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Security threats Toolkit

Story: Outrage at Symantec's OS X claims

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Posted by: Bob Kerstetter (Thursday 24 March 2005, 9:32 PM)

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I use both Windows and Mac OS X, Mac OS X being my usability favorite by far.

On neither system do I use Symnatec antivirus products and here is why:

1. They catch the viruses after they are identified. Whoopi! How about heuristic detection, Symantec. Sure, you claim it, but it never works.
2. They hog system resources. I don't have cycles to waste on worthless after the fact protection.

Instead, I disable active x and java, but keep javascript active on Windows. I browse only with Firefox and use IE only for software updates.

On the Mac, I do nothing, other than the firewall. You gotta love industrial strength unix plus Apple usability.

On both machines, I never use email or browse the web from an administrator account. I reserve the admin account for adding, changing and deleting software.

With few exceptions, I use only software that can comes with checksum, md5 or whatever verification and only install after verifying.

I never open email attachments except those from my boss or co-workers. Sorry Mom. Sorry Sis. Sorry Bro. If they are executable, I don't open then ever, no matter who sent them, unless they are protect with a private key/public key system, which Mom, Sis and Bro won't use.

Symantec antivirus exists because Symantec wants problems to exist so they can have job security, not provide security. I refuse to fund their self-perpetuating system.

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