based distros and Free Software apps over the last 8 years, I have never felt like any program was overstepping the boundaries.
Dylan16807 9y ago
You want a curated software store/repo. The computer itself doesn't need to be locked down to get the benefits you're talking about.
- natch 9y ago
  So, which curated software store/repo do you prefer? http://download.com http://download.com? Now owned by CNET, and full of sketchiness. Or maybe you like http://freeware.com http://freeware.com? Oh, snap, it's down and parked by a squatter now. Or maybe an open source site? How about https://sourceforge.net https://sourceforge.net? How'd that work out? Could start by installing Java, let's see, oracle.com, click, ah, what's this? It's installing the Yahoo! browser toolbar by default??!!! Yeah. Curated. And even if you do manage to get a curated software store without lockdown that has a business model, it's not clear to me how you solve the problem of people sharing passwords with sketchy family members and friends who then install hidden software that secretly, behind their back, stalks them without so much as an informational prompt or opt-in. No, I think there are good reasons for having devices somewhat locked down, especially when it's being done for the sake of the end user.
  - Freak_NL 9y ago
    Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch; many Linux distributions provide excellent curated software repositories that just work for general purpose software. Have done so for well over a decade. All without locking the user out of his own computer. And of course Steam, GoG, and the HumbleStore provide curated repositories for proprietary games on many platforms.
    - Macha 9y ago
      Steam is far less curated these days than 2-3 years ago
  - 3131s 9y ago
    You sound like you've been living under a rock for twenty years! Choose pretty much any Linux distribution and you'll get an excellent package manager that plugs into curated lists of software, AKA repositories.
michaelmrose 9y ago
You basically want everyone's machine to be locked down to protect people like yourself with bad taste in applications.

confounded 9y ago

You not getting p0wnd is an example of the shareholders of the owner of the machine, and the interests of the data input substrate (you), being aligned. You get this security in exchange for all your personal data being uploaded to their servers (for advertising to try and change your behavior for their clients, and for storage for your government, and perhaps others), and Google getting to decide which apps you can run, and which apps developers can publish in the store. As long as you stay aligned with the interests of the shareholders of the ad-surveillance company (and the government) it's a great deal.