Quote:
Originally Posted by pgmommie
remember that Microsoft is ending their support for XP very soon. That will be important as far as security issues going forward.
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No really. Nearly all the improved security that MS have put into their newer OSs is to protect the user from themselves. I say this because a well setup PC is very hard to attack so long as you follow some simple rules.
- Set the firewalls on your home router and all your PCs to reject all request packets except on port 80
- have a decent anti-virus/malware program that is correctly set up and that you actually RUN on a regular basis. Mine runs 3 times daily and deep scans every week.
- Don't download (and run) from unknown/untrusted/unscanned sources.
- Don't open unknown/unscanned email attachments
- Stay clear of websites that are likely to try to execute "drive-by" scripts.
- Disable browser add-ins and unknown toolbars(Java is getting better).
- Use a heirarchy or passwords based on their importance. Change them regularly and do not use the same ones over and over.
I could go on and on here but all of the above is really just common sense.
Lastly, if "they" want to get you, they will. There is stuff out there that makes even my bald head of hair curl. However since you are not Uncle Sam or a place that contains profitable (any definition) they probably won't bother.