Comments on: Computer Security http://www.eablevins.net/wordpress/2009/06/23/computer-security/ Keep up with progress in work and life. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:52:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: EA Blevins http://www.eablevins.net/wordpress/2009/06/23/computer-security/#comment-88 EA Blevins Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:49:55 +0000 http://www.eablevins.net/wordpress/2009/06/23/computer-security/#comment-88 Alex thinks he may have downloaded a DRM by subscribing to that download site, in which case it's something he downloaded that created a back door. I might poke him to clean up his computer soon. Alex thinks he may have downloaded a DRM by subscribing to that download site, in which case it’s something he downloaded that created a back door. I might poke him to clean up his computer soon.

]]> By: anon http://www.eablevins.net/wordpress/2009/06/23/computer-security/#comment-87 anon Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:34:43 +0000 http://www.eablevins.net/wordpress/2009/06/23/computer-security/#comment-87 If true and accurate, this sounds likely to be the MPAA. It is, in fact, illegal. Not that that ever stopped them. It is most likely to be Microsoft, who have been inserting bizarre spyware things in Windows to assist the MPAA. This *is* legal, because you agree to it when you agree to use Windows. :-P It's only in the newer updates. It could also be a scam enabled by a virus, in which the goal is to get protection money from the people who call the phone number. His computer is currently insecure and should be considered controlled. After pulling off all important data onto floppies or CD-Rs, he needs to *erase the hard drives* and reinstall a clean system -- being very careful; if installing Windows he should get a local techie to help him with it. The average Windows installation is taken over by the Russian mafia in order to send spam within a day or so of being started. Putting up firewalls and shutting down all "Services" which connect to the Internet before connecting it to the Internet helps some. Unfortunately, *there is no way to truly secure Microsoft Windows*, thanks to Microsoft's willingness to provide backdoors for the MPAA and so forth. So the only way for your Dad to lock his computer down properly is to switch to Ubuntu or another form of Linux, a Macintosh, or one of the many other non-Windows operating systems out there. Those *can* be made secure. If true and accurate, this sounds likely to be the MPAA.

It is, in fact, illegal. Not that that ever stopped them.

It is most likely to be Microsoft, who have been inserting bizarre spyware things in Windows to assist the MPAA. This *is* legal, because you agree to it when you agree to use Windows. :-P It’s only in the newer updates.

It could also be a scam enabled by a virus, in which the goal is to get protection money from the people who call the phone number.

His computer is currently insecure and should be considered controlled. After pulling off all important data onto floppies or CD-Rs, he needs to *erase the hard drives* and reinstall a clean system — being very careful; if installing Windows he should get a local techie to help him with it.

The average Windows installation is taken over by the Russian mafia in order to send spam within a day or so of being started. Putting up firewalls and shutting down all “Services” which connect to the Internet before connecting it to the Internet helps some.

Unfortunately, *there is no way to truly secure Microsoft Windows*, thanks to Microsoft’s willingness to provide backdoors for the MPAA and so forth.

So the only way for your Dad to lock his computer down properly is to switch to Ubuntu or another form of Linux, a Macintosh, or one of the many other non-Windows operating systems out there. Those *can* be made secure.

]]>