Today I fought with Windows.
I don't do my stuff on Windows. I find that OS to be crass foolish and ugly. Like most people I have to use it at work.
On Tuesday it got infected with malware. As the whole business runs off an internet based network running an app through a browser this was pretty serious.
As the malware came via a PowerPoint joke sent out by the execs I find it all pretty funny.
What isn't funny is the arrogance and stupidity of this system, Windows XP is horrific!
I ran the latest spyware bashers, between the 2 (AdAware and Seek and Destroy) they removed 1200 malignant files. Norton (why is a business running a mediocre consumer based app?) found NONE!
Unfortunately removing those 1200 files did not remove the corruption are stop the browser hijacking.
To my growing amusement I discovered the script and the app that created the problem.
Here is where Windows and everyone who uses it should be considered insane.
This script, from a third party with no passwords or administrative rights, not only wrote to the root of the system but turned off the worthless Windows Fire Wall. Turned off the asinine IE pop up blocker. Changed permissions on all the files it wanted and stashed itself and it's constantly rewritten dll files in the system32 folder . . .
In no other computer system in the world is such a thing possible except Windows.
I did spend a bit of time wondering who would have their system hijacked like this and then turn around and enjoy the ads or ever buy any of the products . . .
I tried to use the irresponsibly foolish system restore. The malware wouldn't allow it (system permissions - see?)
When I was finally able to track down the offending executables I couldn't delete them as they were running processes . . . WHAT? I couldn't stop them either with task manager or in DOS.
I had to reboot into safe mode command line and delete them that way, only to discover that the executable renamed itself at each reboot.
This is not a brilliant or even clever hack, this is the stupidity of the people who designed Windows and the sheep mentality of the people who use it.
I was able to track and delete the files.
See, you could never do this on Linux, or FreeBSD or, Mac or Zeos. Only Windows would sell something this foolishly contrived.
On any other OS this is impossible. It could never happen even if the user tried to make it happen. For a vb script hidden in a file to do this much damage is impossible . . . except on Windows.

Click images for desktop size: "Sleeping Mermaids" by DelamareI think that Windows is the ugliest OS ever. Linux's various desktops aren't much prettier and some are even worse, but the way Linux works is elegant.
Linux gives you the source code so that if you don't like the way something works all you have to do is change it. You might have to learn a little bit of harmless stuff but you can make any application Linux runs yours . . . personal.
I've disliked Windows since 1.0, back on a 286. Now I've first hand experience at what a crass worthless OS it is.

My puppy is okay.
When we're together, just her and I we're happy and have nothing but too much fun.
When other people come around she begins to stress. She likes people but in small doses. She doesn't like them to talk to or stand too near me.
That's partially the breed, partially her little heart trying to grow up.