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