"Eisboch" wrote in message
.. .


Wayne, thanks for the inputs and advice. It's amazing that some form of
random encryption can't be devised and used on computer to Internet
interfaces, rather than having to rely on increasingly complex but quickly
obsolete detection programs. The military and major corporations have had
secure communications systems for years (although perhaps not via the
Internet) and they are reliable and foolproof.

Eisboch


Sure, the technology is there to keep your computer protected. And if you
only
had 3 sites you went to that would be NO problem. You'ld program in those
sites, setup encryption for them, and your comptuer would not let anything
else touch it.

But, as Wayne pointed out and I'm just elaborating on, the allure of the
internet
is all of the 100s of things you can do. Games, news, usenet, this search
engine,
that search engine, this download enhancement, email from friends, email to
company X asking a question, etc., etc., etc. There is no way for the system
to
know friend from foe. At least not 100% of the time.

On Mon, 6 Dec 2004 08:39:06 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:


"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
.. .


And that's another whole subject. I have a wireless router and I keep
the firewall off because of the XP firewall and a specific firewall to
the computer - but...

There are several wireless computers surrounding the homestead in
other homes and I have been infected several times via that route. I
now keep the wireless portion of the router off until I need it.

Even then, I keep a Spy Eye running in the background to make sure
nobody is piggy backing on me.

Later,

Tom


You know what is strange? I've been using computers and accessing the
Internet for years. I've never used any kind of virus protection software.
I tried Spyware once because it was free and I was curious, but it screwed
up the computer, so I uninstalled it. Other than the WiFi thing I mentioned
and one other worm that I got on this computer last winter that I easily
removed, I've never had any problems with getting a serious virus or other
malady.

My wife, on the other hand, has been through several computers and many,
many crashes, burns, virus infections, worms etc. It seems every other
month her computer needs to be disinfected. She uses Norton, keeps it
updated but still whatever computer she has, it eventually gets messed up.

We were talking about it one day and determined that I use my computer very
differently than she. Hers is on a cable connection and she leaves it
connected 24 hours a day. I always disconnect after every use. Also,
unlike she, when using Internet Explorer and Outlook Express, I never leave
the former open when checking mail or the newsgroups on OE. The only time I
open Internet Explorer is to quickly read news, search for something or do
whatever I need it for, then immediately close it.

I don't know enough about computers to be 100% convinced that my habits make
a difference, but I know I don't seem to have the problems she and others
have, even when they are using current anti-virus software.

I have noticed the exact same thing. My wife uses Win XP pro (with the
firewall turned on) but leaves it up all day on the cable modem. She
has NAV running as well, yet she has had more than a few viruses and
trojans. Thank God for ASR backups......

I, on the other hand, run Win 2K with no virus protection, but I run
Zone alarm for a firewall. I am only on for small periods of time when
I do "stuff". I have yet to have an infection.

I am now setting up a wireless network, and the router has a built-in
firewall as well. I plan on tightening it down to only allowing those
ports that we use to go out, and nothing comes in. Hopefully that
helps.

Dave

On Mon, 6 Dec 2004 20:05:47 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:


"Wayne.B" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 6 Dec 2004 08:39:06 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:

My wife, on the other hand, has been through several computers and many,
many crashes, burns, virus infections, worms etc. It seems every other
month her computer needs to be disinfected. She uses Norton, keeps it
updated but still whatever computer she has, it eventually gets messed
up.

=======================

Norton is not enough these days. You also need a good firewall and
spyware chaser.


Wayne, thanks for the inputs and advice. It's amazing that some form of
random encryption can't be devised and used on computer to Internet
interfaces, rather than having to rely on increasingly complex but quickly
obsolete detection programs. The military and major corporations have had
secure communications systems for years (although perhaps not via the
Internet) and they are reliable and foolproof.


You could always run UNIX (or a MAC)........

Dave

Wayne,
Back in the days of DOS, when Peter Norton was on the cover, Norton
Utilities were top notch. These days?????
Paul

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 6 Dec 2004 08:39:06 -0500, "Eisboch"
wrote:

My wife, on the other hand, has been through several computers and many,
many crashes, burns, virus infections, worms etc. It seems every other
month her computer needs to be disinfected. She uses Norton, keeps it
updated but still whatever computer she has, it eventually gets messed up.

=======================

Norton is not enough these days. You also need a good firewall and
spyware chaser.