This may be the first time you have ever seen politics and computer security mentioned in the same sentence, but what you may not realize is that individuals with different political viewpoints approach personal security differently. Here’s what this year’s voters have to say.
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When you actually get down to analysing the results I don’t think there’s too much difference between the parties.
Overall Democrats are more into security than Republicans, but when it comes to allocating resources the Reps move ahead, and the Demos think security software should be free (Do they seriously thing MS isn’t charging for it?).
I bet neither side are promoting Linux, which is where the real security lies.
I agree the difference are very small. I agree that Dems are looking for free handout. I disagree with conclusion. Because Reps pay for their security, they have more faith in it, and so, store more data. Plus, 1st issue shows they have a higher priority then Dems. Sorry ZA, wrong conclusion. BTW, I still like your products.
Linux would only be where the security was until it had the billions of users Windows does.
It’s easy to talk about how much more secure a system is when it has a small user base. People make viruses and malware for Windows because that is what people use the most.
If that changes to Linux, or even Apple…the viruses and malware will change too.
I have heard this statement made for years, but the sad truth is that Linux and Apple are both just as vulnerable to malware and viruses, there is just no point or “profit” in making them.
If you want to get the largest effect from a virus, malware or whatever…you put it where it gets the largest access and exposure.
Kage is absolutely correct. How many of us listened for years to all the boasting from the Mac horde. But two years ago that changed as Mac specific viruses and bots appeared . It’s all about the installed base and yes Linux will get hammered in due course.
Sorry, but the old line “Linux would have more viruses if it had a larger user base” is poor reasoning. Microsoft has a history of *numerous* security flaws (some rather critical) that have plagued them over the years (although admittingly they’ve also gotten better about security and stability over the years as well). It’s getting into “beating a dead horse” territory.
Also, Apple products have pushed more into the “consumer electronic” arena (tables, smartphones and the like) more over their actual computer system sales over the years (“computer sytems” being any device with an operating system that still provides access to a comand prompt) but even they still aren’t really subject to computer viruses but rather other more basic types of malware as a computer virus is specificaly a segment of code that spreads itself though a system with little or no human interaction (e.g. executing a program that has the viral code embedded into its execution stack which causes it to spread through the system to other programs). Technically a “virus” needn’t necessarily be malicious (there have been instances of “patches” for macro-viruses, in things like like Microsoft Word documents, intentionally being spread in the same fashion that the viruses themselves would have been spread); however, they most often are malicious.
Malware in general though (a much broader term that encompases any malicious software, like Trojan Horse programs) can be a danger on even the most secure system (yes, even Linux) as it only takes a dim-witted user to install one malicious programs from an untrusted source (while escalating their privlidges to an administrative level in order to install the software in the first place to boot thus allowing full access to the system) to have devistating effects on any system.
No, claiming Linux isn’t wouldn’t be as secure simple if it had more users is akin to saying a car with tons of safety features as well and safety assist features would no longer be safe if more people drove that brand of car because eventually someone would drive one off a cliff and get killed (even after recieving several warnings from the vehicle prior to their fatal detour). You cannot measure the security of an operating system (and programs bundled therein) based on instances of extreme ineptitude and/or carelessness on the part of its userbase (and yes this even goes for any software product, even Microsoft products).
This has nothing to do with “security” online, and everything to do with controlling what we can do, where we can go, what we will be allowed to view online.
It also has to do with who can see and keep what we do, write, read online.
The White House was working on an executive order to act as a “stand in” for cybersecurity legislation that has so far failed to pass Congress (CISPA passed in the House, but a different effort, the Cybersecurity Act, failed in the Senate, and it would have been difficult to get the two houses aligned anyway).
Both the democratic and republican parties support spying on US citizens. They support Agenda 21 which takes away our right to own property (states are fighting it – Alabama was the first to ban it), businesses, cars, live in rural areas, etc.
Those of you who are “fighting” over party differences (which is not real – they stand for the same thing – the downfall of OUR legitimate government) and are supported by the same banking cartels and corporations – follow the money.
