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Groups > comp.os.linux.misc > #14466 > unrolled thread

Would you trust eBay multi-boot USB's?

Started bypureheart@pacbell.net
First post2015-04-10 18:19 -0700
Last post2015-04-11 16:11 -0400
Articles 4 — 4 participants

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  Would you trust eBay multi-boot USB's? pureheart@pacbell.net - 2015-04-10 18:19 -0700
    Re: Would you trust eBay multi-boot USB's? Tim Watts <tw_usenet@dionic.net> - 2015-04-11 09:48 +0100
      Re: Would you trust eBay multi-boot USB's? Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2015-04-11 08:09 -0700
    Re: Would you trust eBay multi-boot USB's? Andreas Kohlbach <apr15.7.ankman@spamgourmet.net> - 2015-04-11 16:11 -0400

#14466 — Would you trust eBay multi-boot USB's?

Frompureheart@pacbell.net
Date2015-04-10 18:19 -0700
SubjectWould you trust eBay multi-boot USB's?
Message-ID<5aaf8397-d957-4eff-8bed-6ae5d427c563@googlegroups.com>
The recent "boot from USB" thread has reminded me of the USB drives available on eBay for one, that purport to contain a bunch of distros to play with.

Here's one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/16GB-USB-Multiboot-Flash-Drive-15-bootable-Systems-repair-Windows-enjoy-Linux-/231504153657?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35e6b90c39

I want to get one of these things just to play around.

My question to the group is:
Should I trust it?

I am low skill level and don't have a mentor nearby to guide me through MD5 checksums and things like that. 

To rephrase: Can I buy and play with one of these things or is it likely to be 'infected' with malware et. al. that will make me regret being born?

All opinions welcome.

Pureheart in Aptos

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#14468

FromTim Watts <tw_usenet@dionic.net>
Date2015-04-11 09:48 +0100
Message-ID<ao3nvb-oq3.ln1@squidward.dionic.net>
In reply to#14466
On 11/04/15 02:19, pureheart@pacbell.net wrote:
> The recent "boot from USB" thread has reminded me of the USB drives available on eBay for one, that purport to contain a bunch of distros to play with.
>
> Here's one:
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/16GB-USB-Multiboot-Flash-Drive-15-bootable-Systems-repair-Windows-enjoy-Linux-/231504153657?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35e6b90c39
>
> I want to get one of these things just to play around.
>
> My question to the group is:
> Should I trust it?
>
> I am low skill level and don't have a mentor nearby to guide me through MD5 checksums and things like that.

It would be less effort to make your own USB stick from a reputable 
multi-boot recovery image from a trustworthy website.

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#14471

FromBobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com>
Date2015-04-11 08:09 -0700
Message-ID<mgbde7$bal$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#14468
On 04/11/2015 01:48 AM, Tim Watts wrote:
> On 11/04/15 02:19, pureheart@pacbell.net wrote:
>> The recent "boot from USB" thread has reminded me of the USB drives
>> available on eBay for one, that purport to contain a bunch of distros
>> to play with.
>>
>> Here's one:
>> http://www.ebay.com/itm/16GB-USB-Multiboot-Flash-Drive-15-bootable-Systems-repair-Windows-enjoy-Linux-/231504153657?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35e6b90c39
>>
>>
>> I want to get one of these things just to play around.
>>
>> My question to the group is:
>> Should I trust it?
>>
>> I am low skill level and don't have a mentor nearby to guide me
>> through MD5 checksums and things like that.
>
> It would be less effort to make your own USB stick from a reputable
> multi-boot recovery image from a trustworthy website.
>
	You know that Linux Pro magazine produces Disks of the Month that 
contain multiple distributions either with a common base system
like Debian or small distributions as isos which boot from a menu.
	Making an iso file of that sort of disk might make it easy
to make your own USB device filled with multiple distributions.
	In 2014 in June they called it Light Distro Sampler with
small systems 6 of these on a single sided DVD and the next issue in
July 2014 it had Ubuntu Monster Pack again on the single sided DVD
with Ubuntu, Ubuntu Gnome, Kubuntu, Lubuntu and Xubuntu.
	I think they may sell back issues but just Google
Linux Pro Magazine and see what you can find out.

	bliss

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#14478

FromAndreas Kohlbach <apr15.7.ankman@spamgourmet.net>
Date2015-04-11 16:11 -0400
Message-ID<87k2xio26k.fsf@usenet.ankman.de>
In reply to#14466
pureheart@pacbell.net wrote on 10. April 2015:
>
> The recent "boot from USB" thread has reminded me of the USB drives available on eBay for one, that purport to contain a bunch of distros to play with.
>
> Here's one:
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/16GB-USB-Multiboot-Flash-Drive-15-bootable-Systems-repair-Windows-enjoy-Linux-/231504153657?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35e6b90c39
>
> I want to get one of these things just to play around.
>
> My question to the group is:
> Should I trust it?
>
> I am low skill level and don't have a mentor nearby to guide me through MD5 checksums and things like that. 
>
> To rephrase: Can I buy and play with one of these things or is it likely to be 'infected' with malware et. al. that will make me regret being born?

I wouldn't trust any installation I didn't install myself.

I even think it's quite possible some one is making a buck selling these
USB sticks and having some remote software installed on this stick. Then
selling "your computer" to somebody else.

I would say, go to your local computer store and buy a new (blank) USB
stick there (4GB is more than enough for a Linux installation, even 2GB
will work). And install a "Live-Linux" image (Ubuntu and any other you
want to try out) on it.
-- 
Andreas

I use a Unix based operating system, which means I get laid almost as often as I
have to reboot my computer.

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