[ale] Scare tactics

[esoteric at 3times25.net (Geoffrey)]

Billy049 wrote:
> Recently I have noticed news items saying the internet bad guys are now 
> targeting home users who need a security suite to protect them.  It 
> seems firewall programs no longer support some of the older Windowses.  
> Upgrade this, buy that, argh.  Oh yeah, and they're saying Firefox has 
> lately had more vulnerabilities that the other guys products.
> 
> Ok, so they have my attention now and they are scaring me towards using 
> Linux for my online work.  I hope some can reassure me that this move 
> will greatly increase my home computer's security.

You will definitely reduce your chance of contracting a virus by moving 
off of a Windows environment.

 From windows XP and back (98,95,ME), windows, by default runs the user 
as the super user.  XP, you must explicitly change this.

If you go the Linux route, don't assume you're perfectly safe.  You 
should still run a firewall and DON'T login as root unless you are doing 
administrative/system stuff.

-- 
Until later, Geoffrey

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little
temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
  - Benjamin Franklin