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Security Software Linux

Linux Community Halloween Challenge 68

Posted by CmdrTaco from the put-on-your-crash-helmet dept.
LuMinoR writes "In a cool contest with a Halloween theme, BitDefender is inviting Linux enthusiasts to crash test their upcoming antivirus solution for Linux e-mail servers. The most thorough beta tester will receive 1,000 German beers and a trip to BitDefender's corporate headquarters in Romania, where they will attend meetings with Count Dracula, the BitDefender development team and other local luminaries."
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Linux Community Halloween Challenge More

Linux Community Halloween Challenge

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  • Can't wait... (Score:5, Funny)

    by AnswerIs42 ( 622520 ) on Sunday October 30, 2005 @09:09AM (#13908663) Homepage
    To see the tax one would have to pay to bring 1000 beers into the country...

    Though, the chance to meet Count Dracula though....

  • The OP could have immpressed us more by calling it a "robust computer security solution stack". What's with the increasing use of corporate-speak in Slashdot articles and posts?

    • Gaudere's Law (Score:4, Funny)

      by Cyburbia ( 695748 ) on Sunday October 30, 2005 @09:30AM (#13908718) Homepage
      Of course, in a post complaining about English, I misspelled a word.

      It's Sunday morning. I'm tired. I still have to put on some face lubrication solution and use a beard removal solution (part of the facial grooming suite) and head to a lecture at an Ashkenazi Hebrew Religious Solution Center. Meanwhile, others will be on their way to a personal salvation solution center, where they will likely sing from a robust suite of hymns. Unless they're Missouri Synod Lutherans, where they'll have low-frequency dirge solutions.

  • While I would love the beer (Score:5, Funny)

    by Timesprout ( 579035 ) on Sunday October 30, 2005 @09:22AM (#13908698)
    As a beautiful and large breasted female with a penchant for revealing bodices I really dont think its a good idea for me to meet Count Dracula, so I pass.

  • Gimmicks (Score:1, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward
    These contests are stupid. It's just a way for companies to get cheap labor and free advertising. Many people test, one arbitrary person gets paid (and not even paid cash). Game companies love doing this. The company will make millions and one lucky bastard gets some door prizes. Gee, thanks.

    Of course if you seek fame and have nothing better to do then more power to you.

    Anyone worth their salt isn't going to bother with silly stuff like this so the end product usually isn't top notch quality. In other

  • Yeah... right (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Cthefuture ( 665326 ) on Sunday October 30, 2005 @09:56AM (#13908787)
    Just give me the $8k for two weeks testing and I guarantee that I will find so many problems that you'll be busy for months.

    Otherwise, why would I bother participating in this just for the possibility of being paid? ... I do all the work and someone else gets paid... right. I imagine everyone else with actual skill is thinking the same thing.
    • Indeed, and thus, everyone with actual skills will stay away from this, which means that if *one* person with actual skills decides to join in anyway, they're pretty much bound to win against all the amateurs. :)

      In other words, it's worth it after all. Or isn't it?
    • Just give me the $8k for two weeks testing and I guarantee that I will find so many problems that you'll be busy for months. Otherwise, why would I bother participating in this just for the possibility of being paid? ... I do all the work and someone else gets paid... right. I imagine everyone else with actual skill is thinking the same thing.

      I always find it amazing how Slashdot is constantly praising the "open" model where everyone is free to come and find bugs and fix them and we all get along so per
      • '"why would I bother participating in this if I'm not being paid"? I think I hear Microsoft snickering.'

        Not all /. readers have the same philosophy, and quite a few of them get paid to work on free software. Heck I fix bugs and make bug reports in the free software we use at work, at work, harder than twiddling my thumbs but I'm still getting paid for it.

        And then there is the view, why should we test an antivirus system?

        Rejecting Windows executable types (and .zip) in my free software MTA's MIME type filter

  • Mmm... (Score:4, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 30, 2005 @09:56AM (#13908792)
    Free ... free as in beta testers.
  • They offer beer, they offer a trip to Romania... and now they have a free advert on Slashdot and free labour to test their program. And Slashdot editors, among others, fell for it...

    The winning formula:

    1. Set up a contest

    2. Make the reward intersting

    PRIZE = Get free ads

    3. Invite just the 'talented' few

    4. Users test program

    5. Hacks found and fixed

    PRICE = Profit!

  • Ummm... (Score:2, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Shouldn't that be: "The most thorough beta taster will receive 1,000 German beers" HIC!
  • Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • If you prefer stuff with 90% water (i.e. the stereotypical American beer) and happen to end up in Cologne, try Kölsch. It's the most watery beer Germany has to offer and it's made from liquid gold. At least the price seems to indicate that...


      (Note: The inhabitants of Cologne will tell you that Kölsch is the world's best beer. As someone who hates the taste of beer I can certainly vouch for that.)
      • Comment removed based on user account deletion
      • 90% water? What the hell is the other 10%?

        The typical american beer has no more than about 5% alcohol. I don't think it can be called beer if it's higher than 5.5%.
        • According to the German Wikipedia article the strongest beer is an American beer ("Barley Johns Rosies Ale") with 28% alcohol (but you call anything above 4.5% malt liquor - which applies to most German beers). Also, I know that monks brewed some fairly strong beer which they consumed during lent.

          And yes, I should have written "99%". But you can interpret my figure as 90% water and 10% normal beer, which approximates what I meant, although it might only be 90% accurate. ;)
  • I mean... you don't have to drink them all on your trip, do you?
  • I think this is a better halloween challenge: the Pumpkin PC [uark.edu]

    look how awesome the fans look in the eyes and system just overall is top notch.

  • But I'm in Saudia Arabia (Score:3, Funny)

    by DrSkwid ( 118965 ) on Sunday October 30, 2005 @12:18PM (#13909369) Journal
    You insensitive infidel !

  • Somehow, the opening paragraph on the "Welcome to the BitDefender-*nix Beta Test Page" page looks familiar:
    Das newest BitDefender is jetzt fuer testen, fingergepocken und mittengrabben! Ist easy und fun zu schnappen das springewerke, hangen und corkgepoppen mit spitzensparken, fur Prizes zu grabben!
    Also Installierenen Sie die Kit, relaxen und watchen die blinkenlights!
    Ah yes, "die blinkenlights."
  • on similar things. He basically says (and I agree), that inviting random people to attack (or beta test in this case) your software is not guarenteed to get the best result. I can't find the link though.

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