Both support TTP – which grants “grandiose new rights and privileges for corporations and permanent constraints on government regulation.”
It favors investors at the expense of public health, food safety, clean air and water, sovereign control of resources, land use, energy, and virtually everything else that smells money, power and privileges afforded both.
Member countries will sacrifice national sovereignty. Their laws, regulations and rights will be subordinated to TPP rules. Their use of tax revenues will also be restricted.
If enacted, its secret provisions assure destruction of freedoms most people take for granted. On August 24, EFF headlined, “TPP Creates Legal Incentives for ISPs to Police the Internet. What Is At Risk? Your Rights,” saying:
What’s known about TPP was leaked. What’s also worrisome is what remains secret and how much more damage is being secretly negotiated or already agreed on.
Besides what was discussed above, TPP wants ISPs to become online copyright protection enforcement cops. In the process, it wants Internet freedom and innovation destroyed. Its framework exceeds destructive ACTA provisions. It permits:
(1) “Three-strikes policies and laws.” They’ll require “Internet intermediaries to terminate their users’ Internet access on repeat allegations of copyright infringement.”
(2) Internet intermediary empowerment “to filter all Internet communications for potentially copyright-infringing material.”
(3) ISPs to “block access to websites that allegedly infringe or facilitate copyright infringement.”
(4) Enforcement rules for “intermediaries to disclose the identities of their customers to IP rights holders on an allegation of copyright infringement.”
If this all gets through, we will not have to worry about internet “security”.
What the hell is TTP?
Why pay for a program you can get for free? If I had to pay, I would. It’s not that I want a handout, Mit. My anti-virus for instance is part of my internet fee, even theough it’s supposedly “free”. I do use Zone Alarm free editiob. I was using PC Tools fireall until the free edition was was no longer updated. There goes te handout again. BTW the “free” edition of ZA isn’t free as they push adds for their products
Look at the data a little more closely. If Hawk = Scared then Democrats are the Hawks. If paid pro-active measures are considered, Republicans are the real hawks on defense, as usual. And yeah, I see Democrats think they have a right to free security software too. I find nothing surprising in the data.
Most of these differences are relatively small, I would be interested to know what the size of the survey was and what the statistical margin of error/confidence factor was.
The survey is flawed. “Democrat” and “Republican” are simply party names. First question should have been:, “Do you consider yourself Liberal or Conservative, since those terms indicate a philosophy, and then continue with the questions. In this poll D and R mean nothing to the subject matter.
Looks like somebody wants something for free again. No, of course nobody worked their behind of to create a superior security product ((like Zonealarm) with rent to pay and a family to feed. It should fall from DC Like manna from heaven with no cost to the moocher.
Mac user
Um, it’s not mooching if the company – like ZoneAlarm (Checkpoint) – readily offers up the product for free. No one is out there screaming that it be free, and no one can blame the user if the free version is adequate for their needs, and the customer takes the company up on its voluntarily free offer. It’s a business model, a variance of the time-honored shareware concept of the 1990s: Try the free version, and if it works for you, perhaps buy the full-featured version down the road. Actually, with due diligence, maintenance, and at least a basic knowledge of how your system operates, a free version is all the most of us would really need.
Buying the Pro version is simply paying for the convenience of not having to know what the heck you’re doing when you operate your computer.
Of course Dems take it more seriously. They know more about computers. Repubs think the internet is a series of “tubes” Face it, the GOP is just that…OLD. They have no concept of technology since they won’t put their guns or bibles down long enough to figure it out. And those comments were directed at all the smarmy Dem comments. You’re welcome.
Laura, I take exception to your generalization that Libs know more about teckie things than conservatives. I spent 40 years as a software engineer, the last 10 developing and supporting one of the largest Java middleware banking applications in the world (you might guess which bank from my handle). My politics are somewhere to the right of Mr Romney’s.
And I do believe liberals feel they are ‘owed’ more than they are willing to contribute.
@Laura, I’m a Goldwater Republican. I was programming main frame computers in 1985. What were you doing in 1985?
