On security.... Think of new net users

Ian Fogg | August 14, 2003, 10:05 AM

With unprotected computers becoming infected in under a minute with the MSBlast worm, think of the experience of new net users, rather than those of net veteran journalists and bloggers.

Consider this scenario: a person buys a latest model PC, takes it home, and connects to the Internet for the first time and within a few minutes they are infected (in January my sister's new computer needed over 20 'critical' Windows patches to bring it up to date).

What should be done:
1. Enable the Windows XP Firewall by default
2. Pre-install anti virus software prior to shipping.
3. Ensure that on first Internet connection a PC downloads and installs Windows security patches before allowing access to other websites.

PC software vendors are moving in the right direction but there is much left to do.