I use it because it does the job and I take suitable precautions that its not unsafe. (Virus Protection). I use windows because my work requires it, electronic design etc. There is nothing wrong with using Windows OS as your desktop OS. I myself use windows. The problem with the virii of late is they take advantage of the homogenity of most PC setups. There is a very high
("you" doesn't mean I am aiming this at James but just speaking in general) On Tue, 1 Oct 2002, James Spooner wrote: probability that if you are using Windows as your OS, you will be using IE for your browser, OE or Outlook for your mail client and have MS Office for word processing and spreadsheet. So by targetting that they know they'll hit payload without fail. Add to the pot the high levels of internet connectivity, you end up with a very fast spreading virus that will continue until something slows it down. The problem with virus protection is you are only protected once the virus protection on your computer is updated with the cure. For many people by the time the cure is available the damage is done. So what happens between the time the virus is released and your computer's definition files are updated? How often do most people set their virus protection software to check for updates? Once per hour? or is it more likely once a day? If you know that that you are more vulnerable due to the hogenity won't it be added protection/precaution if you break a link in the chain? All the analogy about safe or unsafe cars only goes so far. Actually I was wondering if the discussion would lead to analogies with safe sex The problem is there's "safe cars" ie email client that are free or cheap that are available. The problem is perhaps education or publicity is required to make sure people know it is available or why they should break links in the fence. So yes I use windows as my desktop OS at work. Up to recently win95 was the OS for my home computer. However I don't use OE or Outlook for email nor do I use word as the editor. Every computer at work now has Star Office or Open Office. Yes there's a few machines that have MS Office. The thing is to break as many of the links in the chain. The added security or peace of mind I have is in knowing I have reduced the probability that I will contribute to the spread of a virus. No one is asking everyone to use pine or elm or mutt etc or convert to unix/bsd/linux. There are other mail clients that are not OE or Outlook. There are free ones that are as fully featured. Pegasus Mail is one example. We should be promoting it as an email client. What scares me is there are many out there who think they are ok (ie safe and protected) because they have virus protection. It is like those who think they are secure because they are behind a firewall. There are many more who do not know they are vulnerable. If after knowing the risks and having considered your options you choose to remain with the software, that is your perogative. However the lack of knowledge or education over this means most out there are not making an informed decision. People don't have to spend hours downloading a new client. Netguide, PC World and most other computer magazines now have CDs with them. Netguide has had a CD with each issue. IF these magazines could be persuaded to promote or at least have an email client and a browser in each CD issue that isn't OE and IE, there's no reason why it will take long to get the software. The magazines do not cost much. Most people spend roughly that on beer or something at a cafe. Having said all that, I will admit that I work for an ISP that sets up its customers on Outlook or OE. I think most of us know why that happens. If you don't you can email me for a longer spiel 8) Should we be doing more to educate our users? The answer would be yes. I would like to find out what other NZ ISPs are doing in this area with the hope of learning what works and what won't. That's it for now. Thanks for reading. Lin - To unsubscribe from nznog, send email to majordomo(a)list.waikato.ac.nz where the body of your message reads: unsubscribe nznog