Love the complete knowledge Laura demonstrates. How she contacted every Republican to derive her conclusion regarding their collective view of the Internet is astounding.
Pffft…
Republicans that get more subsidies from government to make themselves rich, while casting dispersions on the regular 99% when they have lost their jobs and need some help from the same sources (the government), that made them so wealthy.
Hypocrisy at it’s finest!
I live in a middle class neighborhood amoung those 51% who pay federal taxes. I don’t know a single Obama voter much less a piss ant occupy protester. Where are these 99% people? Was that poll taken in Iran? I’m not a teenager so don’t include me ,or the chest beating with your dads credit card. The government doesn’t “give” me anything beyond what I pay for. It would be a horrible personel shame to have it any other way. The psychological jealous rage of those who think that their parasitic perversion is justified by some fake majority of losers will never find peace or medication in politics, just shame in addicting other of lifes untutored to their cause.
Republicans have basically ruined the U.S. economy, since Ronald Reagan’s creation of the WTO, and North American Accord, which morphed into George H.W. Bush’s NAFTA/GATT, S&L, Banking, and Energy scandals (Enron), and Corporate Warfare Welfare (Black Water, Haliburton, ect.), notwithstanding.
“..casting dispersions…”
You need help. What you used:
dis·per·sion
[ di spúrsh'n ]
dispersal: the scattering or distribution of something within an area or space
condition of being dispersed: the fact or state of being spread, scattered, or distributed
distribution of values: the distribution of a statistical frequency distribution about an average or median
Synonyms: dispersal, spreading, scattering, diffusion, distribution, thinning out
What you intended:
as·per·sion
[ ə spúr'n ]
slanderous remark: a statement that attacks somebody’s character or reputation
making of slanderous remarks: the making of defamatory remarks
Synonyms: slander, slur, calumny, slight, smear, accusation, criticism, disparagement, defamation, vilification, denunciation
You are welcome.
Also, based upon the CNN-published data today about who “gets” from the government, I think you’ll find you ar e talking about democrat voters getting the subsidies.
Republicans main defense is casting dispersions against the working class, when the government works for them.
(The whole desired effect, is to stigmatize the process, which will result in more money corporate subsidies for them > Coporate Republican base.)
Since Ted Turner sold CNN to AOL/Time/Warner? It has been shifted to the Right, and became Fox Lite, (sensationalistic infotainment, masquerading as news).
StageCoachDriver,
If you don’t like Laura’s generalization, then you should just as much criticise the article in the first place.
And since you work for a bank that received massive bailout money – and still receives it in the form of mortgage relief funding that benefits the bank more than the homeowners – you might want to be careful about saying that “others feel they are owed more than they contribute”.
Well Laura is just a typical ignorant, arogant, intollerant fool that wants her free birth control and abortions. Go figure. Laura, when you grow up you will still be welcomed into our loving arms and forgiven the stupity of youth.
If anyone is ignorant fool here its you, you cannot spell to save yourself, idiot. Typical Tea Party chumps, get back to school you illiterate and as far as using technology Laura proves her point you can’t even use spell check. God help America if these morons ever get in power. I bet he doesn’t even know he is one of Romney’s 47% a real ‘happy idiot’ as tea bagger’s are commonly referred to!
Hey TeaTard – do you pay tolls on every road you drive? You should. What makes you think you should get to drive for free hypocrite?
Scratch the surface of any one of you morons & it’s perfectly clear who thinks they are entitled to free things. Even the Romney ads had people complaining about handouts who took HUGE money from government.
Secede already. That’s what you ‘Patriots’ keep threatening – just do it. Don’t let the door hit you in your stupid butt on the way out of OUR country either moron.
Wow, the brainwashing of the RWNJ’s is the number 1 accomplishment of the GOP in 60 years. Unbelievable.
‘Christian Conservatives’ are neither.
Oh darling, that’s priceless! *Laura* is ignorant, “arogant” and “intollerant” and foolish? I suggest you re-read your own comment.
Motes and beams, specks and planks.
