Re: Anti-Virus Software Suggestions

Floyd Davidson wrote:
Ron Hunter <rphunter@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
ASAAR wrote:
On Fri, 23 Sep 2005 03:07:40 -0500, Ron Hunter suspiciously wrote: 

Actually it is *much* easier than that.

First, avoid OE/IE . . . 

First, avoiding OE/IE isn't of significance.  They don't run on
my OS, and the mail agents and web browsers that do don't have
the same problem, plus they get wide scrutiny and are quickly
updated any time a security hole is detected.

Second, NEVER open an email attachment unless . . . 

Second, there is no need to worry about email attachments.  None
of the email programs available on reasonably safe OS's are at
risk.

Third, run AV and malware software, and KEEP THEM UPDATED! 

Third I've *never* used anti-virus or anti-malware software, and
have never been infected.  A reasonable OS doesn't need them.

Fourth, NEVER download something from an unknown source. 

Fourth, how can *anyone* claim to download software only from
known sources, it they download at all.  That's just a totally
bogus suggestion.  (If someone wants to check digital signatures
or checksums or whatever, that's a very different security
measure, and might well be worth doing.)

Last, be suspicious of ANYTHING that looks too good to be true. 

That point is valid.  Incoming email is *not* easy to sort!
For people who have the talent to apply logic to each situation,
it isn't much risk... but of course that is not true of many,
if not most, people.

  Only these four simple rules to follow and Windows will be
secure?
That's surely too good to be true. :)


Be suspicious????  ;-)

Nope, and it is quite easy to learn.  Even my wife understands the
principles of 'safe hex', and she certainly isn't a computer expert.  It
really IS that simple.


My point of course is that I use Slackware (Linux), though any
of several distributions of Linux, BSD, or even Solaris, will be
just as simple to deal with.  What you are recommending is simply
a hassle for many people, and is not necessary anyway.

I helped a neighbor convert from a dialup to broadband DSL the
other day.  With three computers for school age children all
under the age of 14, they've got a fairly complex set of home
requirements, and a couple of folks offered to help.  I did the
networking (firewall etc).  Another fellow who knows Windows XP
configured the computers.  The first thing he did was start
cussing about the schools teaching how to use computers, but
*never* teaching the kids how to set up anti-virus and
anti-spyware programs.  He upgraded the AV program and install
some kind of spybot...  and between the two computers that had
been connecting to the Internet via a dialup, there were more
than *five* *hundred* items detected and deleted.

Now, it may be easy for a guy with 40 years to condition him to
thinking that he should be doing that; but it is bull*** to
claim it is easy for just anyone.  It is bull*** to *sell* an
OS like that.  And disgusting to recommend it for kids, as one
example.

I don't know what world you live in, or what imaginary life you lead, but in the real world, people use Windows. It's just a fact, like hurricanes, and tornadoes. So you don't get hurricanes, but what about earthquakes. Having watched professionals spend DAYS putting Unix systems back together after problems, I can tell you that all is not rosy and carefree in the Unix world. Schools use Macs and Windows systems. There may be a Unix server sitting in the Admin. building, but in the classrooms, Windows and Mac are what IS. You can ignore the truth if you wish, but Unix isn't the OS of choice for 97% or more of the people using computers.

You may think my precautions are unnecessary for a Unix system, but they are essential for a Windows system, and that is 95% of users.


--
Ron Hunter  rphunter@xxxxxxxxxxx
.

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