Internet Use and Search Security Prerequisites

(Second Draft)

If you intend to use a computer with a version of the Windows OS on the Internet there are steps that must be taken to protect the system and you before that use begins. The first of these is a personal one and it applies to all computers and operating systems. You need to realize that much of what is on the Internet is simply bait. The Internet contains a huge number of traps that are waiting just for you. You cannot trust what you read and what is promised. Don't be a rube! Be prepared to examine everything extremely critically! Expose yourself financially as little as possible! The UC Berkeley articles linked to on the page containing the link to this article provide some very useful formal guidelines in this regard.

Now for the Windows specific issues.

First: Never store any information on a Wintel computer (A computer that uses some version of the Windows operating system and an Intel or Intel clone processor) that is or will be used on the Internet that cannot be publicly released. They are insecure by design (My opinion is deliberately!) and while you can improve their security they cannot be made truly safe.

Second: Be sure the necessary steps have been taken to make that computer as safe as possible. These steps include having current and reliable anti-virus software installed and active, having current and reliable anti-spyware software installed and active, making sure that the operating system is properly updated, making sure that there is a firewall between the system and the Internet, then finally making sure any unnecessary services are turned off that represent a potential security risk. These are the basic concerns you must have, but you must be aware that there are lots of others. An example is the use of a wireless Internet connection. You must realize that any encryption mechanism that you will typically have available for it can be very easily broken.

While the preceding security measures may sound expensive, for home use they don't have to be. There is software available that is free for home users that will help deal with almost every issue pointed out above. Do not think that because it is free it will not do as good of a job. The retail software that would replace this free software is in many cases not as good at doing what it claims do. Realize, most of this retail security software is really designed to dig deeper into your wallet and it is very good at doing what it was designed to do.

Be aware of and pay attention to those links on the top of my Basic Windows and User Resources pages. They're there to help protect you and save you some money. They're also there to help me by saving me time.

JimD