Re: Question 2

"persian ram" <chuck_petterson@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:u6bN9kvXFHA.2128@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>I am confused about three things:
>
> 1. how come there are so many "independent" suppliers of security
> software?
> MS seems to go out of its way to have an operating system that buggers
> non-MS applications and self destructs in house applications over time,
> why
> doesn't it provide a good security system with its OS?
>
> 2. Which of the independent Security applications is best? I have been a
> "norton" user since 1985, so I kind of lean toward that brand, but I am
> not
> married to it. McAffee seems to be popular, but I don't know if it really
> has any distinct advantage over another brand. It is all very confusing.
>
> 3. There are a lot of links on this NG to independent gurus and problem
> solvers. How do I know they can be trusted?
>
> Really, all I want to do is use my computer in piece. I am spending way
> too
> much of my time being a computer mechanic.
>
> chuck
>
>

It's financially lucrative to compromise your computer and use it for
nefarious purposes. As long as this is true some people will try to find a
way to do it. Microsoft is in business to make money and rightly or wrongly
have determined they can make more money by having more features rather than
better security. This makes it easy for the bad guys. Most experts have
their own favourite applications and methods for securing windows. Most of
them work, some better than others. You'll have to do a bit of research and
decide what's best for you. A router is a good first line of defence. Your
post in another thread indicated you are on dialup so a router is probably
out. There are routers for dialup but they are awkward to setup and use. On
dialup installing SP2 and making sure the firewall is active or installing a
third party firewall is a first step. Installing one antivirus app is the
next step. Installing two or three antispyware apps is next. Be aware that
several programs that claim to remove spyware actually distribute spyware.
Lastly and most important practice safe computing. Unfortunately this means
not surfing to questionable, but possibly interesting web sites, and not
using p2p file sharing apps. A good place to start researching safe
computing is here:

http://www.aumha.org/a/health.htm

Another excellent resource is this newsgroup. Search for posts by Shenan
Stanley and read his tips on safe computing.

Kerry


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Question 2
    ... We try to practice safe computing, but it is just like birth control: ... >> non-MS applications and self destructs in house applications over time, ... Which of the independent Security applications is best? ... > dialup installing SP2 and making sure the firewall is active or installing ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • IT Security Administrator in Bend, OR
    ... workstations as well as physical security for I/T systems. ... manages network security software and hardware. ... Extensive experience with Windows 2000/2003 servers and Exchange ... Two years experience configuring, installing and implementing VMWare ...
    (comp.arch)
  • Re: Security Update for MS XML Core Services 4.0 Service Pack 2(KB
    ... Security Update installed on my PC on 4/17 (it was the day after I saw the ... But, after the Re-boot, Windows Update showed KB941833 as an Available ... You asked me to Post the name of the Security Software; ... keep installing and Updated to Vista Home Prem SP1 ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsupdate)
  • Re: Yet more Windows XP security patches
    ... Alias wrote: ... >> otherhand it may keep your computer up and running by not installing ... >>> A security issue has been identified in the Plug and Play service ... >>> your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Yet more Windows XP security patches
    ... > Before installing these updates it is best to read just what they do,take ... >> nothing new actually...about a dozen security patches to install. ... >> your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. ... a security hole in the ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
Loading