| Management of security features and | | | | Because an overwhelming majority of users run |
| assurances via control of changes to | | | | Windows, hackers tend to develop viruses and |
| hardware, software, firmware, documentation, | | | | worms for Windows vulnerabilities and for the |
| test, test fixtures and test documentation of | | | | major software programs run on Windows based |
| AIS, during the development and life cycle of | | | | PCs. So one simple solution to the majority |
| a system. | | | | of security threats, for those who don't need |
| | | | a specific Windows only program, is to switch |
| Internet technology specialists widely agree | | | | operating systems. |
| that security is becoming the primary concern | | | | |
| of those using Internet technologies. This is | | | | Another thing that makes Windows an easy |
| especially true now for Internet novices who | | | | target for hackers is the way it is assembled |
| hear stories of rampant identity theft, | | | | with a standard set of helper applications |
| Trojan horses, worms, rootkits, and general | | | | and applets. For example, Windows Mail or |
| spyware. Internet novices don't know what | | | | Outlook Express come pre-configured to |
| these terms mean, but they know disaster will | | | | automatically open files. If a file has a |
| strike if they don't have a premium Internet | | | | virus, you're in trouble. This is just one |
| security software suite. | | | | example of the many holes built into Windows |
| | | | when it is freshly installed. Instead of |
| However, even those with a fair amount of | | | | being built securely from the start and then |
| Internet experience find it difficult to know | | | | adding on features, Windows is built full of |
| what to look for to protect themselves and | | | | features, and then bug fixes are added as |
| how to configure it when they find it. As | | | | people find the holes. Until the bug fixes |
| partakers in the Internet, we are left to | | | | are released and installed on your computer |
| whatever advice we can get and whatever | | | | before the hackers find the holes, your |
| software we can find. We have little in the | | | | computer is at risk. You can also find out |
| way of resources to tell us which people to | | | | more at |
| trust for advice. We continue on without even | | | | |
| knowing what causes these Internet security | | | | In addition to exploited software flaws, |
| vulnerabilities. | | | | Internet users must take into account online |
| | | | security. E-commerce is perhaps the most |
| One of the things many users are surprised to | | | | crucial area for online security. Even if you |
| discover is that Internet security has a lot | | | | have a secure connection to the Internet, a |
| more to do with what programs that are | | | | secure computer and you are able to make a |
| installed and run on the computer than where | | | | transaction without any compromise of |
| they go on the Web. For example, the relative | | | | information, you could still be at risk. If |
| rarity of the software used on Apple | | | | the company you transact with keeps a |
| computers makes it a less common target of | | | | database of online transactions, you are as |
| viruses. So doing the same things on an Apple | | | | vulnerable as their database. If you transact |
| that you would do on a PC would expose you to | | | | with many companies, you are as vulnerable as |
| less security threats. This is also true of | | | | the weakest link among them. |
| the various Linux platforms available. | | | | |