I beg your pardon, I am one of those right wing republicans with a degree in and teach computer science. I actually have more republicans or right wing thinkers in my class than air head as you appear to be.
I think only difference is Republicans are a little noiser to invade one’s privacy
Republicans see personal information of as something of a commodity to be sold as profit, and are against Net Neutrality laws.
Democrats believe that personal information should not be exploited for personal gain, and support Net Neutrality laws.
Net Neutrality has nothing to do with exploiting personal information. And when it comes to that, then Democrat supporters aren’t really leading by example anyway. Sarah Palin’s email “hacked” for example.
Plus, none really cares about cyber security. They all only care about cyber control.
Riiiight! Keep telling yourself that… yah! You betcha!
What a crock. I am a member of the Repubican Executive Committee. Republicans are very much for net neutrality and against all this new net control legislation. My own US Rep. and the Repub Senator from my state are all on board with net neutrality privacy. Not only that, we don’t expect it ti be free (that is, paid for by somebody else).
Weary,
Your facts are actually flip-flopped. There is a larger # of Dems who want to sell personal info for profit, as long as the companies who make money from it keep giving them large political donations.
It is a vast majority of Dems, mostly state govenors, who want to tax the internet sales made in their state so they can use the additional funds to subsidize public sector unions, I mean ballance their budgets. Niether of which will work because folks will buy less online and the “expected” increase will never happen, as ALL tax increases in the past 50 years have proven.
Actually, all the information harvesters are from the Republican side of the aisle. I remember when Fmr. Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson was advocating that everyone have an RFID chip (Mark of the Beast!); under the Bush Administration.
Also, who do you think has a vested interest in full body scanners at U.S. airports?
Michael Chertoff, another Republican profiting off of fear and the Orwellian exemption of the 4th Ammendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Republicans would sell out their own country, for a few more dollars in their pockets. (Hell, they already have! Look at all the American jobs in Communist China!)
Too bad the Democrats don’t feel the same way about border security.
Bush ignored the border problems during his whole term, much like the capture of Osama bin Laden!
The Dems are fashionably concerned. Republicans actually do something about it, and expect to bear the costs.
I would note if Linux is secure, it is only because relatively few people use it. Raise the number using it, you’ll raise the number of scammers. Moreover, E-mail scams are immune to your operating system.
Yeah, same thing with Apples. People tend to believe Macs don’t get viruses. They do, but not as many, simply because there aren’t as many Macs around. If Mac would have a 50% market share, they’d get bombarded with those little buggers as well.
Microsoft code is double-line; Linux is single-line.
Linux is too much trouble to infiltrate, Microsoft is open for intrussion (improvement).
While I agree with the analysis that Democrats are a bit more Hawkish on computer security, and perhaps military matters too, I am concerned about this post for a different reason.
Check Point is a foreign owned company (Israel) and I’m a bit squeamish about any foreign entity “meddling” in American politics.
As a counter point, I do trust the Israelis on matters of security. There is no country on earth with more security concerns than Israel.
Yes, it would be interesting to see the size of sample population, but even such unscientific pool proves that Ds more than Rs always want something for free. The prevalent “gimme” everything expectation is showing its ugly head even in such simple thing. And 10% difference is quite significant to cover any margin of error.
Republicans appear to be naive and Democrats, as usual, think protection should be free.
PKB. Republicans love corporate welfare, so much, they get rich off of it! > (Pigs at the trough!)
Oh please…. what a joke. The unmentioned real life factor is that most genuinely security conscious people won’t even answer a survey like this. Any many people consider their political affiliations as ‘none of your business’.
These numbers don’t make any sense. The first 2 stats show that D’s are more concerned about security, and yet under “priorities” it shows that R’s main priority is security. Which is it? Can’t be both.
Without any information about who they asked, where they live, how many were surveyed, what the questions were asked, the margin of error, or the statistical significance of the results, the numbers are essentially meaningless.
And to StageCoachDriver: Common saying among scientists is “Anecdotes aren’t data.”
You are right. I do not expect a security software company to put out any political information. If this information were leaning one way or the other (which it isn’t) I would drop the product.
