I've been thinking some more about your comment about using Windows
where personal data is at risk. In particular I get very concerned
about our bank and investment accounts.
So, I have downloaded the Ubuntu Linux boot/install image and burned
that to CD. I've also booted once from it and it looks fairly straight
forward except that a lot of time will be needed to get it set up
properly. I think I'm also going to clone the boot drives before making
a dual boot installation just in case something goes wrong. However, my
only real concern at the moment is installing it on our one laptop so it
can be used to do those secure on-line transactions with the banks and
investment houses. I want to put it on the laptop since we take that to
Florida with us (as our only computing device) when we leave New York
for the winter.
While not specific to Linux I realized that I need some basic grounding
in internet security. I don't even know, for example, if, when I'm
using a public (or even my own private) wi-fi connection if the
transmission between my computer and the wi-fi router is encrypted or
totally open. I do have encryption enabled on my own router and assume
it's probably safe but don't know for sure if all transmissions are
encrypted. Because of that I never do secure transactions other than at
home and over a wire to the router. But I do sometimes check my email
vie wi-fi at hotels while traveling so perhaps am exposing my email
password to compromise.
Can you recommend a good source for some basic education in security
needs when on the net? Also anything for Linux in particular?
Thanks,
Chuck
On 9/19/2010 7:13 PM, Scott Gomez wrote:
> Don't know if this is any reassurance, but it only took my decidedly
> non-computer-savvy spouse about two weeks to get adjusted to the differences
> with Ubuntu from Windows for the majority of things she needs to do.
>
> If the experience of our Windows users at a school district (referring here
> to staff, not students) is any guide, Windows security is not significantly
> better with newer versions than old. We maintain a seriously locked down
> network (only allowing in and out those things we know our people need on a
> regular basis. Yet we still, despite up-to-date antivirus/anti-malware
> efforts, deal with a half-dozen or more infection incidents per week. Given
> that there seems to be no way to protect one's Windows installation
> adequately, due to the large number of attempted exploits chasing what
> appears to be an equally large number of security holes (and the slow pace
> of Microsoft's repairs to those holes) I personally wouldn't use Windows for
> anything where my personal data was at risk.
>
> ---
> Scott Gomez
>
> On Sun, Sep 19, 2010 at 1:10 PM, Chuck Norcutt<
> chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> Security and the overhead of dozens of background processes. But the
>> thought of switching to a new environment that I'm only vaguely familiar
>> with is maybe even scarier.
>>
>> Chuck Norcutt
>>
>>
>> On 9/19/2010 12:49 PM, Scott Gomez wrote:
>>> I concur. I use both Gimp and Digikam, and I often forget all about
>> Krita,
>>> with which I should play some more. Digikam I love for its cataloging
>>> capabilities. File in folders simply by date, then apply tags to make
>> images
>>> findable any way you like.
>>>
>>> What's gotten you thinking of making the switch, Chuck?
>>>
>>> ---
>>> Scott Gomez
>>
--
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