NYT Security Tip - Choose Non-Microsoft Products

Giorgio Maone writes "The New York Times article 'Tips for Protecting the Home Computer' follows a story we recently discussed about the proliferation of botnets, and contains some statements which may sound quite unusual from mainstream press, especially if targeted to home users: 'Using a non-Windows-based PC may be one defense against these programs, known as malware ... Alternative browsers, like Firefox and Opera, may insulate users ... NoScript, a plug-in utility, can limit the ability of remote programs to run potentially damaging programs on your PC'."

Uh oh

[neuro.slug]

I hear Steve Ballmer got the news while visiting a chair factory. Remember to duck and cover!

Re:NYT is out of touch.

[dotgain]

(my friend just could not understand tabbed browsing)

For about four years, neither could the IE team. It just wasn't "innovative" enough for them until a few months ago.

You people just don't understand the paradigm

[straponego]

Microsoft wants to empower its users, and everyone else, for that matter. Don't you see how convenient it is that MS products execute treat every piece of data they ever come into contact with, no matter where it's from or whether it's a video, sound file, Office document, image-- whatever!-- as an executable? It's just like how you pick up every piece of garbage you see and put it in your mouth because it might be food. That's the taste of Freedom!

Re:ah yes...

[maxwell demon]

I don't tell strangers my computer's IP address (although, I'm pretty certain it would be useless to them and there are many ways to figure it out).

Well, I'm quite open to everyone about my computer's IP address: it's 127.0.0.1 :-)

Re:ding!

[MillionthMonkey]

If only I had realized this before Mr. Gates, I could be the multi-gazillionaire.

Actually, I think you still have some time!

Re:ah yes...

[Anonymous Coward]

I have dispatched a trojan to your computer, and it is deleting your hard drive as I speak. Wow, my hard drive is certainly working hard. That's funny.