It is possible that these numbers merely represent the fact that Democrats are usually younger… I would think that Republicans would be much more concerned about Internet security than the liberals.
Oh my word. This survey has serious flaws, both in it’s conclusions, and over generalizes about the attitudes of both Conservatives and Progressives. I am a registered Democrat and I consider myself to be a Progressive. I ** DON’T ** expect that security software is free, nor do I expect the government to hand everything to me on a silver platter. I have been paying for a ZoneAlarm subscription every since before, ZoneAlarm was purchased by CheckPoint software. Just how big was their sample size anyway? 60% out of how many??
Odd,… I’m liberal and I’ve paid for nearly all the software I have ever owned. I dont even know a Democrat who expects Anything for free. My counterparts, both Democrat and Republican respect cyber threats and own security software. However, when banking, I use Linux (Opensuse) – I didn’t/can’t pay for that.
Sorry Bob, it can be both ways. The Dems are more concerned about security because they have not taken the necessary steps to insure their protection. The Reps, on the other hand, have made security a priority and have made an effort to protect themselves. Therefore, they are not as concerned about the issue, and need not be.
I have to take exception to this, go download the Obama campaign ap to see the name, age and political affiliation of all your neighbors then tell me again how the Democrats don”t exploit people”s personal information… They perfected the practice.
The Dems are concerned about security because they know they do not have any at the present time.
I have been a Goldwater Republican since 1962. And, an Ayn Rand individualist since 1964. Saying democrats are this and Republicans are that is a ridiculous generalization. Only those incapable of thinking for themselves fall for this type of pwnd trick. It’s nothing more than l33t-speak. Have a good day losers.
Ayn Rand was a hypocrite to her own ideals, by taking Medicare and Social Security when she needed them. Libertarianism is a failed ethos… just like Republican Conservatism.
Conservatives and Libertarians love to scream the words “socialism” or “socialist”, until they are the ones soliciting help from the same government services.
How is it hypocritical to get back from the government the money they took from you. Being opposed to government taking your money is not the same as getting it back after they have taken it. It is in the end your money and they had no right to it in the first place.
Medicare and Social Security are government backed “social services”, If she believed in her own ideology? She should’ve renounced them, lest be deemed a hypocrite!
“Rand is one of three women the Cato Institute calls founders of American libertarianism. The other two, Rose Wilder Lane and Isabel “Pat” Paterson, both rejected Social Security benefits on principle. Lane, with whom Rand corresponded for several years, once quit an editorial job in order to avoid paying Social Security taxes. The Cato Institute says Lane considered Social Security a “Ponzi fraud” and “told friends that it would be immoral of her to take part in a system that would predictably collapse so catastrophically.” Lane died in 1968. ”
Excerpt taken from “Ayn Rand Railed Against Government Benefits, But Grabbed Social Security and Medicare When She Needed Them” – January 28, 2011 ~ Alternet.org
I find it interesting that one of the two major parties builds their political philosophy largely on a science-fiction novel. Maybe we need a third party based on “Lord of the Rings?”
I am suspicious of EVERYTHING politicians do and say. In my opinion ALL parties need to cease business-as-usual and make AMERICA their highest priority. They ALL waste plenty of time and effort playing hide and seek / gotcha games that only reinforces the LOW opinion of their profession. What happened to ethics and honor as requisites to public service? “How can we fool them today” seems to be the only code in effect during eternal campaigning that leaves zero time in which to do their jobs.
This just shows the ‘woooo-wooo’s’ are at it again and can’t even analyze their own survey. Of course, everybody knows that most of these software companies are run/programmed by liberals, so what do you expect? I have used zonealarm for many years but when they come out with BS like this, when my subscription runs out I will find a less political security product. Was this an attempt to get users of their software to vote for that useless nobody narcissist obama and his gang of marxists?
