Free Windows Desktop Software Security List - discussion thread

[MrBrian]

The security list Probably the Best Free Security List in the World has been renamed to Free Windows Desktop Software Security List. Various changes have been made. Please see the Announcements section of the list's home page for more details.

[J_L]

*Inserts congratz here*

Once again, thank you very much for your hard work MrBrian. I look forward to the list's, and Gizmos Freeware's, future.

[MrBrian]

Originally Posted by J_L

*Inserts congratz here*

Once again, thank you very much for your hard work MrBrian. I look forward to the list's, and Gizmos Freeware's, future.

You're welcome . And thank you for all the hard work you've done on the list over the years!

[MrBrian]

List trivia: there are now around 3800 links in the list, and around 355 page sections (not including sections that are considered subsections). If we do a list maintenance operation that takes an average of 5 seconds per item, that is around 5 hours of work. If we do a list maintenance operation that takes an average of 5 minutes per item, that is around 315 hours of work.

My roadmap:

Phase 1: I will review every page of the list at the page section (not item) level of granularity. I may rename sections, create new sections, merge sections together, etc. Due to time constraints, I will not during this phase pursue operations that involve reclassifying a large number of items. Concurrently, in a text file on my computer, I will classify the page sections according to the reorganization discussed here. I hope for this phase to be completed by the end of 2015.

Phase 2: After Phase 1 is done, I will rearrange the list at the page section level of granularity according to the text file mentioned in Phase 1. This might take a few days.

Phase 3: I will look at every link on the list, fixing broken links and other issues encountered, but not reclassifying items.

Phase 4: I will look at the section classification of every item in the list. I'm not sure if there ever be time to do this phase for every item, so I might focus first on the most popular pages, areas that I know better or care more about, or pages that you request. This phase will be done over years of time.

Concurrent to all of these phases (except Phase 2), items will be added to the list by the list authors.

[MrBrian]

What should be the criteria for an item to be considered obsolete (assuming a download link is still available somewhere)?

Example: should PE GUARD be on the list or not?

[MrBrian]

If anybody reading this wishes to have input into how Phase 1 proceeds - i.e. which page sections there will be - please say so.

[J_L]

Obsolete is when it doesn't work with current threats or platforms anymore IMO.

[MidnightCowboy]

Originally Posted by J_L

Obsolete is when it doesn't work with current threats or platforms anymore IMO.

I would agree with this to an extent because "current" I assume does not include XP, yet there are still many users of this platform who enjoy the likes of Sygate, Sunbelt/Kerio etc.

[MrBrian]

Originally Posted by J_L

Obsolete is when it doesn't work with current threats or platforms anymore IMO.

The last time that I asked ako (which was probably before Windows XP stopped getting updates), he said that Windows XP-only items should be on the list.

In the case of non-signature-based programs such as ThreatFire or PE Guard that won't get any more updates, how are we supposed to know if they work against current threats without resorting to testing them?

[MrBrian]

We have begun using an automated link checker to identify broken and redirected links. Broken links will be repaired if possible or else deleted.