Bullet Proof Computer.

[Aisengard]

Er, I'm running as Admin. Why is this bad?

Because you have the ability to make changes to your computer that a Guest account can't, so hackers have it easier if they can gain control of your system.

But keep running administrator. If hackers have that much access to your system you're screwed anyway.

 

[Andvari]

Yeah that's what I was thinking. I don't think I'm invincible by any means, but for the better part of a year it seems to be that way. When I scan for spyware or trojans or viruses, it never comes up with anything and hasn't in quite some time. I've got a couple of trojans in that time, but that's about it. I usually catch them pretty quick. Even after doing "shady" things on the net and expecting to find some spyware, I seldom do. *shrug*

I also don't run System Restore. I have a DVD burner and back up most of my wanted files, so in the rare occasions somethin goes haywire on my comp, I just reformat and have a nice day heh.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: glorygunk
....anybody else notice this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=102333&item=5595224903

Apparently the same person who tried selling the bulletproof BS also paid $1K in advertising!!! Now there's some dude walking around with www.bulletproofpc.com on his forehead!

No, but very interesting. Ebay only keeps auctions for X- Number of days after they have expired, so I took a snap shot for anyone who views this page in the future.

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Googer/EBAY_Bullet_Proof_PC.png

 

[Insomniak]

Putting aside whether or not it's possible, how many offices are going to be willing to build their IT departments around a non-windows, non-officed infrastructure?

Few, at best.

This, to me, is doomed from the start. They might be able to target a few of the hacker types who love Linux and don't want to bother with security, but usually they're BYOing PCs already and wouldn't stand for having an OEM do it for them. I don't exactly realize who the hell their intended market is supposed to be.

 

[imported_g33k]

Originally posted by: glorygunk
....anybody else notice this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=102333&item=5595224903

Apparently the same person who tried selling the bulletproof BS also paid $1K in advertising!!! Now there's some dude walking around with www.bulletproofpc.com on his forehead!

With my receeding hairline, it is a great space to advertise and as a pilot you will even get aerial advertising at no extra charge.

ROFL!

Man you would have to pay me way more than $1000 to put a tattoo on my forehead. The cost to remove it would it much more than that.

 

[Greenman]

I think they have a hell of an idea. It would be perfect for my inlaws, they surf a little, send off an email now and then, and once in a while write a letter. They don't need or want something complex, they don't want to bother with updates, and they sure as hell don't want anything to do with removing spyware. What they want is the AOL verision of a computer, simple, basic and almost foolproof.

 

[CrispyFried]

It might work, I know several peeps who use their comps for nothing but the web, email, an occasional letter and printing pics and such out. A PC like this would be pretty much ideal. Turn it on, surf, turn it off.. no worries.

I doubt any offices will buy it as the few offices Im familiar with use specialized accounting and CAD software only availible for Windows.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: glorygunk
....anybody else notice this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=102333&item=5595224903

Apparently the same person who tried selling the bulletproof BS also paid $1K in advertising!!! Now there's some dude walking around with www.bulletproofpc.com on his forehead!

No, but very interesting. Ebay only keeps auctions for X- Number of days after they have expired, so I took a snap shot for anyone who views this page in the future.

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Googer/EBAY_Bullet_Proof_PC.png

Yay, someone finally using PNG for posting screenshots!
I can't stand the compression artifacts around text with JPEG when the compression level is taken really high.

 

[CreativeTom]

Originally posted by: piroroadkill

Originally posted by: cryptonomicon
what about the swap file and stuff, and the active memory?

there are many viruses that can infect things that way right?

what about a boot virus too? what about stuff that exploits security flaws in other programs.. java.. ect?

no computer can be completely hack proof. i mean it would have to be a linux box at LEAST.

You're a complete idiot. At least read their FAQ.

This is an extract that can be quickly found:

"What are the differences between the Bullet-Proof PC operating system and Microsoft Windows?

Bullet-Proof PC is a highly tuned and customized operating system based on Linux. Linux is free under the General Public License (GPL) to use for both business and personal use. There are no costs associated with the operating system. Linux is more secure than Microsoft Windows by design. We have taken the already secure Linux operating system, tweaked it, stripped it down to speed it up and make it easier to use, and took it a step further by choosing hardware that is highly reliable. The result is an ultra secure, Bullet-Proof PC that won't crash."

What a DI(K

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Originally posted by: bulletproofpc
Hello All!

Just want to clarifty a few things...

We chose Ebay to feature our item to see what the response was from the general public. The outcome was very positive! The Shuttle box is NOT the only model we have available! Please visit http://www.bullet-proofpc.com/bpstorefront1.html to review the other models. The most technologically advanced model is actually the Barracuda X10 due it's small size, no moving parts, and no noise. This comes at a cost of sacrificing the internal CD/DVD-RW. However, an external USB CD/DVD-RW can be later attached. Stay tuned for a laptop model that will be released shortly!

