BBC Article

[GF]

Interesting reading and scary figures...... if they're acurate !??

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3666978.stm

[Eddy]

Basicly that article tells us something we already know. There are still a lot, and I mean a lot, of systems whitout properly setup security.

I get systems without av software and/or firewall and/or not having the latest security patches/updates everyday in my store. And the owners are still asking me: "Is that really needed?" "Why do I need that for?"

[S.Z.Craftec]

Well, best (or read it worst) question I've got from one of my customers is: "Why do I need that stupid antivirus programs ? They just slow down my computer... anyway, computer viruses are myth. No one ever proved that they really exist..."

He was really sharp for verbal fight...

No further comment...

[Eddy]

computer viruses are myth.

[kidding mode]
My answer:
Dear customer, since they don't excist. Your system is not infected and working fine. You don't have problem with the system. Therefor there is nothing for me to fix.
[kidding off]
 

[S.Z.Craftec]

Yeah... but I was fixing some accessing-exchange-server-problems and his lmhosts and hosts files. Then I noticed that he doesn't have any adequate antivirus protection, nor firewall. He is connected through broadband cable connection 24/7  ().

I can not force him to use antivirus, I can just give him best advice, but does he wanna listen ? I don't know... probably in next few days he will call again... my system crashes, my files are gonne, blah, blah...  

[GF]

The 3 Stages of computer user development

Stage 1 - Innocent Child:  Viruses!  Security problems!  They don’t really exist do they? All that rubbish is just a scare tactic by the AV and firewall software writers in order to sell more product.

Stage 2 - Adolescent:  Obsessive about security, virus protection, adware etc after having a system completely fall down on them after between 20mins and 1 week on broadband at Stage 1.  Now spends so much time trying to 100% protect their system that they find there’s no time left to actually work or play on the system any more.

Stage 3 – Maturity:  Realises that with a few precautions (funnily enough the same ones ignored at Stage 1) you can enjoy the net without being an obsessive compulsive freak, and if the worst does happen it’s only a few hours of your life reinstalling your applications because you now have all your important work and leisure files backed up properly.

In my experience the average time to move from Stage 1 to 2 is between 20mins and 1 week.  They tend to stay at Stage 2 for about 2 months before graduating to Stage 3.  

Does this match your observations/experiences?

[S.Z.Craftec]

Exactly like that... right into the core of the problem...  

[lee16]

Another stupid thing iv been asked (i worked in a computer shop  for a while), was "is there any point in updating my anti-virus", it was always a joy to explain that over and over  

GF/Craftec

What kinda security would you say was to much then?

I use sygate firewall, avast av, spybot/adware, spyblaster, spyware gaurd (never actulary turned on), configered my IE and FF for saftey, pop up blocker, and of course keeping windows and other software up to date.
Is that to much in your expert opinons?  

--lee

[GF]

I use the combination of Sygate and Avast, scan with Ad-aware and Spybot SD maybe once a month.  Ad-aware will always pick up a few new minor nasties and occasionally a minor trojan may get past Avast, but they're easily taken care of.  I also save a HJT log maybe once every two weeks to see if anything unexpected changes.  

I always back up important work or leisure files immediatley.

This is as much as I'm prepared to do these days (but then I guess that is still more then should be necessary in an ideal world), the net's supposed to be enjoyable and useful, not a drag.

[S.Z.Craftec]

Don't worry Lee16, you're great protected and well aware of all those ugly pests out there...

Cheers !

[lee16]

Thanks GF and Craftec, nice to know im not being over the top, ill be more of an expert soon, im taking A level ICT as my course in college at the moment, (programming, graphics ect), im loving every miniute of it.

Thanks

--lee

[Gene Johnson]

A dance friend of mine (a very straight laced Christian lady) with Norton on her machine, had her browser hijacked by a porn site. She immediately took her machine in to get cleaned and then had Norton put right back in again. She has no other protection but insists that Norton will protect her from a "next time". I tried to convince her Norton alone was not enough, but to no avail. She says she only goes to safe sites so Norton is fine.

Edit: After several emails back and forth she has finally agreed to my installing new security on her XP. The first program installed will be avast! After uninstalling Norton of course.

[S.Z.Craftec]

Maybe you meant to say this:

"She says she only goes to safe sex sites so Norton is fine."  

Norton was never fine and it will never be... when I say that I mean - Norton antivirus. I don't like to bash Norton, 'cause other products are not so bad, actually there is few very good products made by Norton... but, antivirus... c'mon dance lady....      

[lee16]

I hate the resource usage with nortan, also it adds like 17 new boot time items (registery keys) to youe msconfig menu, and its still beyond me of the point of the "nortan protected recycle bin".

--lee

[Just1Vet]

I have a part time business that mainly caters to spyware/virus removal. I can count on one hand the number of machines that I have cleaned that had an up to date virus scanner. I have never ran across one that had both all latest patches and uptodate antivirus installed.

I made a promise to myself when I started up the business that I would leave no machine without having a fully operational scanner installed. If for some reason AVAST won't install, (had a couple, never could figure it out)  I put in AVG or AntiVir. I'll only install AntiVir on machines that have cable/DSL do to the way it updates.

I also go over all the programs that was installed durring the cleaning, most I leave on the machine (like Spybot, Adaware, Spywareblaster) I've accumulated over 500 mgs worth of tools at my disposal that I use to try to bring a machine back to normalicy. Sometimes I think we are losing the war.  

@ lee16

I have yet to figure out that Norton protected recycle bin. What was the logic behind that one?  That thing is terrible!