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October 13th, 2009

Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping [UPDATED]

Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 9:59 am

Categories: Security, Software

Tags: Bank, CD, Online Banking, USB, Microsoft Windows, Phishing, Banking, Cyberthreats, Financial Services, Operating Systems

It’s time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping.

There, I’ve said it.

Last week, FBI Director Robert Mueller told an audience in San Francisco how he nearly fell for a bank phishing email. As a result of this Mueller now doesn’t do any banking on line.

Then Washington Post “Security Fix” columnist Brian Krebs advises businesses not to carry out online banking on Windows-based machines and to use a Linux-based LiveCD.

I’m going one step further, and suggest that no one use Windows for either banking or online shopping. Period.

So, am I saying this to be controversial? No. Am I attacking Windows or Microsoft? Am I trying to start a flame war? No.

So why am I saying this? Simply because I believe that the risk of using Windows outweighs the convenience. Sure, the overall risk of financial loss to a consumer is small given that federal law limits the consumer’s liability to $50, but having you bank details or credit card information compromised is a huge time-consuming hassle that people can do without.

It couldn’t be simpler.

  • Download a Linux ISO (my favorite is Ubuntu but there are loads of others to choose from).
  • Burn the ISO to CD (I recommend ImgBurn).
  • Pop the CD into your drive and boot up from the CD when you want to bank or shop … take a couple of minutes and it’s 100% safe since nothing can write to the CD).

This way not only are you protected from malware ands Windows-based vulnerabilities, you also protect yourself from phishing attacks by not using the Live CD for anything other than banking and shopping (no email, no Facebook/MySpace …). You boot into the Live CD, do what you want to do, and close the OS when you’re done.

Simple. Safe. Effective.

Note: I recommend that you burn a new CD every six months or so just to keep you on top of new releases and updates.

What about passwords? Simple! Grab yourself a USB flash drive and a copy of an app such as TrueCrypt and encrypt a text file containing your passwords (if you want you can create an encrypted partition on the USB key to store more data if you want).

Think this is too much hassle? I thought it would be, but I’ve been doing this for a few days now and it’s quick and simple and offers a great deal of peace-of-mind.

[UPDATE: Time to respond to some of the TalkBalk chatter:

  • Why not spend the time making Windows more secure?
    I don't want to get caught up in the whole Windows vs. mac vs. Linux thing but this statement is ridiculous. Make Windows more secure than a read-only that you only use for critical stuff? Seriously ...
  • This doesn't protect against phishing ...
    Well, if you separate email and browsing from banking, then it does ... a lot of readers seemed to have missed that. also, while the FBI director talked about phishing, his isn't the only threat facing online banking users. One thing that using a LiveCD for banking does is create a policy ... so if you ONLY visit your bank via the LiveCD OS, you're putting in place a policy that says you DON'T visit your bank via email links. Security is, after all, 90% good practice.
  • Microsoft Security Essentials will protect us ...
    There's no phishing protection in MSE.
  • IE8 has a better phishing filter than Firefox ....
    As tested by nsslabs, IE8's phishing filter had an 83% catch rate compared to Firefox's 80%. If you're willing to split hairs over a few percentage points but ignore the fact that the best phishing filter misses almost 1 in 5 phish attempts then your priorities are wrong.
  • It's a dumb waste of time ...
    Each to his or her own I guess ... but I'm sure that many look at passwords in the same way. If some people were left to their devices they'd not have passwords.
  • It's security by obscurity, if Linux had a greater market share it would be targeted by hackers ...
    Maybe, probably ... I don't know. However, you're overlooking the fact that you are working withing a read-only environment which adds a lot to your security.
  • It's a stop-gap measure ...
    You bet! Just like locking your door or learning self defense, what you're doing is making the bad guys look for an easier, softer target. Nothing is perfect.
  • How about using a virtual machine rather than a Live CD?
    It's an idea, but the OS inside the virtual machine wouldn't be read-only.
  • It's too much hassle ...
    Suit yourself.
  • But I love Windows ... Wah! Wah! Wah!!!!
    No one is asking you to give up on Windows, it's just augmenting Windows.

Keep your comments rolling it!]

Thoughts? I’m particularly interested in suggestions to improve the Live CD, a better choice of Live CD or tools for the USB key.

Adrian Kingsley-HughesAdrian is a technology journalist and author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology. He also runs a popular blog called The PC Doctor. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations

Want to get in touch? Got a tip? Feel free to drop me a note! I ALWAYS respect anonymity. I'm also on Twitter (@the_pc_doc)

Right to Reply: Should any industry representatives wish to comment on any posts on Hardware 2.0, I will be happy to publish their reply verbatim on this blog.