The Bullet-Proof PC operating system resides on a read only chip. It's Linux based, but is NOT based on Knoppix because Knoppix and all of our chosen software is too large to fit onto a read-only medium effectively. We chose to use the standard linux kernel, boot loader, etc. and tweak our own distribution to satisfy the project needs. The result is a highly tweaked, smaller footprint that runs on a read-only chip and loads itself into RAM. This makes the system much more responsive and it won't slow down. Viruses and Spyware can not permanently effect the PC due to the read-only design. No permanent changes can be made to the OS. Therefore the system will still run just as well as the day purchased. If there were a serious security flaw found in Firefox or a similar program that put our users at high risk, we would upgrade the software on the chip to address the security issues free of charge while the system is under maintenance. The fact is most software has bugs/security problems. New exploits will be found in programs more people use the software. But by using a read-only medium, we stop the effects of those exploits.

We do NOT try to hide the fact that our products are Linux based! We pride ourselves in choosing and working with Linux! If we were trying to hide the fact that we chose Linux, we wouldn't state it directly on our website. We even linked directly to the software pages that we chose to incorporate into the finished product i.e. OpenOffice, FireFox, Thunderbird, etc. However, for our target audience which is for the people that do NOT want to dabble into the inner workings of an OS or tweak programs they need to use, they don't care what OS the computer is using, all they want is to be able to get work done -- fast, safe, and secure.

It's painfully obvious that you're trying to take advantage of people with a gimmick selling point. I suppose anyone dumb enough to be taken in by your scam deserves what they get, but that doesn't make your little business any more honest.

Asses.

 

[Daniel]

Originally posted by: hurtstotalktoyou
It's painfully obvious that you're trying to take advantage of people with a gimmick selling point. I suppose anyone dumb enough to be taken in by your scam deserves what they get, but that doesn't make your little business any more honest.

Asses.

Whether you'd buy it or not is irrelevant here, how exactly is this a scam?

 

[mb]

I don't think I would have a need for such a computer, but I hardly find it BS or a scam.

 

[MobiusPizza]

lol a computer with store medium being a ROM
How inconvenient would that be

Virus cannot infect the OS, but can infect your ducuments
So not exactly 100% "bullet proof" there

The info is a bit misleading. Should have clarified that on the site
otherwise it could be classified as scam

 

[bulletproofpc]

We are not trying to mislead or scam anyone. We state exactly what the product is designed for any why on our website at http://www.bullet-proofpc.com. We are just trying to help those that don't have the need/want to fix their computer all of the time. We are addressing the needs of people that just want a computer that works -- All of the time.

The "store medium" in Bullet-Proof PCs are NOT ROM. It's a USB pen drive, external USB hard drive, etc. The documents that you bring into the Bullet-Proof PC OS will not harm your Bullet-Proof PC in any way. In most cases, viruses that attach themselves to documents are usually macro viruses. The rest of the document will still open fine on the Bullet-Proof PC.

Bullet-Proof PCs are GREAT for small businesses. By networking several Bullet-Proof PCs together, we can create a LAN that has drastically reduced support. A Microsoft Windows server can be installed to house applications that may be specialized for a specific business type and safely accessed from each Bullet-Proof PC by Terminal Services. This results is maintenance for ONE server opposed to 10 other office PCs.

 

[narcotic]

I find it hard to see what all the excitment is about...
There is hardware available for any PC such as Sherif, which deletes ALL information that was added to the system since last time it was booted (every startup).
Thus, you get a fresh and clean system every time you restart, offcourse, if you want to save any files, you have to create some sort of external drive.
But the point is, that "bulletproof" pc's have been around for a long while now, this is just another solution...

 

[MobiusPizza]

Originally posted by: bulletproofpc
We are not trying to mislead or scam anyone. We state exactly what the product is designed for any why on our website at http://www.bullet-proofpc.com. We are just trying to help those that don't have the need/want to fix their computer all of the time. We are addressing the needs of people that just want a computer that works -- All of the time.

The "store medium" in Bullet-Proof PCs are NOT ROM. It's a USB pen drive, external USB hard drive, etc. The documents that you bring into the Bullet-Proof PC OS will not harm your Bullet-Proof PC in any way. In most cases, viruses that attach themselves to documents are usually macro viruses. The rest of the document will still open fine on the Bullet-Proof PC.

Bullet-Proof PCs are GREAT for small businesses. By networking several Bullet-Proof PCs together, we can create a LAN that has drastically reduced support. A Microsoft Windows server can be installed to house applications that may be specialized for a specific business type and safely accessed from each Bullet-Proof PC by Terminal Services. This results is maintenance for ONE server opposed to 10 other office PCs.

Yes. I know that very well. However, if a program that user bring with it with its USB drive media, or a hacker hacked in the system and see the USB drive, he/the virus can format/retrieve/delete the document actually ON the USB drive media (The USB is not a ROM!)

Let's consider this:
Joe Dude newbie user: I've got this PC which is said to be virus free, impossible to hack
Then suddenly yesterday an important document on my USB drive was deleted.

