[clue-talk] Computer Security

[Walter Hildebrandt]

Angelo Bertolli wrote:

> For a windows machine which isn't protected by at least a proxy to the 
> internet, you should download a firewall (like ZoneAlarm) BEFORE 
> installing windows, and install it before you ever connect to the 
> Internet.  Otherwise, you'll  get hit with viruses before you can get 
> the security patches.  The updates for windows seem to be pretty safe 
> now, but you do hear an occasional story of it breaking something.  
> The automatic updates should be safe though because they're only 
> security patches, and not software updates.

I have ZoneAlarm and Norton anti-virus.

On a WndowsXP machine I am using OpenOffice, Fiefox, Thunderbird and a 
few other programs.   Is there azy thing  I can do to make the machine 
safer?

Walter

>
> Angelo
>
> David Rudder wrote:
>
>> I'm not the greatest expert on Windows, but the command.com and 
>> cmd.exe recommendation seem unnecessary to me.  These are just the 
>> DOS shells, right?  I know they've been used by, eg, code red, but I 
>> think it's pretty easy to make a virus without them, too.  Also, I've 
>> read (on /. so it's not exactly authoritative) that automatic update 
>> has been known to break things?  Does anyone have any experience with 
>> it?
>>
>> Seems to me to be easier to run Linux :)
>>
>> -Dave
>>
>> Kevin Cullis wrote:
>>
>>> Take a look at this comment:
>>>
>>> Operating systems
>>>
>>> If possible, don't use Microsoft Windows. Buy a Macintosh or use 
>>> Linux. If you must use Windows, set up Automatic Update so that you 
>>> automatically receive security patches. And delete the files 
>>> "command.com" and "cmd.exe."
>>>
>>> http://www.schneier.com/essay-078.html
>>>
>>> Enjoy.
>>>
>>> KC
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
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