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  • Most Recent of 869 Talkback(s)
A detailed guide with screenshots
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD
Many versions of linux have the LiveCd accessible in very much the sam... (Read the rest)
Posted by: Tom6 Posted on: 02/02/10 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
Instead of a live CD  NStalnecker | 10/13/09
A VM Should be fine  Stuka | 10/13/09
Problem with using a VM  NetAdmin1178 | 10/13/09
Valid Point  Stuka | 10/13/09
Re: VM usage  dwolfe@... | 10/13/09
You'd have to dedicate the VM...  JCitizen | 10/15/09
Best of both worlds  frgough | 10/13/09
I agree  AndyCee | 10/14/09
Very good idea... few additional thoughts  NetAdmin1178 | 10/14/09
Host OS keyloggers would pose a problem to this solution... (nt)  NetAdmin1178 | 10/14/09
iso exposed......  cymru999 | 10/14/09
Best...  kc117mx | 10/14/09
Wouldn't the CD image be on writable media?  AzuMao | 01/19/10
Compromised host OS  balaknair | 10/13/09
Yes,  VistroDotNet | 10/14/09
Hooking alt ctrl del  Troyr1 | 10/15/09
No..  AzuMao | 01/19/10
One way is using an I/O firewall..  JCitizen | 10/15/09
Microsoft do not have that excuse.  AzuMao | 01/19/10
The HIPS in Comodo...  JCitizen | 01/21/10
Virtual keyboard in the VM  Hansc1 | 12/07/09
Use Browser VM or NX Technology is Great! grin  i2fun@... | 10/13/09
Server is still vulnerable  NetAdmin1178 | 10/14/09
I wondered how long......  cymru999 | 10/14/09
You wondered?  daengbo | 10/14/09
Another issue, perhaps  DannyO_0x98 | 10/13/09
VM options too  Robert Crocker | 10/13/09
Good idea, change it slightly  VistroDotNet | 10/14/09
This is not a good idea...  DevStar | 10/13/09
Adrian's point ist missed by far...  ARyKaXaN | 10/14/09
Let's look  daengbo | 10/14/09
Hp support is good  PCLinuxOS(user) | 10/22/09
Keyloggers  lefty.crupps | 10/14/09
no problem with using a vm  pacman7777 | 10/14/09
not true facts....  FXEF | 10/15/09
Live CD through VM  sspenning@... | 10/14/09
No problem with VM  a.ross.nz | 10/14/09
Problems with VM  masud@... | 10/15/09
Actually...  merddyin@... | 10/15/09
Actually...Not!  RandSec | 10/15/09
How about a VM running the Live CD  Hansc1 | 12/07/09
Use OS X  prof123 | 10/13/09
OS-X Doesn't have SecureLinux Kernel! wink  i2fun@... | 10/13/09
Just because the OS is secure dosent mean the software is too.  Been_Done_Before | 10/14/09
Do you have the money to buy me a Mac?  NStalnecker | 10/14/09
not so fast  archer75 | 10/14/09
Why did I think...  kd5jos | 10/15/09
The environment wouldn't be READ-ONLY! (nt)  mwagner@... | 10/14/09
Amen! Happened today to a gov't computer  itguy08 | 10/13/09
This was a TROJAN!  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
SO? It only exists on Windows  itguy08 | 10/13/09
Migration to another system is security by obscurity?  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
Whatever  itguy08 | 10/13/09
Not if you run as a standard user.  jdbukis@... | 10/13/09
Nothing magical about unix  connor33 | 10/13/09
Full of holes?  Cayble | 10/14/09
Obscurity? The code that makes Linux is public, how obscure is that?  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
Obscurity isn't about the code  cstapleton | 10/13/09
Nobody keeps data on servers?  IT_User | 10/13/09
Oh yes it is, when it comes to security obscurity is ALL about the code...  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
Obscurity isn't about the code  rickb@... | 10/14/09
Wondering...  TucsonGuy | 10/14/09
True, but for as long as it works, it IS working  frgough | 10/13/09
Just keep praying (nt)  Lester Young | 10/13/09
Right, because we all know that  frgough | 10/14/09
Ditto Security by Obscurity  cstapleton | 10/13/09
Man you are really confused aren't you?  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
When's that gonna happen?  MacKeyser | 10/13/09
Lifespan of systems is also relevant to choice  richardw66 | 10/30/09
Its not really "security by obscurity".  Troyr1 | 10/15/09
They mainly used OS/2 before  jdbukis@... | 10/13/09
Right. Rock solid, no viruses  itguy08 | 10/13/09
realy?  jdbukis@... | 10/13/09
I am pretty sure OS/2 was developed by IBM...  Solid Water | 10/13/09
Huh?  Lester Young | 10/13/09
actualy no.  jdbukis@... | 10/14/09
All 3 of you are nuts  de-void | 10/14/09
How does that make any sense?  s_southern | 10/13/09
No, We Should Ban You  jtechg | 10/14/09
Wrong, trojans needs a proper environment to flourish  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
Rubbish  jdbukis@... | 10/13/09
If what you say is right that's because someone added the nutrients  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
OSX Trojans.  itguy08 | 10/13/09
