On Jul 16, 2008, at 6:48 PM, Kevin B. O'Brien wrote: > Ronn! Blankenship wrote: >> At 06:35 PM Tuesday 7/15/2008, Lance A. Brown wrote: >> >>> Ronn! Blankenship said the following on 7/15/2008 7:24 PM: >>> >>>> Now how about an actually helpful response for those who do not >>>> have >>>> access to another computer at home? >>>> >>> Well, how about this: >>> >>> Before plugging your new computer into a network connection: >>> >>> 1. Go to Office Depot, Staples, etc. and buy a copy of your >>> favorite >>> Anti-Virus/anti-spam/anti-malware program and install it. Make >>> sure it >>> is running. >>> 2. If your favorite package doesn't include a firewall, make sure >>> the >>> Windows Firewall is activated. >>> 3. Plug in the network connection and wait for the computer to >>> get an >>> address >>> 4 Open Internet Explorer and go to http://update.microsoft.com/ >>> and run >>> the software updates. >>> >>> That should give you a decent chance to get updated before your >>> machine >>> is compromised. >>> >>> Your best bet is still to go out and buy a router or access point >>> so you >>> can just flat out avoid a lot of the scans. >> >> None of which means anything to the average non-technical person who >> is buying a computer for his/her kids to use for school or a >> grandmother finally buying a computer to view pictures of her >> grandchildren who live out of state, who is not going to have access >> to anywhere to read such information before they buy, much less the >> knowledge or ability to do anything about it. What do you have for >> them? >> > It has been said several times so far, and it is the #1 best thing you > can do: get a NAT router. They are cheap, and they will stop all of > the > "Internet Background Radiation", and give you enough time to download > updates and install a security application. It is a box that goes > between your computer and the Internet, and even Grandma can > understand > that.
Grandma will, unfortunately, see a pierced and sullen-looking punk trying to sell her yet another piece of techno-gizmology that she probably doesn't really need. Uncle Ned, who goes to the store with her and whose entire knowledge of the subject is what he heard from some local Consumer Reporter on Channel 5: that computer store people will always try to sell you some junk you don't need and an extended warranty you don't want, so say "NO" to add-ons. It's up to the manufacturers: add a layer _in_the_box_ between Windows and the big, bad Interwebs. Sell it as the "Internet Security version with built-in hardware firewall". Or, just buy a Mac and be free from all that rot and have a better operating system, besides. Dave _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
