3 ms·

No shit. This isn't news, it's a well known fact.

enraged_camel 14y ago
Not sure why you are being downvoted, as anyone who deals with computers will be well aware that anti-virus software exists mostly as security theater. It can be useful against certain types of viruses, especially those who are widespread, but it is a very dangerous thing in and of itself because it states that the user's system is "protected," causing most people to gain a false sense of security and drop their guard.
- lucian303 14y ago
  People don't like to face the truth. No worries, downvoting, upvoting, I couldn't give a shit one way or the other. It's just a silly number.
  - zanny 14y ago
    But I thought my self worth was measured in internet points. Did Reddit lie to me? 😰
    - lucian303 14y ago
      Reddit? Why Reddit never lies! ;-)
    - lucian303 14y ago
      Not only that, calling this "karma" and identifying with the popular notion of "karma" which has no basis in any philosophy but irrational, illogical thinking, is quite ironic. If you do something good to someone, something good will not happen to you. That's the popular notion of "karma" and it's wrong. It's wrong from the traditional notion and it's wrong from the philosophical concept. But too many people want to live in the delusion of this pseudo-bullshit-karma world.
      - TheAmazingIdiot 14y ago
        The word "Karma" is a Hindi word meaning 'Action'. No more, and no less. What you or others may attach to it doesn't matter.
        lucian303 14y ago
        Yes, but it's my understanding that the Hindi concept is much deeper than that. I don't presume to be an expert on this topic (Hindi karma), however. Philosophical karma is a different thing and very simple. What is attached to popular karma is an over-optimistic, unrealistic viewpoint of rewards based on action. The world doesn't work that way, but a lot of people, especially in the western world think it does and think this is a valid concept. It's not. It's a sequitur. That is all that I was stating. I do not wish to attach anything more to the concept than has already been attached.
        TheAmazingIdiot 14y ago
        I waited to respond to stay away from the people here who hate religion, as well as get sufficiently off the front page as not to derail the general antivirus discussion. Karma is simply that: action. Physical actions are just like how we accept Newton's Laws of motion as science (in Cartesian, non-relatavistic, non-high-gravity). It can be tested to a high degree of certainty, and therefore requires heavy proof to overcome. However the distinction with karma is application of Newton's laws to also human behavior. That includes equal and opposite reactions to emotions, thoughts, and efforts. Those who followed Hinduism accepted this idea as Karma. Wiccans know this as the Wiccan Rede and the threefold rule. LaVeyan Satanism's "Rules of the Earth" have some sembelance of 'do no harm to innocents'. Even Jews discuss this very topic with the positive form in Leviticus 19:18, whilst not discussing the basis for it (it's usual for Abrahamic religions to give commandments). I think every religion has developed a wording of the same principal of Karma, but with slightly different wordings due to language and culture. Most seem to get the idea of inertia. People tend to go the direction they were already headed towards, even if it is ruin. I've seen this time and again with people. It doesn't matter if you tell them: something with as much force has to get in their way. And most people get reciprocity, or "you get what you put out". Seems awfully similar to "For Every Action, there is an equal and opposite Reaction".
- gizmo686 14y ago
  I do not think anti-viruses are pure security theater. They will not protect against zero day attacks, however, once a specific virus hits enough people, anti-viruses will be updated, preventing large scale infection. In order to avoid this, attackers need an attack vector that would allow them to change the virus binary at will. These definitely exist, but A/V does stop a non trivial amount of infections.
  - lucian303 14y ago
    There is software out there that specifically targets zero day attacks. It would be a conflict of interest for me to mention specifics, but a trivial matter for those interested to find out.

Not sure why you are being downvoted, as anyone who deals with computers will be well aware that anti-virus software exists mostly as security theater. It can be useful against certain types of viruses, especially those who are widespread, but it is a very dangerous thing in and of itself because it states that the user's system is "protected," causing most people to gain a false sense of security and drop their guard.

lucian303 14y ago
People don't like to face the truth. No worries, downvoting, upvoting, I couldn't give a shit one way or the other. It's just a silly number.
- zanny 14y ago
  But I thought my self worth was measured in internet points. Did Reddit lie to me? 😰
  - lucian303 14y ago
    Reddit? Why Reddit never lies! ;-)
  - lucian303 14y ago
    Not only that, calling this "karma" and identifying with the popular notion of "karma" which has no basis in any philosophy but irrational, illogical thinking, is quite ironic. If you do something good to someone, something good will not happen to you. That's the popular notion of "karma" and it's wrong. It's wrong from the traditional notion and it's wrong from the philosophical concept. But too many people want to live in the delusion of this pseudo-bullshit-karma world.
    - TheAmazingIdiot 14y ago
      The word "Karma" is a Hindi word meaning 'Action'. No more, and no less. What you or others may attach to it doesn't matter.
      - lucian303 14y ago
        Yes, but it's my understanding that the Hindi concept is much deeper than that. I don't presume to be an expert on this topic (Hindi karma), however. Philosophical karma is a different thing and very simple. What is attached to popular karma is an over-optimistic, unrealistic viewpoint of rewards based on action. The world doesn't work that way, but a lot of people, especially in the western world think it does and think this is a valid concept. It's not. It's a sequitur. That is all that I was stating. I do not wish to attach anything more to the concept than has already been attached.
        TheAmazingIdiot 14y ago
        I waited to respond to stay away from the people here who hate religion, as well as get sufficiently off the front page as not to derail the general antivirus discussion. Karma is simply that: action. Physical actions are just like how we accept Newton's Laws of motion as science (in Cartesian, non-relatavistic, non-high-gravity). It can be tested to a high degree of certainty, and therefore requires heavy proof to overcome. However the distinction with karma is application of Newton's laws to also human behavior. That includes equal and opposite reactions to emotions, thoughts, and efforts. Those who followed Hinduism accepted this idea as Karma. Wiccans know this as the Wiccan Rede and the threefold rule. LaVeyan Satanism's "Rules of the Earth" have some sembelance of 'do no harm to innocents'. Even Jews discuss this very topic with the positive form in Leviticus 19:18, whilst not discussing the basis for it (it's usual for Abrahamic religions to give commandments). I think every religion has developed a wording of the same principal of Karma, but with slightly different wordings due to language and culture. Most seem to get the idea of inertia. People tend to go the direction they were already headed towards, even if it is ruin. I've seen this time and again with people. It doesn't matter if you tell them: something with as much force has to get in their way. And most people get reciprocity, or "you get what you put out". Seems awfully similar to "For Every Action, there is an equal and opposite Reaction".
gizmo686 14y ago
I do not think anti-viruses are pure security theater. They will not protect against zero day attacks, however, once a specific virus hits enough people, anti-viruses will be updated, preventing large scale infection. In order to avoid this, attackers need an attack vector that would allow them to change the virus binary at will. These definitely exist, but A/V does stop a non trivial amount of infections.
- lucian303 14y ago
  There is software out there that specifically targets zero day attacks. It would be a conflict of interest for me to mention specifics, but a trivial matter for those interested to find out.