Trojans by definition......  Lester Young | 10/13/09
HUH???  buddyjosh | 10/14/09
They can be made browser specific..  JCitizen | 10/15/09
Missouri  Yagotta B. Kidding | 10/13/09
Trojans.  Troyr1 | 10/15/09
They're not as easy to make on ANY system, though.  AzuMao | 02/02/10
RTFS!!!  htotten | 10/13/09
Absolutely ridiculous and irresponsible article!  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
Happens all the time.  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
Common knowledge?  pauliusp | 10/13/09
Yes, it's common knowledge that Windows is insecure.  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
Be reasonable (if you can)  bmonsterman | 10/14/09
Bad Academic practice.  jdbukis@... | 10/13/09
Every bit helps.  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
What a pointless responce.  jdbukis@... | 10/14/09
Well, you just did.  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/14/09
Works with your bank NOT!!!...  JCitizen | 10/15/09
Did you even read the article?  daengbo | 10/14/09
And a few simple steps on a Windows system prevents this issue...  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
Then it should come out of the box that way...  kevin.cline@... | 10/13/09
They have since Vista  de-void | 10/14/09
Yes but..  pdickey043@... | 10/14/09
 AzuMao | 02/02/10
and both are a pain because of that....  cymru999 | 10/14/09
According to a Silver Tail webinar..  JCitizen | 10/15/09
The default account in all versions of Windows, including Vista and 7..  AzuMao | 02/02/10
And a few simple steps on a Windows system prevents this issue...  cyba | 02/01/10
Yeah, but that's because Windows boxes are everywhere...  chas_2 | 10/13/09
That's not the only reason. 2nd reason is: Windows insecure by design.  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
Technical proof please  sjaak327 | 10/13/09
Want proof that water is wet?  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
In other words, you have no proof. (nt)  Lester Young | 10/13/09
In other words, you didn't get it.  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
So you can't prove it  ITLeader | 10/14/09
He has none... Ancedotes of bad security practices is NOT proof.  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
It's not anecdotes. It's on a massive scale.  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/14/09
Go hack MSN.com then if Windows is so insecure  connor33 | 10/13/09
Lol! Yes!  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
I use Windows 7 and am not limited either.  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
Zues has the capability to pwn a restricted..  JCitizen | 10/15/09
Short, too short. You have to raise that number a lot  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
Seriously?  SystemVoid | 10/13/09
Hardly....  LazLong | 10/13/09
I really hope you are being ironic ...  Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNet Moderator | 10/13/09
I really hope you are being more factual...We're still waiting....  transposeIT | 10/13/09
Do your own googling (probably binging in your case).  daengbo | 10/14/09
Funny you should say that, as Australian Police...  A Grain of Salt | 10/13/09
BWAAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!  storm14k | 10/14/09
LOL -that is funny coming from the kettle...nt  ItsTheBottomLine | 10/14/09
It's not about Windows flaws ...  mwagner@... | 10/14/09
The converse can be said too.  pdickey043@... | 10/14/09
BlackHat 08  zdnet-registraion | 10/14/09
A flaw in Vista/7 ?  reach_tim@... | 10/14/09
A denier. Read This Text: WINDOWS *IS* BY DEFINITION INSECURE.  RolexDude | 01/12/10
Cross platform exploits  honeymonster | 10/13/09
exactly  nothingness | 10/13/09
Phishing..  prof123 | 10/13/09
Malware installation......  Lester Young | 10/13/09
If the browser has an unpatched...  JCitizen | 10/15/09
The more common method is to get the user to go to a spoofed website  connor33 | 10/13/09
That's not phishing  de-void | 10/14/09
RTA!!!!  TucsonGuy | 10/15/09
So why...  deanders | 10/15/09
Because you can be more assured...  JCitizen | 10/15/09
I would be more assured if I lived in a bomb proof shelter...  richardw66 | 10/30/09
I would wager...  JCitizen | 11/04/09
Plus sometimes the websites can be attacked  jdbukis@... | 10/13/09
Good answer!  Loverock Davidson | 10/13/09
Ken stick to game playing over at /b/  D-T-Schmitz | 10/13/09
lots of "cans" and "might bes"  stevey_d | 10/13/09
All exploits started....  Lester Young | 10/13/09
What exactly are the extensive anti-exploit features of Vista and 7?  storm14k | 10/14/09
Here are some.  Lester Young | 10/14/09
another thing windows has, and linux does not  ~doolittle~ | 10/15/09
