Friends Don't Let Friends Use Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer

Millions of people are still doing their online banking and financial transactions running Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer with lackadaisical enforcement of firewalls, anti-virus and patching. Even when users know their systems are compromised, they go on with their daily routine -- as if nothing is wrong.

The cyberwar is being lost by the military, government, corporations and private individuals. Worms are making their way into Windows systems, wireless networks are being broken into in under 8 minutes, and electronic spies are watching your screens and key strokes,

It's an unending battle against an army of trojan horses, worms, hacked sites, viruses, malware, badware, crime and fraud. All they need is one opportunity to damage or steal every piece of data from your networks or add your system to a massive botnet. An unprecedented amount of data theft is occurring while a token arrest occurs here and there.

The increasing sophistication and scope of attacks requires too much knowledge and experience for the lay person or busy systems admin.

Ready for a safer computing environment?

1. Consider migrating to Ubuntu or Fedora for a desktop.
2. Consider migrating to CentOS, Scientific Linux, Red Hat or FreeBSD for a server.
3. Install IPCop in front of your small business and home network. Knowing what goes in and out of your network is beneficial.

If you still want to risk using Microsoft Windows -- be paranoid and protect yourself at all times.

1. Don't open e-mail from unknown Senders.
2. Don't visit shady sites.
3. Don't use Internet Explorer
4. Don't download and install warez.
5. Don't use wireless networking.
6. Don't execute or allow it, unless you are sure what it is. Just click "No."
7. Disable Windows Autorun.
8. Install Firefox, NoScript and AdBlock Plus.
9. Always have backups of your data offline.
10. Encrypt everything.
11. Scan downloaded files before executing them.

Lapses in judgment can cost you and your company time/money plus your identity, data, computer, network and job.