Run Fast, Run Naked

[thedrifter]

Courtesty of Mark aka The Fontman

Run Fast, Run Naked
Alternative Approach to Internet Security
From GoGov.com

Sometimes the best way to win the game is not to play it at all. What has all the net security programs, spy ware blockers, pop up blockers, firewalls and the like gotten you? In many cases, slower net browsing, a whole lot of configuration headaches and time to maintain all those programs.

Running naked may be the answer for you.

Running naked on the internet means running completely open with no spy ware protection programs, no pop-up blockers, no anti-virus software. Just a simple open connection.

Before you go into shock at someone suggesting dropping all internet security measures, read on. Running Naked really means running two computers: One for fun and another with all the normal net security.

What's To Steal?

If you had nothing of value in your car, your car was a low cost clunker that no one would want, would you leave your doors locked? Of course not. No one is going to try and get in it. With a computer on the internet it is essentially the same. If you don't have anything anyone could want, what is the point of locking it up?

Put in terms of the internet, if you don't do online banking, if you don't buy or sell on the internet, if all you do is browse the net for news, entertainment and an alternative to television, what's to protect?

Most people do more on their one computer than just browse the net. Internet banking and bill paying is very convenient, as if buying (and selling) on the internet. It is these other activities that are good reason, very good reason for every security measure you can afford or master.

But everything else you do outside of banking and bill paying and involving money on the internet decreases your security. The longer you are on line, the more you and your computer are exposed. So, for the important stuff, limit your time on the net.

Get A Second Computer - A Clunker

What exactly do you need to browse the internet. The newest latest and greatest computer with tons of megs and clock speed. Nope. You can browse the internet on a P-II, 400 Megahertz computer and a simple graphics card as quickly as you can with any other computer. Go one step further and run completely naked and you net browsing will fly. With a dial-up connection you will zing. Add a cable modem connection or DSL and you will get every bit of streaming video you could ever want to see on the so-called slow, outdated used computer.

Pick one up at Salvation Army, Good Will or other thrift store used for about $50.00. Monitors at these stores are anywhere from $2.00 to $20.00 for a good resolution.

This will be the internet computer you use to read the news, post to online forums, do research and whatever else you do to entertain yourself on the internet.

Now, you can not run this computer forever without some security measures. But this one is simple. You simply format your hard drive once on month (or more often if you like) and wipe away anything anyone may have dumped on your system. Start fresh, new, clean and Fast!

Your Other Computer - The fancy one you bought

This is your second computer. It rarely goes on line, never stays online and only goes online as long as needed to complete your banking, bill paying, buying, selling or other data sensitive activities. And, when you are done with this activities, you unplug the modem or phone cable - the best firewall in the world is a unplugged cable!

For this computer, use all the normal internet security. We have a basic site set up here with our recommendations for your net security.

That's it. That's our solution. Two computers. One for browsing that is completely open, unlocked, unblocked and naked. Another that only goes online for short periods of time and follows all the recommendations for safe internet use.

So now, Get Naked and Run Fast!

Ellie

[LivinSoFree]

Mmmm... this isn't anything new. For many years, the joke in the IT field has been that if clients REALLY want to be secure, just unplug the damn thing from the wall. But that's not practical.

What security REALLY is about is striking a livable balance between protection and utility. Sure, if you unplug your machine from the network/internet, it's infinitely more "secure," but you've just removed most of its utility. Ergo, this is not a good solution.

The idea of getting a low-end machine for browsing isn't really viable either. It would've worked maybe 8 or 10 years ago, but not anymore: web-based content is now primarily slickly produced, graphics and multimedia heavy, with lots of scripting and "helper applications" (such as Adobe Acrobat, Windows Media Player, etc. etc.) involved. In order to get what you want out of the internet, you need a machine with some decent power behind it.

"Run Fast Run Naked" is a good idea for quick tactical incursions and recon patrols. It is not a good idea, for the average joe, to use as a security policy. Most viral threats operate on an automated, indiscriminate basis- they target the "low-hanging fruit." The "naked" machine becomes infinitely more vulnerable because it's wide open to port scans, remote incursions, viral payloads, etc.

What DOES work is education coupled with a common-sense security policy. I spend most of my time at work explaining the basics of information security to low-end users who are largely uneducated about the topic. It generally takes me 10 to 20 minutes to explain what they need to to and why they need to do it in order to obtain a reasonable level of security for their machine, which, while not a high-priority target, is still susceptible to the majority of threats out there.

A commercially available firewall, coupled with an anti-virus suite and some common sense network/local security policy is all you need for most applications, and is far easier to install, configure, and maintain than a new machine, not to mention far more practical in the long run. It'll cost you certainly no more than 100 dollars, most likely far less, for the software, plus maybe 20 dollars a year for anti-virus definition updates, which are all automated and transparent to the user. If you are truly uncomfortable configuring these tools, your local electronics store can do it for a few dollars more (I'd recommend Best Buy, they seem to be the most together of the chain retailers as far as tech support goes).

Knowledge is power.