Not relevant  daengbo | 10/14/09
The more effective method  johnf76@... | 10/13/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  dwolfe@... | 10/13/09
Don't overdo it, ditching windows should be enough  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
To be honest  jdbukis@... | 10/13/09
its free atleast on natwests website and on err ebay  Agnostic_OS | 10/13/09
Whats that got to do with windows?  jdbukis@... | 10/14/09
Whats that got to do with...  Agnostic_OS | 10/18/09
FBI head bad example  rpmyers1 | 10/13/09
LISTEN TO THIS GUY!  ericesque | 10/13/09
Retards?  daengbo | 10/14/09
Have to agree with that!  Loverock Davidson | 10/13/09
Yeap, you cant fix stupid.  Been_Done_Before | 10/14/09
WTF????  rjohn05 | 10/13/09
Trojans need a proper environment, one that Linux doesn't provide  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
roses anyone?  trackzilla | 10/13/09
Malware is written to run where it has a change to survive and nowhere else  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
A virus can be written to any environment  baileysc | 10/13/09
It can but it will not be able to survive  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
okay...  bmonsterman | 10/14/09
Viruses need a CPU, Memory and a network interface  richardw66 | 10/30/09
@baileysc...........not true.  TonyOz | 10/13/09
Confusing the issue.  Lester Young | 10/13/09
@ Lester Young...again, wrong...and do watch your bank account  TonyOz | 10/13/09
RE: @baileysc...........not true.  bmonsterman | 10/14/09
@TonyOz  bmonsterman | 10/14/09
@TonyOz  Lester Young | 10/14/09
@bmonsterman - unsigned apps do NOT need to be run as admin  de-void | 10/14/09
@de-void check your facts  bmonsterman | 10/14/09
Yes, and this fake list proves it  GuidingLight | 10/13/09
Yes, I read about it on the front page of the NYT  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
But how can there have ever been a list started  GuidingLight | 10/13/09
Nope, those are proofs of concept...  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
come on please  sjaak327 | 10/13/09
Come on, you know that's because Linux is unfriendly to malware  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
well  sjaak327 | 10/13/09
Way to rationalize.  Lester Young | 10/13/09
You forget to say how many of those...  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
That's an advantage of a less than 1% user base...  transposeIT | 10/13/09
hmm...  Badgered | 10/14/09
Please  bmonsterman | 10/14/09
Hardly a magic wand  DNSB | 10/14/09
Drivers are user mode.  Lester Young | 10/14/09
No, they are not.  de-void | 10/14/09
Windows 7  bmonsterman | 10/14/09
Ring0  de-void | 10/14/09
It's easy to patch holes in an OS with no users (relatively speaking)  de-void | 10/14/09
It's not. It's bad advice. nt  ye | 10/13/09
Are you saying 5 years of exploit free banking is worthless?  stevey_d | 10/13/09
Let's assume you're right...  jeremychappell | 10/14/09
This sounds like a lot of work....  Larry DignanZDNet Moderator | 10/13/09
Linux obscure, with public code?  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
If you don't understand the subject, maybe you shouldn't reply.  rtk | 10/13/09
I think he does understand it...  jeremychappell | 10/14/09
Hey moron...  James T. Kirk | 10/13/09
Talking to yourself again?  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
There you go, ignore the fact that you're an idiot.  James T. Kirk | 10/14/09
Which Cross platform exploits.  itguy08 | 10/13/09
Not really an exploit of a known OS vunerability, but ...  de-void | 10/14/09
re: This sounds like a lot of work....  n0neXn0ne | 10/13/09
Then by all means  Yagotta B. Kidding | 10/13/09
So you contradict Adrian?  markbn | 10/13/09
re: So you contradict Adrian?  n0neXn0ne | 10/13/09
Depends  Yagotta B. Kidding | 10/13/09
Now you're just teasing him  Robert Crocker | 10/13/09
A Microsoft live CD would be a joke  Ole Man | 10/13/09
Same conclusion  markbn | 10/15/09
Re; if you can use a Windows Live CD . .  hkommedal | 10/15/09
Really?  Tim Patterson | 10/13/09
Sophomoric (moronic?) responses ...  mckenzl | 10/13/09
re: Sophomoric (moronic?) responses ...  n0neXn0ne | 10/13/09
You are trip ...  mckenzl | 10/13/09
re:You are trip ...  n0neXn0ne | 10/13/09
Asinine huh?  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
Asinine as in logic ... but since you want to get personal ...  mckenzl | 10/14/09
Separate issues  Lester Young | 10/13/09
Pro Tip: Read the Whole Article  daengbo | 10/14/09
In a security context obscurity is ALL about the code, ALL ABOUT THE CODE!  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