What business is it of Zone Alarm’s to try to politicize security? I am a politically conservative independent voter. I believe in security where my personal business is concerned. As a paying customer of Zone Alarm I’d prefer that you take care of the business of protecting my internet security and stay out of politics. I worked as a customer engineer for two international companies servicing computer hardware for fourteen years when “servicing” meant troubleshooting down to the failing component, not swapping out boards as the business has degenerated to in the last two or three decades. You don’t get any more technical than that. Some of us “conservatives” are pretty “high tech” too.
Cut the political nonsense.
The country is going down the tube with this administration and you are worried about a few points difference in internet security?
You have the wrong priorities. For shame.
According to your statistics, you have more Republican customers using Zone Alarm products since Republicans expect to pay for quality computer security software. Aren’t you fortunate there are Republicans.
Since I sent my first comment a couple of hours ago I have realized why the Democrats and Liberals in general are so concerned about security. Only real scam artists tend to be super-sensitive to scams and fear them to the extent that makes them look for more sophisticated ways to prevent being scammed themselves. It’s similar to fear of the right to gun ownership. Those who would be inclined misuse guns are the main ones who fear them being owned by others.
That figures. Honest people are always more trusting, while dishonest people are usually much more distrusting!
ZA’s research and analysis only reinforces the irrefutable evidence that democrats want someone else to pay for their stuff.
JB
I find it interesting that according to this survey, Dems are more concerned with internet security when the lamestream meadia constantly report how unconcerned they are with NATIONAL security….Just sayin’…
If the Bush Administration didn’t ignore the CIA’s warnings? We would still have the World Trade Center in NYC!
Republicans have no concept of their own hypocrisy, when it comes to “National Security”.
Being an indi,
Conceptulizing newer software for engeneers to write, I usually find it’s the individual who is at fault, no mater what party affiliation.
Unfortunatly when you put to many like minded people together in gov’t or private industry the go into auto protectionism for them selves, not for the common good. Take unix base software security, non of it I’d truly secure why big brother wants a back door. What happens any one can open that back door with alittle time. Remember only 49 people have over 79% + or- 3% of the money world wide, and everyone else is willing to do what ever it takes to get their piece.
The Democrats are murdering subhuman ‘scum’ they have and are funding the Roman Catholic communities in Ireland to murder English people; just to get the Irish vote in the USA. These Roman Catholics known has the IRA have murdered 3450 civilians, and 2514 British soldiers; you think 9/11 was bad; you got away with it in 1939 – 45. It is understandable; 4 million Irish Americans volunteered to fight with Germany and Hitler; in the South of Ireland they even used Nazi Uniforms and the IRA supported Hitler to kill the Allies, and that was USA Troops!
I sure as heck didn’t even see this survey. Guess you didn’t ask everyone!
I don’t remember seeing a survey request either.
I would have replied with “None of your business.”
Remember, lies, damn lies and statistics. A lot could be said, but at the end of the day, it’s more smoke and mirrors. No matter how you feel about abortion, immigration, gay marriage, obamacare, one thing will determine who gets in:
Economy.
Where are the Libertarians? It’s about time the US started cultivanting a pluralist approach. There is no question about the fact that Libertarians are the technology generation.
I’m Libertarian and a security expert. I pay for everything I use myself and I know how to configure, operate and backup a system securely. And how to use encryption for data storage and communication.
This is a tragedy. People need to stop supporting the bi-partisan system. Just like Pro Libertate said above. Some of the founding fathers hated bi-partison systems and thought they inhibited freedom of public participation. The single-vote system does the same thing. This country is doomed unless people stop thinking in such ridiculous terms.
I don’t see anything here statistically significant. What I am really wondering is why Zone Alarm sent me this. I am Canadian. While avoiding the perpetual election mode of US politics is impossible I don’t really give a darn about the computing practices of people who will never govern me and I don’t actually think I have a right to know the practices of those who do. If it was information I actually wanted I would want it to be statistically significant.
I was tempted to go for the obvious cheap shot at Republicans but I am going to wrap myself in hockey tape and maple syrup and avoid political assimilation.
