Security update

Well, I just read an article that I think everyone should read. Click here for the article. Read the Talkback comments too, this just applies to Windows users. If this is not frightening enough for the average person to seriously think about switching operating systems, then I don't know what will do it. No matter what you do on the Net, you need to have a lot of defenses up so that your computer, personal information, identity, life is/are not hijacked.

I know my computers (the ones that I have personally, and the ones that the responsibility has fallen to me to maintain (family, friends, etc.)) are firewalled, anti-virused, anti-spywared, etc out the wazoo. This still does not keep them completely safe. Anyone who goes to a website that contains any kind of questionable content on it is at risk of downloading a malicious program, or having a 'browse-by' download happen. This doesn't take into account the email scams, phishing, attachments and all of the other crap that we have come to regard as the 'norm' in our online lives.

I admit, I am an advocate of “Anything But Microsoft”. Let's get that out of the way right now. If I didn't have to see/use/hear about anything having to do with MS and Windows ever again, I'd be a happier camper. Unfortunately, I live in the real world. Linux, MAC OS, Solaris, UNIX, the BDS's and the rest of the alternative OS's are far superior to Win, but the mainstream public, and industry/business are for the most part MS centric. Even our public schools are MS centric. Try sending a child to school with anything other than MS experience and see what happens. I use Opera as my browser of choice, and have raised my kids and wife to use and prefer it. We used to use Netscape (way back when), but for the past 6 or 7 years it's been Opera. The kids are forced to use Internet Explorer in school, along with the plethora of MS products that are out there. The only reason IE is even on my computers is so that I can perform Windows Updates. Otherwise I would break its functionality. A fall-back if Opera is unable to open/display a page (rare), or the web-designer has used too many IE specific coding is Firefox. Ask at your school if they have ever heard of anything that isn't MS. I'll bet you get a deer-in-the-hedalights-look.

So, what are our options?

Change the operating system you use. This isn't as hard as you think. Linux on the desktop has come a long way in the past couple of years. Just about everyone knows a geek they can ask for help too. The learning curve is a little steep, but if all you're going to do is browse the web, email, word processing, etc. (the basics), then Linux and a little time can save you a lot of headaches and money (from the constant MS/spyware/adware upgrades).
1a. Move to MAC OS. This falls under changing OS type, but also right now, under a hardware change. MAC OS is based on a UNIX variant called BSD. It is inherently better and safer than MS. The learning curve isn't as steep as Linux, but the hardware costs are a little more, especially if you're not planning to upgrade anytime soon.

Become a security expert and keep up with all of the changes in bad/malicious programs and how you can stop them at your front door. This is a lot harder and time consuming than it is worth most of the time. I do try to keep up with computer security issues, but not being an expert, it is hard and becoming harder every day.

Firewall your computer/network. A hardware firewall in conjunction with a software firewall on each computer is the best bet. Have any old computer sitting around? Install SmoothWall on it and the free ZoneAlarm firewall on each computer you have. READ the manuals, help files and any other documentation you have to familiarize yourself with the programs and get to know how to use them and what is/isn't a threat.

Install, use, and keep these programs up to date. Use them religiously:

AdAware
SpyBot Search and Destroy
AntiVir Personal Edition Classic

Either that, or you can stop connecting to the Internet.

Sorry that this post meanders so much. My mind works at about 1000% that my fingers can type.