That would make the claim a scam
If this is well documented on the site, it would have make it better
Or if you say: The "OS is impossible to hack/virus free" instead of saying "The *whole* computer is hacker/virus proof"

 

[bulletproofpc]

Bullet-Proof PCs have several advantages over a solution such as "sheriff"

a) Bullet-Proof PCs don't use ANY licensed software. This means no annual spyware/antivirus software fees. No costs for Office software, etc. This means that a small business can buy 50 or more Bullet-Proof PCs and not have to pay extra for licensing.

b) Bullet-Proof PCs are a hardware AND software solution. We have selected very stable hardware, and placed an operating system on top that has all of the functionality most people use their PCs for. The result is an ultra stable computer that just works. Stay tuned for the laptop version that will be released soon.

c) If you have ever suffered from a hard drive crash, you realize that it's a big ordeal to re-install the OS, all of your applications, customizations, etc. This task is one that MOST users can not do on their own. These are the users Bullet-Proof PCs are designed for. We are not making PCs for the Power User. We are offering computer solutions for everyone else. The people that DON'T do computer work for a living. Bullet-Proof PCs don't use a hard drive to store the operating system. It's a simple fact that hard drives crash. By storing the OS on a chip, and making it read-only, we have a MTBF of 15+ years before the chip may fail.

d) Bullet-Proof PCs offer a solution that works out of the box. No pre-setup or installation of software is required! Unbox, connect it up and turn it on and your done.

 

[Cheezeit]

Originally posted by: bulletproofpc
Bullet-Proof PCs have several advantages over a solution such as "sheriff"

a) Bullet-Proof PCs don't use ANY licensed software. This means no annual spyware/antivirus software fees. No costs for Office software, etc. This means that a small business can buy 50 or more Bullet-Proof PCs and not have to pay extra for licensing.

b) Bullet-Proof PCs are a hardware AND software solution. We have selected very stable hardware, and placed an operating system on top that has all of the functionality most people use their PCs for. The result is an ultra stable computer that just works. Stay tuned for the laptop version that will be released soon.

c) If you have ever suffered from a hard drive crash, you realize that it's a big ordeal to re-install the OS, all of your applications, customizations, etc. This task is one that MOST users can not do on their own. These are the users Bullet-Proof PCs are designed for. We are not making PCs for the Power User. We are offering computer solutions for everyone else. The people that DON'T do computer work for a living. Bullet-Proof PCs don't use a hard drive to store the operating system. It's a simple fact that hard drives crash. By storing the OS on a chip, and making it read-only, we have a MTBF of 15+ years before the chip may fail.

d) Bullet-Proof PCs offer a solution that works out of the box. No pre-setup or installation of software is required! Unbox, connect it up and turn it on and your done.

a) 99% of people will have no clue how to use the apps on their new bullet proof pc because it is designed for simple users, not power users!

b) just like dells/sonys/* insert any big computer company here* through a router!

c) just like raid!

d) just like dells/sonys/* insert any big computer company here* !

 

[bulletproofpc]

a) Not true at all. Ease of use is one function many companies fail to achieve.

b) Your response makes no sense. What does a router have to do with a computer that is immune to viruses and spyware?

c) mirrored raid = (2) hard drives both of which have an MTBF less than a read-only chip.
Moving parts = failure.

d) Not true. Most computers from the major manufacturers require an initial user setup/configuration just to get to a vanilla installation. Then you have to remove all of the software the company pre-installed onto the PC that you don't want. When your done, you have to install Antivirus/Antispyware software, Update the OS with all of the latest patches, etc. Then you get the luxury of installing all of your office applications, etc. to be able to get work done.

 

[Cheezeit]

Originally posted by: bulletproofpc
a) Not true at all. Ease of use is one function many companies fail to achieve.

b) Your response makes no sense. What does a router have to do with a computer that is immune to viruses and spyware?

c) mirrored raid = (2) hard drives both of which have an MTBF less than a read-only chip.
Moving parts = failure.

d) Not true. Most computers from the major manufacturers require an initial user setup/configuration just to get to a vanilla installation. Then you have to remove all of the software the company pre-installed onto the PC that you don't want. When your done, you have to install Antivirus/Antispyware software, Update the OS with all of the latest patches, etc. Then you get the luxury of installing all of your office applications, etc. to be able to get work done.

I'm suprised you're representing or heading a company but know hardly anything.

a) all buesnisses and people that I know use common apps like MS word, outlook, firefox, and stuff like that. I do not know of any nonlicensed software that is popular ot any extent. the cost of training them for inferior software would be even more than the money they lost on their bullet proof systems.

b) almost all if not all modern routers have hardware firewalls already.

c) two good regular mirrored drives should last at least 3 yrs before one might die. once that dies, the other one will still go on for some time. no doubt, non moving parts last longer, but who uses a hard drive or even their whole system for 15 yrs without the parts for it and compatible being obsolete anyway? you must have a really good totally new standard for interfaces and such.

d) your choice make systems even more cookie cutter than they already are. the part of windows that you install on a new system is the part that customizes it to your preferences and needs. dell already puts every app that comes with your system on an easy to install disk that tkaes like 10 min to setup at max. and if you're really meaning what you say about the updates, then im lmao. windows has made that so automatic that it does everyhting once you're on the internet. it even does it when you shut down!

 

[n0cmonkey]

Old technique, but interesting. OOo is easy enough anyone can use the basic functionalities. Almost no one uses anything more than the basics anyhow.