It doesn’t surprise me that Republicans aren’t as concerned about computer security because they are too busy being frightened about imaginary threats like “Obama’s gonna take yer guns!” instead of real threats. Bush ignored all the 9/11 warnings… guess he was too busy worrying about his Pet Goat.
And since Democrats are usually less well-off, perhaps they just can’t afford to pay for software but would if they had more discretionary cash laying around is Swiss bank accounts. In reality, Republicans are the free-loaders. They feel they are entitled to all the benefits of society but refuse to pay taxes for any of them.
BTW, speaking of technology, has anyone noticed that there are only time stamps and not date stamps on these posts? Talk about not being tech savvy!
I think the issue of paid vs. unpaid virus protection isn’t valid. For instance, subscribers to Comcast get Norton or McAfee for free as part of their subscription. There are millions of subscribers who may very well think they get unpaid protection without considering the money they spend monthly for Comcast. Also, there are quite a few free virus protection systems that are as good as Norton, such as the Microsoft freeware for Windows 7 users. It is likely that more savvy computer users are aware of this and figure, why pay for something if I know that I can get it for free elsewhere w/o a lot of hassles? It seems tom me your data shows that Dems are more savvy than Reps. If so, why shouldn’t more Democrats go for freeware? Just a thought, best, Cliff Moore
Like Pro Libertate, I’m interested to see where libertarians fell on this.
To those who are taking the “Democrats want a handout for free” thing and juxtaposing an assumption, understand that “software that is free to the user” does not mean “software that the developers did not get paid to write.”
Red Hat built a BILLION DOLLAR business on giving software away for free. Charging the user is not the ONLY way to make money in IT.
I strongly suspect that if “Security software should be free” were a question, followed by something like “I find value in paid subscriptions for definitions and updates.” you’d see a different result to this question.
The thing about statistics is that they can be interpreted just about any way. No matter who is doing the proving and what is being proven by the stats, both sides can usually be proven right with the same set of stats. This is just an exercise in spinning wheels, and it’s certainly not worth some of the attacks I see in these comments. Take a deep breath and relax, people. It’s just stats. It doesn’t mean anything.
If the Dems were so concerned about security then they wouldn’t have leaked important details about the Osama bin Laden killing to the press and the world, among other leaks coming out of this administration. FAIL
It doesn’t look like the differences are really statistically significant. Iguess I wish everybody was a little more concerned about security – unless lack of concern just means people have installed and trust their security software. One thing I feel I need to point out, though. The symbol of the Republican party is an elephant; The Democrat’s is a donkey – not the other way around as you’ve shown!
Wondering why my ISP’s anti-spam filter kept putting this email in quarantine?
Really it took some effort to release it. What does it see that most of the responder don’t?
Maybe there is a monetary motivation here.
Lumped into a term that is pretty definitive.
It’s SPAM!
Okay, what’s wrong with this picture? When I started reading through the comments, I was amazed at first at how sober and intelligent the responses were…yet, the farther down I got, the more ridiculous and biased everything became. (Which is what I’d expected in the first place.)
A few notes:
1. As some people have pointed out, the founding fathers did NOT want a two-party government. But they didn’t want a pluralist system, either. They wanted a NO-PARTY government. When’s the last time you heard a politician of either stripe say something he truly believed in that was way outside of the party platform?
What ever happened to the concept of a representative doing things for the good of his contituents, instead of for his party, or himself? Whatever happened to a political office being an honor, and not a job?
2. Free vs paid software. Give me Zone Alarm for free, and, as long as it suits my needs, I’ll happily take it. And there isn’t a single Democrat or Republican out there who wouldn’t, so the whole argument about paying your way is meaningless.
3. Security, Apples vs Oranges…or PC’s, or Linux. lol! I’m afraid a lot of the people above are absolutely correct, there is NO such thing as a system that is entirely safe. The poster who confidently remarked about Linux’s security is living in a fool’s paradise. If 99% of the world’s computers ran on Linux, they would be the ones tearing their hair out over the problem, and Windows users would be sitting back acting smug. “You Linux users should switch to Windows, we never get any hacks.” Of course you don’t, you’re only 1 in 100 users! If I were to come up with a hack or virus, do you think I’d go after the small fry? Isn’t it about time we all grew up and realized that this is a problem for ALL of us, even if the systems we’re using aren’t being immediately threatened?
