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ReactOS 0.4.5 Released

reactos.org

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Re: ReactOS 0.4.5 Released

#11

Post by akoster »

First off, I'd like to thank all the developers who have put their time and effort into building this amazing piece of software.

I have been curious: if ReactOS aims to be binary compatible with windows, does this mean it succeptible to windows malware infections? I understand that despite having a similar API, the ReactOS implementation different from microsoft's implementation, so a vulnerability on Windows won't necessarily be present in ReactOS, but let's say a user infects themselves through a malicious word doc macro that downloads a windows malware exe or dll, can that still cause harm to a reactOS system? Or is some sort of sandbox in place to prevent such attacks?

Re: ReactOS 0.4.5 Released

#12

Post by chungy »

akoster wrote: post #11

First off, I'd like to thank all the developers who have put their time and effort into building this amazing piece of software. I have been curious: if ReactOS aims to be binary compatible with windows, does this mean it succeptible to windows malware infections? I understand that despite having a similar API, the ReactOS implementation different from microsoft's implementation, so a vulnerability on Windows won't n…

It's a vague question. Bugs in implementation creating security exploits are usually not going to be replicated on both systems. Applications, including malware, using only the documented API functions should behave identically.

In short: WannaCry should work "properly" on ReactOS in that it will use the crypto APIs to encrypt all of the user's files. It shouldn't propagate itself through the same remote network vulnerability that affected Windows.

Re: ReactOS 0.4.5 Released

#14

Post by nkkollaw »

slazaro wrote: post #2

I know this is such a little nitpick for a huge project like this one, but every time I see ReactOS screenshots I notice that the taskbar looks off. Comparing this [1] screenshot from the article to this [2] random Win98 screenshot, the start button and app buttons seem to have different margins, padding and dimensions. Again, it's such a small thing, but I (and I guess other people do as well) tend to focus on this…

I don't see it, but even if it was their goal isn't at all to make the UI look like Windows at any version. It's just similar.

Re: ReactOS 0.4.5 Released

#15

Post by sattoshi »

akoster wrote: post #11

First off, I'd like to thank all the developers who have put their time and effort into building this amazing piece of software. I have been curious: if ReactOS aims to be binary compatible with windows, does this mean it succeptible to windows malware infections? I understand that despite having a similar API, the ReactOS implementation different from microsoft's implementation, so a vulnerability on Windows won't n…

Not any more than FreeBSD suffers from Linux vulnerabilities

Re: ReactOS 0.4.5 Released

#17

Post by StevePerkins »

I tried installing this on the latest VirtualBox release. It installed cleanly, but the VM would not fully boot. It just hangs on the startup splash screen, with the progress bar about three-quarters of the way across.

I found a wiki page advising VirtualBox users to disable "I/O APIC", and to change the virtual network adapter to "PCnet-FAST III". But this made no difference.

Just to be thorough, I re-installed completely from scratch with these settings. Still no difference.

Just to be crazy thorough, I created a new VM profile that was set for a 32-bit guest. Reinstalled from scratch. Still no difference.

Gave up.

Nothing but respect for the ReactOS folks, and all they've done over the years. But I imagine that the overwhelming majority of people who try this out are doing so in a VirtualBox VM. So if you don't have an up-to-date and accurate list of instructions for installing ReactOS on VirtualBox, prominently displayed near the download page, then you might consider prioritizing that.

Re: ReactOS 0.4.5 Released

#18

Post by saghm »

sattoshi wrote: post #15
akoster wrote: post #11

First off, I'd like to thank all the developers who have put their time and effort into building this amazing piece of software. I have been curious: if ReactOS aims to be binary compatible with windows, does this mean it succeptible to windows malware infections? I understand that despite having a similar API, the ReactOS implementation different from microsoft's implementation, so a vulnerability on Windows won't n…

Not any more than FreeBSD suffers from Linux vulnerabilities

Is that really a fair comparison? A vanilla FreeBSD installation isn't going to be able to just run Linux binaries

Re: ReactOS 0.4.5 Released

#19

Post by yjftsjthsd-h »

saghm wrote: post #18
sattoshi wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not any more than FreeBSD suffers from Linux vulnerabilities

Is that really a fair comparison? A vanilla FreeBSD installation isn't going to be able to just run Linux binaries

Seems like a better example is Linux with wine

Re: ReactOS 0.4.5 Released

#20

Post by TazeTSchnitzel »

akoster wrote: post #11

First off, I'd like to thank all the developers who have put their time and effort into building this amazing piece of software. I have been curious: if ReactOS aims to be binary compatible with windows, does this mean it succeptible to windows malware infections? I understand that despite having a similar API, the ReactOS implementation different from microsoft's implementation, so a vulnerability on Windows won't n…

If you open a virus embedded in an email attachment on ReactOS then, yes, it'll probably work. Viruses are Windows applications like any other.
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