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Secure Your Windows Machine Before It's Too Late |
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 After looking at a few news sites this morning, I found myself with a not uncommon weird look on my face. Could it be true? Could Microsoft actually be the best solution for all of your computing needs? Let's take a closer look.
As previously reported by Jonahan, this article found at AlwaysOn, explains why our dear friend, Mr. Gates thinks Windows is cheaper than our favorite free OS: Linux. Of course that article was published before this one I found at vnunet.com, which explains some of the hidden costs of using Windows. First and foremost is the cost of a virus attack at a major corporation: "Firms belonging to the Corporate IT Forum (TIF) have reported that they lose more than £100,000 from each major virus infection." That translates to about $174,500 US. Now, I would be more than happy to compare these figures to Mac OS and Linux, but for some reason they don't seem to be in today's news...
Now, let's take a few minutes (or hours) to talk about security. I found myself totally taken aback by a most interesting write-up on Tech TV's The Screen Savers in which they discuss reports from the NSA (US National Security Agency) that have recently been unclassified. These reports tell what must be done to secure Windows - and there is a separate PDF for each version of Windows. Of course, I didn't waste my time reading these documents, instead I wasted my time finding this page on Microsoft's site, that instructs Windows users on how to secure their systems. If you are a Windows user, PLEASE read both sources - it is imperative that we put an end to this madness.
But where will it end? Really, this is pretty scary, and not for the faint of heart (or checkbook). According to this small blurb on OSViews.com, "Automatic teller machines at two banks running Microsoft's popular Windows software were infected by a computer virus in August..." And if you think that is bad, guess who is getting into the business of writing viruses. Give up? According to this story found at vnunet.com, the Mafia is getting in on the action - and it doesn't look pretty.
I'm writing this article to inform, not criticize, those who use Windows. PLEASE, if you are using Windows, read these Web pages and take them seriously. I am not trying to "brainwash" you into "switching," or anything like "that". I am trying to help stop the spread of viruses and inform you how, as a Windows user, you can do your part to secure your system against hackers and viruses.
However, if you happen to pick up on the fact that most (if not all) of these steps are not necessary on other OSes (like Mac OS and Linux), so be it. I am all about having a choice in your OS, and using what works for you. But I am also into security. Don't get me wrong, every OS has critical security updates - they are a good thing. Viruses are not. I'll leave you with one last piece from vnunet.com entitled "Bug busters: keeping your PC virus free" to aid you in this process.
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December 10 2003, 10:31 AM EDT, by
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Comments:
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| rlhamon |
12/10/03, 12:13 PM EDT |
Great the public is finally getting information that Microsoft professionals have had for years. Why else do you think most computer technicians use other products than Windows? It's because we knew this information why don't people disclose it? One this information on what you can do to protect your self is outdated. YES OUTDATED! You don't need to open an attachment to catch a virus now all that you need is an unsecured hole (security risk) and wham your infected when you log onto the internet and visit a site "any site".
Also Computer Store's, Norton, Mac Afee also knows the risk that Microsoft Windows has. Why haven't they totally come public? Viruses = Money! People who has viruses need their systems cleaned as well as an Anti-Virus program to make sure they don't get infected again. To be fair about this though Computer Stores do tell customers what they should do so that they will not have the same problem again but most if not all people will not follow through with what the Computer Store tells them.
Ask how do I know this .... I've been working for a Computer Store for 6 years and I've seen all of this.
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| stickman67 |
12/10/03, 5:12 PM EDT |
How to Fix Your PC Woes -- A Recipe
Ingredients:
1 x hatchet
1 x mallet
1 x skinning knife
1 x Microsoft senior executive
1 x soundproof room (preferably with a faucet and hose in one corner, and a drain hole in the centre)
Take the senior executive into the room, and explain to him gently what needs to be done to fix Windows once and for all. When he titters nervously, do your best Jack Nicholson "The Shining" sneer and bury the hatchet in the wall behind his left ear. When he wets his trousers, plunge the skinning knife into his
FBI CASE NOTE X14998: Suspect apprehended at premises of Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, carrying a variety of kitchen implements. Suspect arrested, muttering "If only I can get to [muffled], I'll save the world. The world, I tell you!" At this point, suspect became almost incomprehensible, and broke down, saying something about having spent bloody good money on anti-virus software, but having OS X and therefore not needing the bloody stuff. Suspect remains in custody, pending psychiatric assessment.
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| iKen |
12/10/03, 6:55 PM EDT |
it's easy to keep a windows machine secure... just don't turn it on. Then nothing will happen.
Of course if you do turn it on, all hell will in fact break lose.
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| jonathan |
12/10/03, 9:44 PM EDT |
all hell breaking loose can't be THAT bad can it?
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| rlhamon |
12/10/03, 10:15 PM EDT |
Yes it is getting that bad. In fact this past week I cleaned 440 different computer Viruses without seeing the same virus. You can't imagine.... Also "THIS IS WHY I TOTALLY SWITCHED TO MAC THIS YEAR" I started to see this trend start a year ago and it's only getting worst.
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| HTML Samurai |
12/11/03, 9:46 AM EDT |
Microsoft can't not release a patch even if they try. --> osviews.com
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| Jonahan |
12/11/03, 12:03 PM EDT |
Sooooo let me get this straight. MS said they would go to a more "regular" patch cycle, i.e. monthly, and yet a patch gets issued somehow when they didn't intend!?
Yes, this is the company I want to pay homage to. Even the company I work for couldn't have thought of anything quite THAT stupid!
Also, on the page that HTML Samurai posted a link to, someone posted the following comment that explains the whole thing:
"Simple, there is a bug in the patch issuing s/w which needs to be patched."
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| HTML Samurai |
12/15/03, 9:02 AM EDT |
More good news for those of you running Windows, acording to informationweek.com:
Companies still running Windows 98 risk facing unpatched Internet threats as Microsoft puts the operating system out to pasture early next year, a research firm says.
The research paper and an accompanying survey, both released Thursday by AssetMetrix Research Labs, a unit of IT asset-management vendor AssetMetrix, points out that although there are large numbers of machines in businesses still running Windows 98, Microsoft is set to retire the operating system and will stop posting security fixes in mid-January.
AssetMetrix's survey of 670 companies found that 80% were still running at least one machine with Windows 98 and its predecessor, Windows 95. Together, the two operating systems account for more than 27% of all installed Windows machines--substantially more than the meager 7% that run Windows XP. Windows 2000 was first with 53%, while the aged Windows NT, still popular in many companies, accounted for 13%.
I don't know what any of that means, but it sounds pretty bad!
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| HTML Samurai |
12/15/03, 9:14 AM EDT |
Full 411 on Microsoft Patch "Snafu."
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| Dan Pouliot |
12/16/03, 8:03 PM EDT |
There's a difference between vulnerabilities and a flawed security model. XP has 3 major flaws in its security model that OS X lacks, and that IMO are singularly responsible for lightning fast virus proliferation on Windows:
1) Five open ports by default
2) Installers don't require authentication
3) Admins get root access
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