This is really adding a lot of static to the list feed, people.
I just feel that I'd like to add one point to this discussion,
to make people sit back and think a wee bit.
*** Do YOU want your ISP to make your Internet access safe? ***
In that case, consider these following points, and consider
which is the greater risk, and if it's _really_ worth it to
set up protocol filters if your own computer is not secured.
Insecure applications that let attackers run arbitrary code
on your computer (anyone following Bugtraq here?):
MSIE 5 - So la la 20 bugs since release.
ICQ - bug riddled beyond belief
MIRC - lots of juicy non-safe automation
Outlook - Guess what browser it uses to view mail?
The entire office suite - Lots of macro viruses and ODBC exploits
Network games - often riddled by buffer overrun problems and in
some cases even have back doors
And also:
- Downloading software from the 'net could never be allowed;
sometimes it's infected by viruses! (A hell of a lot more often
than your computer gets penetrated by network intruders by the
way!)
So where are the greater risks? Should your ISP take your computer
away from you and install a ROM based "WebTV" appliance instead?
Because that's the only way to get reasonable security if you
can't handle your computer.
Executive summary:
If you want secure internet access, either make damn sure you
know how to handle your computer, or buy a computer and OS that
is safe out-of-the-box (hint: That is NOT produced in Redmond).
<soapbox>
NO I don't particularily want any responses to this mail, and
especially NO debate on whether or not a new version of MIRC
has fixed alot of bugs. I'm just fingering those apps off the
top of my head to illustrate a point.
</soapbox>
/Mike
--
Mikael Olsson, EnterNet Sweden AB, Box 393, S-891 28 �RNSK�LDSVIK
Phone: +46-(0)660-105 50 Fax: +46-(0)660-122 50
Mobile: +46-(0)70-248 00 33
WWW: http://www.enternet.se E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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