[Hidden-tech] Windows security (sic)

[Sidney Mills]

If you don't have a virus scanner, how do you know you don't have a virus?

Websites wanting  to run a script isn't where I would worry about 
getting a virus (though it is a worry - you people switched to Firefox 
yet???  getfirefox.com)

I would worry about the other folks who think by clicking "no" they are 
virus-free who send me cute photos, flash cards, etc. in my email.  MY 
secret for not getting a virus is not enabling preview pane in my email; 
not opening a file from someone I don't know that has an attachment (and 
indeed, not opening a file from someone I DO know unless I'm expecting 
it) and having Norton Anti-Virus on my computer because once your email 
address is "out there" (and one of mine is sure as heck "out there") you 
get more junk in a day than you know what to do with; and on average, 
about 1 out of ever 10 emails I receive has a virus stuck to it.

The day they port Photoshop* to Linux is the day I finally, and 
gloriously, leave the stupid world of Windows.  But even after that day, 
I'll still be helping out people who thought that just by clicking "No" 
they would avoid getting a virus, and now they're paying me $85/hr to 
fix their computer.


-Sidney
* No, Gimp is NOT the same as Photoshop.

Ben Liyanage wrote:

>   ** Be a Good Dobee and help the group
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>I have not had a virus scanner on my computer for nearly 10 years, and I
>have not ever had a virus.
>
>My secret is that I always click "No" when a website asks me if I want to
>run a script, or install a program that I was not specifically seeking out.
>I hope this little piece of advice helps some of you.
>
>Ben Liyanage
>ben at smartankgroup.com
>410.336.2464
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net
>[mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net]On Behalf Of
>Jonathan Dill
>Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2005 7:26 AM
>To: hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
>Subject: [Hidden-tech] Windows security (sic)
>
>
>   ** Be a Good Dobee and help the group
>   ** Fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
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>
>Hello folks,
>
>I do "emergency calls" on computers and wanted to make a few comments
>and suggestions about how not to have your computer trashed if you have
>Windows.  The bottom line is it is probably a lot cheaper--though it
>does cost some money--to do a few things up front rather than try to
>clean up the mess if you have not made any preparation.
>
>I have been doing a lot of these calls lately where people "had the
>anti-virus software that came with the computer..." which expired in
>2001 or something like that.  And then his or her teenager stopped by
>the office and used the computer "to do homework" ahem, or some similar
>instigating incident.  And then the next time the computer restarted,
>this funny window came up, and someone clicked "OK" and then the system
>wouldn't come up after that.  OK so maybe a lot of IT people would say
>this is stupid / irresponsible / whatever, but in practice, I'm finding
>that it is extremely common.  My new joke is that I am changing my
>slogan to, "NO Windows for you! Linux, Linux, Linux!!!"
>
>Often, all of the critical system files are deleted or at least trashed,
>and if there is no backup, all there is left to do is try to copy off as
>much data as I can, re-install Windows, and copy the data back to the
>computer.  By the time I have run Windows Update for the Nth time and
>rebooted for the Nth time, tried to make it reasonably secure, and
>copied all of the files back, it takes at least 4 hours.
>
>If you don't have the original CDs that came with your computer, either
>you will be buying new Windows, or ordering the "System Restore" CDs
>from the manufacturer and waiting a few days for them to show up--I have
>found that some OEM licenses for Windows do not work with just a
>standard Windows CD, the Registration Key from the sticker on the side
>of the computer may not even be recognized as valid because it is not a
>"WPA" license.
>
>If you have Windows, please check to make sure your antivirus software
>has a valid license and that the definitions are updating regularly,
>preferably automatically.  If you're not sure, get a geek to help you,
>or if it's been a year since you last bought antivirus software or an
>upgrade, go out and buy the latest Norton Antivirus for Windows.
>
>If you have a Windows PC that is critical to your business, your friends
>and family should not be logging on to that computer to do anything, it
>should be just for business as much as possible.  Get a second cheap PC
>for example from Walmart and let the kids use that.  Hey, I know it's
>money, but it may cost less to just buy a cheap PC up front than what
>you will pay to try to recover your business files if your computer gets
>trashed.
>
>Get an external USB2 disk drive for backups.  If your computer is more
>than a year or two old, you may also need to buy a USB2 card for your
>computer.  Maxtor and Seagate are a couple good brands for disk drives.
>The disk should be at least twice the size of the total space of the
>hard drive(s) inside your computer.  Ideally, you should have Windows XP
>Professional, and the backup tool that comes with that works fairly
>well.  Norton Ghost 9 is another good tool.  Some external hard drives
>may also come with backup software.
>
>CDs and DVDs may sound like a good idea for backups, but in practice I
>find a lot of people just end up not bothering because it's "too
>inconvenient."  It's much easier to just set up the external backup
>drive, make it automatic, and just back up the whole entire thing
>instead of trying to pick and choose.  That way, you can also have a
>complete "disaster recovery" solution where you don't have to re-install
>Windows and all of your applications again which is a whole lot more
>time-consuming than you might think.
>
>Lastly, if you have a broadband internet connection, it is essential
>that you have a *hardware* firewall / router and that it is configured
>correctly.  Software firewall might be OK as a 2nd line of defense, but
>I do not trust it 100%.  If you get one with wireless built-in, make
>sure to have an IT geek configure it for you and set up some type of
>encryption--I really don't think wireless is a bad idea if it's done
>right.  If you have a small business with several people and a little
>budget for a firewall, Sonicwall TZ170 may be a good choice--it has some
>excellent options that you can subscribe to block spyware and viruses
>and "intrusion prevention" and such as a second line of defense.  For a
>home office or a couple people, Linksys is a good brand.
>
>Jonathan
>
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