Talk about moronic. Obscurity is about nobody wanting to use crap...  transposeIT | 10/13/09
Good points, Larry. Also  honeymonster | 10/13/09
Hadn't thought of that.  Lester Young | 10/13/09
Answer: Pure run-time exploits are increasingly likely  honeymonster | 10/14/09
The Zeus variant...  JCitizen | 11/04/09
The key element is the live CD.  Lester Young | 10/13/09
You must have a lot of free time...  r_widell | 10/16/09
Try pendrivelinux.com  konakt | 10/13/09
USB Startup Disk Creator in Ubuntu 9.04  djchandler | 10/13/09
Great link. Thanks!  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
Puppy Linux is a good chioce  rcuff | 10/14/09
One problem.  Lester Young | 10/13/09
Not really, if setup correctly.......  LazLong | 10/13/09
If you have to GRUB around to make it work....  Lester Young | 10/13/09
Time to ditch Adrian Kingsley-Hughes' ZDNet column!  cnfrisch | 10/13/09
Yes, send him to Siberia!  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
Yeah, and you should join him....  transposeIT | 10/13/09
May be you could be the guide on this trip ? (nt)  hkommedal | 10/15/09
Sorry, but I do have real work. Bums like yourself may accompany them...  transposeIT | 10/17/09
Nope. Adrian makes a lot of sense.  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
You don't have to worry about that with Windows either  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
You do have to worry about viruses/spyware, when using Windows.  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
Yeah, just like Linux and any other OS made by man...  transposeIT | 10/14/09
From a purely theoretical point of view...  jeremychappell | 10/14/09
Agreed...a total waste of time!  jtechg | 10/14/09
A total waste of time.  symbolset | 10/14/09
UBCD4Win?  AboveAverageJoe | 10/13/09
Above average?  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
Yeh, Just above the local Joe's  AboveAverageJoe | 10/13/09
Yes!  Loverock Davidson | 10/13/09
Licensing if nothing else  DNSB | 10/13/09
Thank you Larry! Not all Zdnet writers are insane!  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
So advocating a healthy computing lifestyle is now considered insane?  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
This suggestion is when it didn't talk about SECURING what you already have  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
But that's a productivity sink hole.  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
Not at all. The suggested way, yes, I do agree  GuidingLight | 10/13/09
Constant disk thrashing, high CPU usage, etc take up computing resources  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
Productivity sink hole?  Lester Young | 10/13/09
Try a modern Linux release  DNSB | 10/13/09
Based on 2007/08 experience with Ubuntu.  Lester Young | 10/14/09
re: Try a modern Linux release  richardw66 | 10/30/09
Yep. We all know Microsoft's insanely good security record.  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
One more tip  Loverock Davidson | 10/13/09
Tell me ...  Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNet Moderator | 10/13/09
How Linux protects you against phishing?  markbn | 10/13/09
did you miss this bit of the article title? "online banking and shopping"  stevey_d | 10/13/09
No  markbn | 10/15/09
It doesn't  bobiroc | 10/13/09
Because ...  Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNet Moderator | 10/13/09
Little Discipline?  bobiroc | 10/13/09
Indeed!  Spainy53 | 10/18/09
Blaming Windows makes a better headline  connor33 | 10/13/09
Using windows without a filter is dangerous  richardw66 | 10/30/09
Because ...  Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNet Moderator | 10/13/09
for what purpose  sjaak327 | 10/13/09
Sheesh  DNSB | 10/13/09
No pain at all  sjaak327 | 10/14/09
So it is easier  bobiroc | 10/13/09
This does not work in many cases  richardw66 | 10/30/09
" Because ...  cbrackin99 | 10/13/09
Bwa-ha-ha-ha...Try one more time, Adrian...LOL...  transposeIT | 10/13/09
Then do you prepare a LiveCD for every ...  mwagner@... | 10/14/09
Actually, it's very complicated  markbn | 10/15/09
Re; time to use a live CD for online banking . .  hkommedal | 10/15/09
On disk is a good place to start...  JCitizen | 10/17/09
re: Actually, it's very complicated  richardw66 | 10/30/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  NetAdmin1178 | 10/13/09
The voice of one crying in the wilderness  Ole Man | 10/13/09
Windows in limited user mode can't be written to  connor33 | 10/13/09
Two words:  DNSB | 10/13/09
Two more words... ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE with Vista/7  Heatlesssun | 10/14/09
Tee-hee-heee you won't see it either  Ole Man | 10/14/09
