Microsoft exec calls XP hack 'frightening' | CNET News.com

6 year old vulnerability awareness is not news

British researcher discover Windows XP without any 3rd party protection software is vulnerable? Give me a break! EVERYBODY knows this, don't they?

I continue to be surprised on a weekly basis, no matter how often I talk about it, by the number of people who do not implement the basic protection required on XP PC's.

SO... here's the scoop, one more time:

MUST be installed:
Firewall - ZoneAlarm or Kerio among others (free)
Anti-virus AVG or AVAST (good and free) or Eset's Nod32 (best but not free)

Should be installed:
Anti-Malware (spy or adware) - Spybot, Ad Aware, HijackThis (all free)

Nice to have installed:
Anti-Rootkit - Panda Security's Anti-rootkit (free)

Must do:
Ongoing Windows OS updates
Ongoing protection software updates
Periodic manual virus and malware scans

These relatively cheap and simple things can protect you from the bad guys with a minimum of expense and heartache. Failure to do this will result in great heartache and probably great expense. It's very simple, not always easy, especially for newbies, but the alternative is untenable.

If you wait until you are compromised the number of potential tools and knowledge it takes to fix it goes off the scale.

Like the Fram guy used to say, pay me now or pay me later. You will eventually do these things. Hopefully you'll do it voluntarily before you get whacked!
Dr Dave