Yeah, I’m sure a LOT of countries like China, North Korea, Russia, as well as groups like the RIAA would just LOVE Kaspersky’s idea. I’ll take a pass on that one, thanks but no thanks.

Actually, if you are setting up a computer for your grandma to check e-mail, browse the web, read/edit some documents and to watch youtube, you are better off with a Linux machine, not Windows.

As for Kaspersky, its boss Eugene Kaspersky is advocating Internet passports. For me, this looks shady, especially when antivirus companies can have ties with secret services like KGB. Internet passports will prevent anonymous leaks about wrongdoings in our corrupt governments.

Quote:

If you had the power to change up to three things in the world today that are related to IT security, what would they be?

Internet design–that’s enough.

That’s it? What’s wrong with the design of the Internet?

There’s anonymity. Everyone should and must have an identification, or Internet passport. The Internet was designed not for public use, but for American scientists and the U.S. military. That was just a limited group of people–hundreds, or maybe thousands. Then it was introduced to the public and it was wrong to introduce it in the same way.

I’d like to change the design of the Internet by introducing regulation–Internet passports, Internet police and international agreement–about following Internet standards. And if some countries don’t agree with or don’t pay attention to the agreement, just cut them off.

http://www.zdnetasia.com/insight/security/0,39044829,62058697,00.htm

You don’t need to pay extortion fees to some big AV company like McAfee or Norton. Devil is right, there are some free AV and antispyware programs out there, this is what I use:
Clamwin AV: http://www.clamwin.com/
Free antivirus, auto updates, updates are free as well as the program

Spybot search and destroy: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
Anti spyware program

Spywareblaster: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
Another antispyware program using a different approach

DIY – Edit your hosts file!
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

Either you’re lying to everyone (andyourself) about the amount of trouble you’ve brought on yourself by not safeguarding, or you probably haven’t been connected very long. Either way, nobody can possibly avoid trouble just by “being careful”. That’s just self-delusion in its classic form.

Being connected to the Internet while knowingly not being properly protected is simply stupid and unresponsible to the rest of the users on the wire. I’m willing to bet, if took a scan of your drive right now, I’d find a few good reasons to unplug you.

@(everyone else):

Whatever the truth is with rjackson, I would caution everyone else not to adopt such a childish attitude about this.
There’s simply NO EXCUSE. And, there’s more than just yourselves to worry about – think about the “global picture”. Anything that gets to someone else through you should, technically, be considered YOUR fault. (Particularly when you e-mail it to them from ignorance!)

You don’t have to use a security package that’s bloated with all sorts of resource-hogging activities, nor do you have to pay for one. Some really good, FREE programs that also respect your processor are out there!

Net Neutrality is one thing.
We all want to use the Internet without being told “how” to use it. Fine.
But, each of us still has an unwritten responsibility to protect ourselves (for our own good), and thus avoid transmitting the shit to someone else.

My life has revolved around computers. I’ve used and configured them since before they even had hard drives.
I have developed a considerable skill level over those years, and I won’t release a computer to The Wild until it’s protected. And, I would never make the claim that I could operate without such protection.

Nobody could possibly have that skill level.
You’d have be completely PSYCHIC to know what kinds of exploits are currently being developed and released.
And still, you wouldn’t be able to just “steer around” them.

Every year (and this is a verifiable trend) around Jan or Feb, Norton and Mcafee will come out and say there is abig danger due to this virus or that trojan. It will get on CNN and be blasted all over to increase sales (same every year, its a trend).

I predict that this Jan-feb we will hear about a death bot coming out that you will need protection from and only Norton and Mcaffee can protect you (as with all the other years).

Bookmark this, then check back in Jan-Feb.

Been like this for over 6 years now. Anyone else notice the yearly big Jan-Feb drive to buy their product?

Which bady will it be due to this Jan-Feb?