[Am-info] BBC's GO Digital program

[John Poltorak]

On Mon, May 06, 2002 at 08:11:00AM -0400, Geoffrey wrote:
> John Poltorak wrote:
> 
> > Basically, I took exception to the view that everyone who uses the 
> > Internet is subject to Internet viruses in one form or another and is in  
> > some danger of being hacked when online. I made the point that this was 
> > only applicable to Windows users and not necessarily people who used
> > alternatives.
> 
> Any OS connected to the Internet is suseptible to being hacked.  Others, 
> more likely than some, but no OS is immune.
> 
> Same applies to viri, but to a much lesser extent.  The big difference 
> is that M$ products pretty much invite viri and hacking.

If I start up OS/2 and connect to the Internet and just start browsing 
using Netscape, I have very little, if any, chance of being hacked. This 
is not the case with Windows XP, which, AFAIUI starts a web server in the 
background by default which is open to Nimda and CodeRed. And 
supposedly there are plenty of vulnerabilities in MS Internet Explorer 
which could allow a remote hacker to take over your system. 


I do run a Web server and I see remote systems attempting to infect my 
system with Nimda and CodeRed, but they simply cannot be successful since 
they only work on IIS.

I also get plenty of email viruses, but they are harmless to my system and 
are unlikely to get passed on to anywhere else unless I run a mailing 
list.

AFAIAC my system is immune and I don't need to do anything specific like 
run the latest Anti-virus software to make it so. Neither do I need to 
spend any time apply daily Microsoft patches the plug the security holes.

Of course, I could be being very complacent, so please tell me what 
measures I need to be taking to keep the hackers at bay.
 
 
> -- 
> Until later: Geoffrey		esoteric@3times25.net


-- 
John