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On 23/12/2014 12:56, Paul Sutton wrote:
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On 23/12/14 11:19, Joseph Bennie wrote:On 22 Dec 2014, at 18:03, bad apple <mr.meowski@xxxxxxxx> wrote: On 22/12/14 13:15, Paul Sutton wrote:There are plenty of resources out there that can help new users of GNU / Linux based systems, most modern distros like mint are pretty straight forward anyway. Mint also has excellent documentation. They could join the mailing list and ask for help there, which is (as far as I am aware) partly why we exist in the first place. If they are near to Holsworthy perhaps they can come to meetings and ask for help If they NEED windows for a specific purpose then install in a VM, even if this is their XP version in a VM, if it is isolated from the net, and can run that program then there probably isn't really an issue. Is there even a specific windows only program they NEED to run.This gentleman is completely correct, except for the XP bit. The only people who should have even an isolated virtualised XP instance are people like me who do regression testing, reverse engineering and other legitimate but otherwise nefarious things like pentests as part of our jobs. Otherwise discipline will lapse, the VM will end up getting connected to the internet and it will be pwned instantaneously and immediately become part of the problem. Inherently vulnerable attack platforms and out of support operating systems just can NOT ever be left in the hands of incompetents, i.e., non IT specialists. Just don't do it. If they absolutely must have a Windows VM for some reason, they either need CompSci degrees or it has to be an actively supported, security patched version. There are no exceptions to this rule and if any of you are still supporting normal users running XP machines you should be ashamed of yourselves.+1So support these users using XP ONLY as part of a PROCESS of migration to something else. And make that a CONDITION. You then highlight a problem(s) BUT importantly suggest a solution, backed up with good argument (for the non technical), if they refuse, you can walk away. I wonder how many XP computers are still put there, and how many of those users would appreciate some help from the people here. If you are out there, ASK as we DON'T BITE or should that be BYTE :D I understand the sentiment here, but we need to perhaps tread carefully and treat people like they are real people not idiots, we will be far more successful that way most users just need e-mail, web and maybe a office package, so if we can find them a nice secure, easy to use alternative, that serves their need, we win, and it reflects well on the community. Paul
+1 to this.
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