So we should fear the boogyman?  connor33 | 10/14/09
Precisely.  DNSB | 10/15/09
ditch windows for online banking  jimnall | 10/14/09
The new threats are actually more..  JCitizen | 10/17/09
For now.  GuidingLight | 10/13/09
It's all a stop gap  Larry DignanZDNet Moderator | 10/13/09
So what is your suggestion? ....  n0neXn0ne | 10/13/09
How would phishing be different  LiquidLearner | 10/13/09
RTFA n/t  n0neXn0ne | 10/13/09
I did read the article...  LiquidLearner | 10/13/09
Phishing was only one issue.  Lester Young | 10/13/09
Wasn't arguing that...  LiquidLearner | 10/14/09
True, the phishing story shouldn't have been included.  Lester Young | 10/14/09
phishing would be different  Ole Man | 10/13/09
So if the user weren't there  LiquidLearner | 10/13/09
His network is rock solid as well  rtk | 10/13/09
I was describing the conditions  Ole Man | 10/20/09
What phishing?  DNSB | 10/13/09
I understand the point...  LiquidLearner | 10/14/09
Hard to disagree  DNSB | 10/14/09
Zues and the URL derivative...  JCitizen | 10/17/09
EXACTLY!!!! Good security practices beat security by obscurity EVERY time.  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
So your suggestion is: Do Things the Way You Have Always Done, right?  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
A serious question:  GuidingLight | 10/13/09
Sorry, that was not a serious question  Ole Man | 10/13/09
Good security?  DNSB | 10/13/09
And ...  Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNet Moderator | 10/13/09
Read-only or auto-reverting?  honeymonster | 10/13/09
What if you caught the trojan before...  JCitizen | 10/17/09
Read-only: as safe as it gets  symbolset | 10/14/09
Hint: Win7 launch is just days away...  Zogg | 10/15/09
The Zues concept is highly transmutable..  JCitizen | 10/17/09
Bingo!  Ole Man | 10/20/09
True ...  Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNet Moderator | 10/13/09
Yes Larry. Locking your front door at night is also a stop gap.  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
The obvious solution to that is to ...  mwagner@... | 10/14/09
A stop gape  symbolset | 10/14/09
Becuase the crime crackers are not stupid..  JCitizen | 10/17/09
Just like cold fusion...  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
A Linux CD is a read-only fileystem, knucklehead.  D-T-Schmitz | 10/13/09
So there is absolutely, positively no way  GuidingLight | 10/14/09
Very true...  JCitizen | 10/17/09
Shopping: Extreme Overreaction  Tom12Tom | 10/13/09
Ridiculous overkill  Mythos7 | 10/13/09
because it's SOOO hard to boot from a LiveCD...  stevey_d | 10/13/09
No, LiveCD is uncessary to be secure online while doing anything..  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
Although statistically I'd tend to agree..  JCitizen | 10/17/09
Missed the point  rberman | 10/13/09
"PIECE" of mind?!  chris_herzog | 10/13/09
Linux protects idiots from opening and clicking phish emails? Amazing!  rsmith187 | 10/13/09
when talking to linux  gabrielbear@... | 10/13/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  bosbrucec | 10/13/09
re:RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  n0neXn0ne | 10/13/09
The hash checks...  Lester Young | 10/14/09
MD5 hash?  DNSB | 10/13/09
I've never got a hash to check correctly..  JCitizen | 10/17/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  Loverock Davidson | 10/13/09
Loverock...you make many good arguments and then ruin them with...  ye | 10/13/09
But the cd will be out of date  Loverock Davidson | 10/13/09
My comment isn't that it won't need updates.  ye | 10/13/09
Same broken record.......  todbran@... | 10/13/09
Shall we dispense with dated arguments?  Lester Young | 10/13/09
He has a habit of going out with his telnet port OPEN.  hkommedal | 10/15/09
Can an OS and browser in RAM be exploited?  Lester Young | 10/13/09
Really?  Viva la crank dodo | 10/14/09
SAME AS WINDOWS!!!  kyn_67@... | 10/14/09
What a load of FUD!  GoPower | 10/13/09
No kidding  Loverock Davidson | 10/13/09
Oh great , just great...  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
No. He just got too much wind coming in  hkommedal | 10/15/09
What a great response.....  todbran@... | 10/13/09
To go farther...  JCitizen | 10/17/09
Repetious drivel  DNSB | 10/13/09
I can't imagine it either  Viva la crank dodo | 10/14/09
As Zues is not platform specific..  JCitizen | 10/17/09
Flame War? Is that what Adrian wants?  pacman7777 | 10/14/09
Ouch ! You have left your telnet port OPEN AGAIN !  hkommedal | 10/15/09
Inferiority complexes  richardw66 | 10/30/09
Dubious at best!  cantedview | 10/13/09
re: Dubious at best!  n0neXn0ne | 10/13/09
Whew! Sure glad ...  mckenzl | 10/13/09
