Michael Howard - What are the top things the average person can do to protect themselves?

It is all very well when your mother has a tech head of a son to set up secure zones but in my experience most people who buy a computer don't know how exposed a normal install can be.  It's like selling then a loaded gun with no licence or training. The introduction of default firewall is good but should have been implemented earlier.  Do your friends and family a favour and save them from misery by offering to secure their system.  Microsoft should provide a locked down system which needs letting out not vice-versa.
Love the site and keep up the good work!

I got halfway through the interview before I had to stop it.  The level of precaution suggested is not realistic.  I think it would be less work (and near equally as effective) to just pull the box off the 'net.

No version of Windows contains effectiveness and empowering tools to protect users on the 'net...and that's OK.  An operating system should not try to be all things to everyone.  There are third-party products that do a much better job than any service pack will to protect people.

The top area's that any person should keep in mind to protect themselves:

1 - Firewall
2 - Anti-Virus
3 - Spyware/Adware removal
4 - windowsupdate.microsoft.com

Cover those three bases + home base (#4) and you'll find trouble much less frequently than the other "average" folks.  You'll also be able to use Internet Explorer like the "above average" folks...and not be tied down to only using javascripts on eBay.

I picked up this little reference at MIT's Technology Review today. So much for security!

Will Trade Passwords for Chocolate 
Darn, why can’t I do high quality research like this? Seventy one percent of the office workers surveyed at Liverpool Street Station in England were willing to reveal their passwords in exchange for a chocolate bar. This amusing story in Security Pipeline by Mitch Wagner has all the details.

(BTW,This was originally posted by Simson Garfinkel, I can't take credit.)

ralph.poole wrote:

Seventy one percent of the office workers surveyed at Liverpool Street Station in England were willing to reveal their passwords in exchange for a chocolate bar

And why not?
Anyone got any chocolate?

amg wrote:

You'll also be able to use Internet Explorer like the "above average" folks...and not be tied down to only using javascripts on eBay.

I totally agree. The clip doesn't even come close to being "the top things".

On the other hand, it's worth remembering that the clips we're seeing are the exact opposite of prepared interviews. The answers aren't prepared in any way. think about what you might say if someone dropped by your desk with a camera!

Absolutely right. In many ways the clips we're getting are great to START a conversation. Not designed to be the end all and be all.

Cronan wrote:

I totally agree. The clip doesn't even come close to being "the top things".

On the other hand, it's worth remembering that the clips we're seeing are the exact opposite of prepared interviews. The answers aren't prepared in any way. think about what you might say if someone dropped by your desk with a camera!

His desk is in the cafeteria?

The interview follows the "party line".  Please don't think I'm attacking MS or Mr. Howard.  I respect that stating the party line is the necessary for a man in his position.  I guess I was just more hopeful that the part line would have matured a bit.....

Hi

    Security Security ! When it comes to Home users , the normal users no one knows what is security. Installing Mcafee, Nortan is considerd secured and they believe thye are safe. This is the perspectcive of most of them.

The ways in which personal information are stolen is done in 1000 ways but no one knows it. I had writtten a letter on Privicy with respect to homeusers with respect to survey conducted among few people. But all of them say that Spywares are the one thats making them miserable.  But no one knew hoe can thier information be taken off  by such stuffs.

My view is that Antivirus, Antispywares, Security flaws in pathches are the most important ones thats to be considered and Microsoft has to take care of these together with single package which is not being considered.

Arun

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