WHY CONSULTANTS DON'T TELL ABOUT COMPUTER SECURITY

Copyright 07-2004 by Gina Novelle"I don't have stuff of value on my machine attitude
Most people refuse to believe they need it. After all,again." Okay, with every security patch, Microsoft has
their computer is in their office or home and onlyissued the following information:
turned on by them. They no longer use diskettes and"An issue has been identified that could allow an
their e-mail is checked with the latest and greatestattackerto compromise a computer running Windows
virus checker.and gaincomplete control over it. You can help protect
Just try to advise your Boss, Mom, Dad, brother oryourcomputer by installing this update from Microsoft."
sister that someone could hack into their home orStill don't believe? Then see for yourself, and go to and
office computer and look at their files. Watch theirview the updates you haven't installed. But wait, there's
reaction. Most of them will say: "Well if someone reallymore! You can order the CD for FREE, totally free; no
wants to take the time to view my files, let them. Ishipping charges. Where? Go to this website:
have nothing of value on that computer anyway." ThisI still didn't fully answer why consultants don't tell their
is the same reaction consultants receive from clients.customers these updates exist. With each update, a
So nothing of value is on your computer? What aboutclient may experience a change or problem. For
Turbo Tax? If you did your taxes last year, then yourexample, when we installed the Security Update CD a
social security number is on your computer. If you dofew weeks ago, we could no longer open e-mail
online banking, then your bank account is on yourattachments. On the web we discovered that when
computer. What about your financial statement, yourthe update installed, it also changed a setting in Outlook
genealogy, your passwords? Oh, you have passwordsExpress under Tools, Options, Security. The update put
on your Accounting Files! Ha! Check outa checkmark on "Do not allow attachments to be
So now let's talk about the real world. Okay, a phonesaved or opened that could potentially be a virus." This
line, or DSL or Cable line is a TWO WAY FLOW.little checkmark rendered several clients unable to
There's a key word here, a TWO WAY FLOW! Nowwork, because they could no longer open any
you think in a skeptic way, that this article is going toattachments, On Microsoft's website, this article
give you scare tactics so it can sell you on the latestappeared:
and greatest virus checker. Nope, to plug the securityOn another client's machine, she could no longer open
leaks in your computer is absolutely free. You don'tthe database in Versa Check Software. That
even have to pay for shipping, keep reading.company also had a patch to fix it. However, our
If it's free, then why didn't my computer consultant tellclients had to pay for our research to find and fix the
me about it? You wouldn't believe how many updatesproblems the updates created. Then it appears to a
will need to be installed. My Toshiba Windows XPclient, that their consultant has found a way to "once
system is barely 2 years old, and Windows had 49 +again" hit their pocketbook. We are no longer heroes in
18 + 2 updates. Why do I list them in that manner? Firstthis industry. We have now become the villains in
you must install the first 49, then another 18 are found,league with Microsoft. This has led many consultants
then an additional 2 more.to a policy of "if they don't ask, don't tell." But the real
These are not just software updates, these aretruth is: If you do not do the updates, then you become
Security Updates. Now you think there is no way; mya bigger victim, via a virus, or an identity theft victim! It's
machine would need all these updates. Besides howyour choice!
bad could this security stuff be anyway? There's that