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| Is Your New PC Secure? |
| By Howard Fosdick on 2012-09-25 22:17:40 |
| You might assume your new PC is secure, but is it? In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission just charged seven rent-to-own computer companies and a software design firm with computer spying. Some 420,000 rent-to-own computers allegedly secretly collected personal information, took pictures of users in their homes, and tracked their locations. Meanwhile Microsoft found that PCs from China had malware embedded before reaching consumers. The virus "could allow a hacker to switch on a microphone or Webcam, record keystrokes and access users' login credentials and online bank accounts." And, an FBI investigation found that counterfeit routers purchased by various US government agencies also were pre-loaded with malicious software. Do you assume your new PC is secure, or if not, what steps do you take to secure it? |
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| It would be when I'm done with it. |
| By UltraZelda64 on 2012-09-25 22:50:46 |
|
At the very least, I would wipe the stock installation of Windows with a fresh, clean version of the OS. Preferrably from a known-to-be-trusted copy of Windows... ie. the retail version, direct from Microsoft. Windows can't get any more "clean" and pure than that. Too bad those discs cost an arm and a leg, though. But more likely these days, I would just nuke it in favor of something else. Linux, BSD... whatever. And boom... no spyware or any other form of malware. Edited 2012-09-25 22:56 UTC |
 - Score: 4 |
| Clever |
| By darknexus on 2012-09-25 22:54:34 |
| Clever move: Get everyone hyped up about what your rent-to-own or OEM might be sticking on there so you don't think about what the "official" hackers might be up to. I'll give the feds this, they know how to get people riled up at anyone but them. |
| - Score: 2 |
| Good argument for multibooting |
| By benali72 on 2012-09-25 23:29:31 |
| I would never trust any Windows install. This used to be no problem, because all you had to do was reinstall from the OS media. Now, of course, they don't give you any media, so that you're stuck with all their preloaded crapware, malware, whatever. My solution these days has been to rely on Linux for daily use and only use Windows for certain apps. |
| - Score: 5 |
| RE: It would be when I'm done with it. |
| By joekiser on 2012-09-26 00:41:13 |
|
> At the very least, I would wipe the stock installation of Windows with a fresh, clean version of the OS. Preferrably from a known-to-be-trusted copy of Windows... ie. the retail version, direct from Microsoft. Windows can't get any more "clean" and pure than that. Too bad those discs cost an arm and a leg, though. But more likely these days, I would just nuke it in favor of something else. Linux, BSD... whatever. And boom... no spyware or any other form of malware. You can download the ISOs for Windows from DigitalRiver for free and use the product key on your machine if you want a clean install. |
| - Score: 3 |
| RE: Good argument for multibooting |
| By UltraZelda64 on 2012-09-26 00:41:26 |
|
Very true. I agree. I never did fully trust OEM versions of Windows, and these days it's worse than ever. At least in the past they were stored on a form of ROM, but now, it's all on a rewritable, infectable drive. If it couldn't be trusted in the past, then it really can't be trusted now. Hard drive crash? $30+ to get a replacement CD/DVD-ROM disc set that should have been shipped with the machine in the first place. I personally wouldn't settle for anything less than official Microsoft retail media of the OS, and because that tends to cost so much and with so many licensing limitations (also enforced with software), Linux and BSD are the best choices. Edited 2012-09-26 00:55 UTC |
| - Score: 3 |
| RE[2]: It would be when I'm done with it. |
| By UltraZelda64 on 2012-09-26 01:32:25 |
| I know absolutely nothing about DigitalRiver. What they are, what they do, whether they can be trusted. |
| - Score: 3 |
| RE[3]: It would be when I'm done with it. |
| By joekiser on 2012-09-26 01:43:20 |
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> I know absolutely nothing about DigitalRiver. What they are, what they do, whether they can be trusted. Microsoft outsources downloads for the Home Use Program and the MSDNAA to Digital River. Trust them as much as you trust Microsoft... That being said, a quick $searchEngine search will reveal direct links to the ISOs on their servers. |
| - Score: 3 |
| Technet |
| By weebnuts on 2012-09-26 06:03:54 |
| That's when a technet subscription comes in handy. I usually wipe and install Windows Pro/Ultimate instead of whatever OEM version they give you. |
| - Score: 1 |
| RE: Technet |
| By UltraZelda64 on 2012-09-26 09:06:50 |
|
Problem is... when your TechNet subscription runs out, if you don't renew it, don't you have to surrender your rights to use that copy of Windows? If so, then what exactly does TechNet solve, except changing your payment from a one-time fee for the license to a subscription that needs to be renewed every year in order to be allowed to keep using the operating system? Edited 2012-09-26 09:07 UTC |
| - Score: 2 |
| RE[2]: It would be when I'm done with it. |
| By darknexus on 2012-09-26 12:20:09 |
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> You can download the ISOs for Windows from DigitalRiver for free and use the product key on your machine if you want a clean install. Unless your OEM is using a BIOS certificate method of activation, in which case a product key is not used at all but a certificate in the machine's BIOS is checked against a certificate in the OEM copy of Windows. Fortunately, it seems this method is mostly phased out, but I've still encountered it on occasion. |
| - Score: 2 |
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