4. Security, the ultimate. So people have found numerous ways to mess with the net. It’s been around since the net began in the mid-90′s, and it hasn’t stopped since. Bot programs that will take every one of our computers left online and use them for TOS attacks. Spam programs that use all of us to further their junk mail. And the little rascals who, every once in awhile, come up with a virus just for the fun of it, a virus which, if left unchecked, would disable my computer, and then my neighbor’s next door, and then my entire block, and then my entire neighborhood, and then the whole city, and then move on to yours, and eventually to sensitive computers in business and government. No one EVER invented a serious virus with the expectation of having it stopped, they want it to go all the way.
Call me an alarmist if you will, but I think this is nothing to be laughed at. If they had their way, if any one of the viruses had worked as perfectly as their authors intended, every computer in the country (the world?) would be incapacitated…as would the governments and monetary systems. (Think of that as you like.)
If the thought of having everything shut down for a few days doesn’t alarm you, think of this: your computer, your neighbor’s computer, all the ones in your neighborhood or city, or the entire country, or the world, has suddenly turned from being a relatively useful item to being a thousand-dollar useless chunk of plastic and metal.
And there’s no guarantee that someday that won’t happen, that someone won’t find the ultimate clever way around all the security sooner or later, and wipe everything out.
We’re talking about a MASSIVE economical trauma here…even if all you want to consider is the expense involved with your own computer, and those you do business or correspond with.
I think it’s about time people woke up to the reality of the situation. Computers aren’t hobbies or toys we’re playing around with anymore, they’ve become the things that keep the planet going, for better or worse.
And if someone comes along that’s threatening them, threatening the life blood of the entire planet, then the punishment should fit the intent. Scammers, hackers, botnets should be given a HUGE amount of prison time. Virus-makers should, if not be sentenced to death, at least be given life in prison.
It’s about time we stopped laughing at the situation and started taking it seriously.
And, lest you think I’m exaggerating, let me remind you that I’m the very first one over here that’s even mentioned the guys providing the threats. All you guys have been doing is figuring out how to wear armor, while completely ignoring the guy with the knife.
Get rid of him, and we won’t have to pay for all that uncomfortable clothing.
If either of them were really informed about security, the I-Phone and other brands would not be in business anymore. You want a secure system, find a retired military communications expert! Wireless is truly a Joke, Most of the public think a cell phone is a phone, it’s not! It’s a fancy radio with pictures, and if it’s in the air it not totally secure if at all, The next big target will become Automobiles with fancy wireless services. FOR THOSE INTERESTED: 5 yrs back General Motors Co. published on line how their new On-Star system was wired and worked with frequencies, it was part of their attempt to educate users? I’m sure someone was learning from it. Myself I Don’t do wireless or On-Star.
Thanks Zone Alarm. I loved reading all this..
Don’t let them grind you down, Weary. Who am I? Just a kid who taught himself to code in BASIC in 1968 and to use a Model 33 teletype to run it on a remote mainframe. 1200 baud modem? I had to make do with a 110-baud line driver then.
Scary now that I have a well-worn law license in my pocket now….. to SOME people. I also qualify on the Concealed Carry State Trooper pistol test with a 248 out of a possible 250 Officer-timed score. I swore my Oath to the CONSTITUTION, not to any people or ideology/political party, but having said that… I find the “Democrat Party” and the ACLU a lot more palatable than the Nixon/Reagan/Bush/Bush Administrations were in their adherence to Constitutional principles. Nixon/Bush/Bush were Governments of Felons.
I’m a card-carrying NRA Member, too. What am I? Can’t generalize (useless in debates) but my ‘Puter is buttoned up TIGHT and I vote with ONE vigorous punch- NO hanging chads for this DEMOCRATIC PARTY MEMBER. You’ll get my Bill of Rights and passwd file away from me when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers.