CrowdStrike is the security company that is suppose to protect Windows, ended up raping their OS and bricking it on Thursday and Friday. I was very busy Friday, as a technical support person for some major companies. Not one of the Linux clients were affected, all the Windows got wasted pretty bad.
This is nothing to be too concerned about, as long as your PC didn’t update with the CrowdStrike driver. Mostly business, airlines, and hospitals were hit the worse. If your PC is bricked ( you are probably reading this on your phone today ) there are some nasty tasks you need to run through to get your PC back up and running. You can find a lot of instruction online, and some of it might actually work. If you don’t have anything on your PC worth keeping, you will save some money, time, and grey hairs by reinstalling your OS.
My clients were all pleased with the way I configured their Windows systems not to be entirely responsible for all their software, data, and documents. I like to keep the OS separate even in Linux and Unix based systems. I find it amazing a security company was responsible for the largest information technology outage in history. Today all the hackers in the world now have their work cut out for them to ever top this nightmare.
My computer wasn’t raped, and I am glad I use Windows. It’s a great example for proper system setups and proper development and deployment practices are necessary for a good system quality. CCP should learn from this and implement learnings into their sometimes grotesque deployment practices.
Another linux superiority thread? Shocking how many big companies uses windows server when linux is superior in every way right?
I don’t think they move onto linux due to this experience. There are reasons to use linux and there are reasons to use windows.
Personally, Microsoft is making Windows desktop worse and worse with every new gen and often with every new major update. I hate it. But there really isn’t any alternative…
Mine wasn’t either. I did hear of a network problem at an airport but I don’t care that much to get details.
I never heard of “CrowdStrike” before, sounds like a ripoff to me. My Win11.OS protects itself with its own security suite, I have never ever had a problem.
I tried Linux some years back, the Fedora and Kubuntu distros… I was not impressed in the least and reverted to Windows within a month.
I’m glad I’m not running Linux OS.
Like “install → start → game runs without hassle”?
Explicitly not like “install → find a workaround to start the launcher → find next workaround to stop the launcher from crashing and freezing all the time → find next workaround to make the game client start → find a workaround to make it work with the GPU → find next workaround to make a second client start → find other workarounds to make it a decently stable gameplay experience → and so on…”.
Linux is great for servers. Super efficient for the cost of complexity and lack of UI. I have to google every crap I need to do there and it is hassle. But, again, it is super efficient exactly because it uses no resource for any UI. And it is free. If you are hosting your own websites or game server, then it is perfect choice.
As a desktop, Linux is simply horrible… I suppose that one could use it for a very specific narrow usage like school when all you need and all you want the users to do is to use web browser and nothing else. If you want to play games, and by that I mean games you want, not the games that are available, or run specific software you are used to and you have license or plenty of other stuff, then it is horrible choice. Eventually you run into issues (if you won’t run into issues after installation with drivers) and an ordinary person won’t be able to solve them. Hell, they barely manage to use windows these days.
Personally what I hate most is the decentralization. I love the idea of singular open source OS that is polished by community into perfection. But that is just impossible. Once it is open-source, anytime someone disagrees with something, they will fork it and make their own version with that one thing made “better”. And the result s 50+ different distros, each working and looking differently. Ugh.
There is a reason that, for as long as I can remember, Microsoft and Apple have been ubiquitous within the computing world. Folks may criticise and disparage them, but their achievements cannot - in my view - be assailed.
Yes, most Linux distros for the user are free, but there is a requirement on the part of the user to become familiar with concepts and procedures which are taken care of automatically by the OS’s of the Big Two.
It was this, and the unavailability of support for professional software that I use daily, which long relegated Linux to my ‘also-ran’ list.
I have actually used Ubuntu, for simple non-critical tasks; on a whim, I suppose. But it won’t yet replace my current Windows setup.
In tech, stuff goes wrong; sometimes, very wrong. It’s still not enough of a reason for me to switch. If I do, it’ll be to Apple ( ) - not Linux.
I never said Linux OS is better than Windows OS, but I am sensing some negative energy from you. This is more of a CrowdStrike issue but you seem to feel Windows OS is better. Most major companies use a Unix servers ( what Linux was based upon ) I image a lot of companies will be dropping CrowdStrike and switching to Cisco Security … among others.
Glad to hear it. You either didn’t get the update package from Microsoft, or maybe you are running Windows 10.
CrowdStrike is an IT security company, who makes security updates for Windows. If your PC didn’t download the tainted package on Thursday and Friday, you are golden. Most places affected the worse was big business. What shocked me the most about this was 2 major companies in the security chain ( probably about a dozen employees in each stop ) missed the corrupted file.
So now you know who they are and how they affect your OS.
Yes. I run Linux without issue. No Steam required either. I can make Eve Online run on a 12 year old PC with a crap GPU. I tested the 12 year old box recently, because I see a few people here asking, if they can run this game on an old laptop. Well I couldn’t find an old working laptop in my closet, or parts room, so I dug up an old HP SFF running 8 GB of RAM and a passive video card. I managed to get between 45 to 110 frames per second on the old beast. Completely playable on Manjaro and Xubuntu Linux. Manjaro scores a bit higher as the Nvidia Linux propriety driver didn’t require extra steps to go hunting for it. Now the issues you are having with the launcher is pretty common for all OS. After the client starts, I kill the launcher as it tends to have issues making the game client run slower.
Calm down miner. Linux OS is proven to be a quality OS. Again this is not spouting Linux superior and Window inferior. I am glad I don’t need to depend on Windows OS for the following reasons;
Windows is known to be bloated, since the days of Vista and beyond. We use to get an OS, clock, and maybe a couple of games. We installed it on less than 2 GB of drive space. Now they seem intent on flooding it with 64 GB of consumer driven malware.
Windows being more dominate in the industry makes it the better target for hackers. This makes Windows based computers juicy targets. Linux OS is more secure for this fact alone, however the NSA developed their own brand of Linux called SE Linux ( the SE stands for Security Enhanced ).
Windows is not trying to be more progressive. They still use the same file format from the 1990’s. NTFS hasn’t changed and the OS still cannot recognize other formats. Linux can read and be installed on, btrfs, ext2, 3, and 4, gpfs, etc… Many of these file systems have a lot more features.
Meanwhile the critics of Linux OS claim it cannot run their games or popular software. The only reason it can’t or won’t run some online games is anti-cheat protection from the owner of the software. They are simply enforcing their right to employ security to assure the game operates as intended. The only other remark I have heard was Linux OS is too difficult to learn. It installs quickly without issue and most of the popular distributions have a “try it out” option before it even hits your hard drive. There isn’t really much to learn about it other than it is method for you to make better use of your PC.
BTW, If you are 100% anti Linux toss out your Android phones and tablets, they run a proprietary version of Linux OS.
I make it a point to know what runs on my PC. I never even heard of them so there is no chance I have any drivers from them and I’m glad for that. Chuckles @ big business I can imagine the chickens running around trying to get everything back to normal.
Although the ‘error’ lies with CrowdStrike…it really ought not to be possible for third party security software to reduce windows to the BSOD screen. If Microsoft spent less time messing about with curved edges to windows and more time creating a system that automatically booted into safe mode and displayed the software causing the problem, along with potential fixes, then they might finally have a good operating system.
Yeah Ubuntu is what I use. As a server and desktop in VM.
And what exactly isn’t true specifically? I mentioned several issues with linux desktop. I am aware of WINE, but that is not a solution many times. For example it won’t help you run EVE. Drivers are lacking, I had no problem on VM, but when I wanted it to run on old laptop, I had graphic lags caused by bad drivers. Unsolveable. Also getting special label printer to work on linux, ahaha good luck with that.
You forgot having to install 3 different GPU drivers (3 as it’s free to use …) with 2 of them not working (and you don’t know why) then realize the third one is bugged and if you patch it, next time you update it it will actually crash.
No ?
If you rent a server, I think it’s the same price for linux or windows.
Most of my steam games run out of the box on linux.
Once you are used it’s very easy. Also you can natively multi boot. Or even install several versions and choose the one you log in. Way better than having a single entity forcing its own agenda against the interests of the consumers.
The real good thing in linux, is that it’s built to be used with command line, so you can ssh in the servers and run command, or buid scripts easily. This allows a LOT of automation for your tasks.
The main issue with linux is the limited support. For that you need to have long term support distribution that are suitable for entreprise. A company does not want to rebuild their servers every X months…
Back to topic, I could not care less. Bugs happen, it’s not a proof of anything. No reason to rejoice or look down on people who prefer windows, to each their tastes.
Assuming you want to dabble in Linux OS, I would dual boot over using a VM. The issue with using a VM ( virtual machine ) is the original OS is still booted and running in the background. I am not 100% against the usage of a VM, but you are then blowing out more RAM than needed to run either of the OS efficiently. I have debated this with Linux users running Windows VM and Windows users running Linux VM, both are not beneficial. Steve at Blandman Studios runs both systems on the same box and expresses that Linux OS running Windows VM is better than running Windows alone. I disagree and if you watch his videos, in most cases, he has crammed ( 2 GPUs and double memory ) 2 PCs into one case. This is making the PC a work horse for no other excuse than, “I am just too lazy to reboot my PC.”.
If you happen to have an extra SSD or about 50 GB of drive space to spare, I strongly recommend you set up a partition for Linux OS over using a VM. I only use a VM to try stuff that might otherwise infest a drive. As stated above, I also recommend Manjaro for ease of set up. Wine is not a VM or an emulator, but a compatibility layer needed to run Windows software. The Manjaro system menu has easy to use Add/Remove Software app too. I seriously doubt you will ever need to use the terminal program as we did in past like a decade ago.
In April, a CrowdStrike update caused all Debian Linux servers in a civic tech lab to crash simultaneously and refuse to boot.
Huge is not so, this was only one lab, not the entire planet. However today companies do need security, support, and accessibility. CrowdStrike says, they can handle it, but they managed to prove themselves to be human and made an error. Companies like Microsoft need to be prepared for human error and have a backup strategy, other than “We trusted CrowdStrike to do the job and they failed.” using them as their scapegoat. Banks, business, and consumers need to have a plan for this sort of issue as well.
Back in 94 or 95, I was at Dow Chemical doing a contract with them. They passed out a memo saying they were replacing all the Mac/Apple PCs with IBM compatible to “global standardize” the system. This basically is like the old saying, “Never put all your eggs into one basket.”. I had no love hate issue between IBM and Apple, but I felt like it was a mistake at that time. The reason I was given for the decision was, Apple PC allowed for filenames longer than the standard 8 used in DOS. I was working on the VAX, told co-workers, “that is insane” the UNIX on the VAX can use more 8 characters for a filename.
I never put all my eggs in one basket. I run my machine with 3 independent drives, 2 SSDs and 1 HDD. I have backups to external drives used for long term storage every 3 months. These drives are detached and stored into a shielded compartment for safety and my over sense of paranoia. My wife has said, if we ever do have a nuclear war, at least my client’s data will survive.
I love linux and used it for years but eventually had to ditch it as a lot of the programmes I use every day either work badly, or not at all in Linux (Unity, Blender, Substance, JetBrains IDEs, Visual Studio (all variants), Notepad++ are all subpar, ranging from glitches all the way to “not at all working”).
For many years I kept it on as a dual boot until one day a disk failure forced me to harvest the disk it lived on.
I’m unsure if the CrowdStrike programme was part of Windows or something I would have to download and install but it is not present on my desktop, laptop or work computers (and I generally do keep on top of updates).
I don’t run Eve on desktop anymore apart from alts/scouts, I run my main off a Steam Deck, which is a Linux based OS, and haven’t had any problems with the launcher/game since I got the Deck.
It is possible to enjoy using both types of OS, but these days Microsoft seem hell bent on turning Windows to absolute ■■■■ with all the crap they add; I especially find egregious the stupid apps they slip in during updates that just appear in the start menu; Candy Crush? F*** off!
I agree here, but there are always “cleaning” tips or even tools available after a very short time that allow you to deinstall/remove all that nonsense. I personally have manually uninstalled all bloating stuff from my Win11 that bothers me and disabled many background services and autostart entries, so the system starts fast, responds instantly and looks very clean. Sure there will be still lots of bloatware in the background that can’t be disabled, but as long as it doesn’t interfere with my daily tasks, I enjoy a system that simply delivers an all-in-one-package: I can work, I can browse, I can play and I don’t need to care for any ‘special solutions’ that might be needed to get this or that program or driver to work.
My point to leave Windows will come at the moment when being permanently online becomes mandatory or they switch to an subscription system where I have to pay repeatedly to use my machine. Currently my Win11 just works, the last time I paid anything was more than 10 years ago, I think it was 19,90€ for some bulk Win7 key and since then they delivered every upgrade and update for free, nothing to complain here.
) - not Linux.
I can imagine the chickens running around trying to get everything back to normal.