Linux users are cut from a different breed  The Mentalist | 10/13/09
and thats affecting common users HOW?  ivanotter | 10/13/09
But he's a "mentalist"!..  JCitizen | 10/17/09
Don't want to debate, but phishing  LiquidLearner | 10/13/09
No need to debate....  JCitizen | 10/17/09
Great Advice Adrian!  Tim Patterson | 10/13/09
30 years  mswift@... | 10/13/09
re:30 years  n0neXn0ne | 10/13/09
Microsoft operating systems  DNSB | 10/13/09
Hmmm....  DNSB | 10/13/09
I see Novell remote secure desktop...  JCitizen | 10/18/09
(deleted) wrong post..(nt)  JCitizen | 10/17/09
Unfrotunately my experience wasn't the same  LiquidLearner | 10/13/09
Excellent post..  JCitizen | 10/18/09
To take this article ...  n0neXn0ne | 10/13/09
I do all the time  NStalnecker | 10/13/09
You are not the only one, hence the article. n/t  n0neXn0ne | 10/13/09
Get a clue  danmartini | 10/13/09
ZDnet is like all sensationalist journalism...  JCitizen | 10/18/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  doc_horizon@... | 10/13/09
The FBI falls for phishing attacks?  s_southern | 10/13/09
Are you judging the canibis cup?  JustAITGuy | 10/13/09
Not a bad idea except..  JCitizen | 10/18/09
re: Not a bad idea except..  richardw66 | 10/31/09
Bugging...  JCitizen | 11/02/09
Linux doesn't have Social Engineering attacks?  laxmanb | 10/13/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  Techref6060 | 10/13/09
Yes.  DNSB | 10/13/09
Banking and online shopping corporations..  JCitizen | 10/18/09
and how is this going to stop phishing attacks?  bobiroc | 10/13/09
Doesn't stop people from doing 'stupid' things  D-T-Schmitz | 10/13/09
Exactly  bobiroc | 10/13/09
Exactly - or not  richardw66 | 10/31/09
Adrian: PLEASE stick with hardware reviews.  razzledazzle | 10/13/09
Really Adrian, check your senses at the door  croberts | 10/13/09
where can you get a free livecd with windows and IE or firefox?  stevey_d | 10/13/09
Just use Windows steady state...  JCitizen | 10/18/09
Wow  Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNet Moderator | 10/13/09
and how?  ivanotter | 10/13/09
Linux LiveCD vs. Windows LiveCD  DNSB | 10/13/09
No license required.  sjaak327 | 10/14/09
Odd  DNSB | 10/14/09
You would have to use a linux..  JCitizen | 10/18/09
The point in using a Linux Live CD  Ole Man | 10/25/09
Why not RW?...  JCitizen | 10/27/09
What's the point of this misleading article?  not-a-zealot | 10/13/09
Bingo! Which is why this is irresponsible IT journalism!  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
it's actually a sensible pragmatic move  stevey_d | 10/13/09
No just incomplete journalism...  JCitizen | 10/18/09
BRAVO!!!!!  ARyKaXaN | 10/14/09
Best solution - VM booted to Linux .iso image - FAST & SECURE  gigglypuff | 10/13/09
I like it, sort of.  djchandler | 10/14/09
True...  JCitizen | 10/18/09
I'm more concerned about what idiots the FBI are hiring!!!  omdguy | 10/13/09
Word!  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
maybe the head of the FBI has a little more to do  stevey_d | 10/13/09
Uhhh, do you know what phishing is?  omdguy | 10/14/09
Isn't that thet truth?!!..  JCitizen | 10/18/09
Yo Adrian......................................good one.  D-T-Schmitz | 10/13/09
Yeah, for most idiotic and irresponsible writing that is...  transposeIT | 10/14/09
Several Problems Here  SimEngie | 10/13/09
poor argument  stevey_d | 10/13/09
Not really  SimEngie | 10/13/09
Yes really  stevey_d | 10/14/09
Yah  symbolset | 10/14/09
Maybe that's one reason Windows live CDs are scarce as hen's teeth?  Ole Man | 10/13/09
Man you hit that square on the head...  JCitizen | 10/18/09
Time to ditch Adrian, ZDnet and the rest of the idiotic IT media...  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
No it's easier  bobiroc | 10/13/09
Safety factor minimum standards  richardw66 | 10/31/09
Sorry, but ...  Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNet Moderator | 10/13/09
Educating bloggers hasn't really gotten us anywhere: you're the proof  markbn | 10/13/09
Wow!  Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNet Moderator | 10/13/09
Thanks  markbn | 10/15/09
Look at the window fanboys squeal  Richard Flude | 10/13/09
Well, takes a fanboy to know one...Linux is still crap though...  transposeIT | 10/14/09
Linux is OK in the right application  richardw66 | 10/31/09
So, because one refuses to buy some hogwash  markbn | 10/15/09
good point  stevey_d | 10/13/09
Car maintenance - and how to avoid it  richardw66 | 10/31/09
Re: Sorry, but. . .  K4thwright | 10/13/09
The malware problem was worse in 2000-2004  connor33 | 10/13/09
The malware problem was worse in 2000-2004??  Agnostic_OS | 10/13/09
I think we know the solution...  JCitizen | 10/18/09
