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For six years, the Internet Nexus served as my technology blog, but I've since started blogging at the SuperSite Blog instead. If you're looking for the blog, please head there. --Paul

Tuesday, July 06, 2004

Break the Windows habit to gain computer security

NCTimes.com: "You can cut the risk from malicious software or hacker intrusions to nearly zero in just one step. That step is to stop using computers with Microsoft's increasingly vulnerable Windows operating system. By using computers running the Linux or Apple Macintosh operating systems, you eliminate the vast majority of risks from malicious software. Add a good firewall and anti-virus program to become the next best thing to invulnerable. That has been my experience for the last eight months: running a Linux-powered computer at home. I don't have to worry about my Web browser being hijacked by spyware. I don't have to turn off HTML in my e-mail reader to avoid getting infected. When the latest Windows viruses land in my e-mail box, I just laugh while hitting the delete key."

You know, it's funny, but I do the same thing, though I'm using Outlook on Windows XP. OK, I don't laugh most of the time. But I can if I want because I have an up-to-date antivirus solution and a two-way firewall running all the time, and I'm savvy enough to know not to open attachments that they mark as unsafe. But most people aren't that technical, so it's unclear that they'd be able to handle Linux, even though it's certainly improved a bunch recently. Mac OS X is a decent solution, but it's expensive, especially when you consider that the typical Windows switcher could try Linux by repartitioning (using tools included with most Linux distros) and dual-booting between Linux and Windows; if they were ready to make the switch entirely for some reason, they could simply wipe out their existing PC and reuse it, for a huge savings. The Mac is good, but it requires such a break and, if you're used to computers, a relearning of key skills. It's not as easy as it could be.

Yeah, I linked to this story the other day, but it's worth repeating: While this may seem like a good idea in a vacuum, most people simply aren't ready for this.

[ Posted at 9:11 AM | Permalink ]