[ale] Scare tactics

[James Sumners]

About the only reason you would be "more secure" running Linux online
instead of Windows is because the Windows viruses can't infect your
machine. But, any system that isn't maintained well is vulnerable to
attack. If you don't keep up with security patches, you will be
regretting it.

Since you are on dial-up, at least that is the way it sounds, you
don't have to worry too much about people hijacking your machine to
act as part of a botnet. You just don't have the bandwidth they need.
However, someone might take an interest in it for a while to use it
for executing an attack and covering their tracks.

On 9/26/06, Billy049 <Billy049 at peoplepc.com> 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.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bill
>
> I have one of those used/cheap external modems on the way.
> _______________________________________________
> Ale mailing list
> Ale at ale.org
> http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
>


-- 
James Sumners
http://james.roomfullofmirrors.com/

"All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts
pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it
is magnetic to the corruptible. Such people have a tendency to become
drunk on violence, a condition to which they are quickly addicted."

Missionaria Protectiva, Text QIV (decto)
CH:D 59