I think...  rapson | 10/13/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  FrankleeMiDeer | 10/13/09
"always thought you were smarter than that." wrong target  stevey_d | 10/13/09
Hell stevey that isn't even good enough...  JCitizen | 10/18/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  janbabe@... | 10/13/09
This article is an example of pure stupidity  baileysc | 10/13/09
Maybe ...  Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNet Moderator | 10/13/09
She couldn't do any worse than the current establishement happy  baileysc | 10/13/09
amazingly your eminent intelligence failed to read the title of the article  stevey_d | 10/13/09
Reality Check  djchandler | 10/13/09
Windows 7 isn't doing anything to protect you from a phishing attacks ...  baileysc | 10/13/09
Not quite right.  DNSB | 10/14/09
Usually from email?  symbolset | 10/14/09
For a while.. perhaps...  JCitizen | 10/18/09
Yes!  Agnostic_OS | 10/13/09
Ardin your too stupid, there i said it!  Stan57 | 10/13/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  grammar pedant | 10/13/09
re:RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  n0neXn0ne | 10/13/09
When you visit the spoofed website with Linux you get a special message  connor33 | 10/13/09
Sheesh  DNSB | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  tl-news@... | 10/13/09
Or you can surf in a limited user account where nothing can be installed  connor33 | 10/13/09
Alternate question:  DNSB | 10/14/09
Yawn  connor33 | 10/17/09
It is official, Mr, Kingsley-Hughes (warning: STRONG opinion ahead)  ivanotter | 10/13/09
Sheesh ...  Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNet Moderator | 10/13/09
which still...  ivanotter | 10/13/09
Hmmm....  DNSB | 10/14/09
One thing is one thing, another thing is another thing ...  mama0001 | 10/14/09
Now THAT's real smart!  Ole Man | 10/25/09
Wouldn't have email set up?  monei011 | 10/14/09
"online banking and shopping" - see article title  stevey_d | 10/13/09
Becuase  ivanotter | 10/13/09
Nooo - bring it on!  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
writer didn't claim livecd would solve that problem - fallacy is yours  stevey_d | 10/14/09
Cool down ivan.  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
wow a Linux Ad...  ivanotter | 10/13/09
362 words of anger. Cool down Ivan.  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
Forgive him, he knoweth not  Ole Man | 10/13/09
Talking about yourself again? Yes, we already know you're severely lacking.  transposeIT | 10/14/09
You are a computer geek? sad  Solid Water | 10/13/09
WARN VERY STRONG  Agnostic_OS | 10/13/09
Mr, Kingsley-Hughes, I think you meant...  richardw66 | 10/31/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  sjaak327 | 10/13/09
article title says "online banking and shopping"  stevey_d | 10/13/09
You obviously don't understand my point.  sjaak327 | 10/13/09
just as safe?  stevey_d | 10/14/09
re:RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  n0neXn0ne | 10/13/09
really ?  sjaak327 | 10/13/09
Just use a Thin Client instead?  intel352 | 10/13/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  lutz.huesch@... | 10/13/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  The Rifleman | 10/13/09
Today I used Windows 7 with confidence for online banking and shopping!!!  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
re:Today I used Windows 7 with confidence for online banking and shopping!!  n0neXn0ne | 10/13/09
You give me your IP and I'll give you mine!  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
Almost as good...  condelirios | 10/14/09
Which is akin to 6 people playing Russian Roulette  Zogg | 10/13/09
and you ahve proof of course  ivanotter | 10/13/09
Proof of what? Windows malware?  Zogg | 10/14/09
Yeah, Russian Roulette with a 2,000,000,000,000 chamber gun and no bullets!  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
"No bullets"?  Zogg | 10/14/09
Not dead yet either  richardw66 | 10/31/09
An absolute dumbest article by AKH since...ever  ibarskiy@... | 10/13/09
Social engineering to do what, though?  Zogg | 10/13/09
Take the user to a spoofed website?  connor33 | 10/13/09
So you've never heard of "drive-by" installs, then. (nt)  Zogg | 10/14/09
You know ...  Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNet Moderator | 10/13/09
Adrian, you respond that...  ibarskiy@... | 10/14/09
Adrian wasn't denying that water isn't wet.  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
near 100%? Is that an annual risk?  connor33 | 10/13/09
No, lifetime risk.  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
You forgot the sobs man!  Ole Man | 10/25/09
We've found the problem with wndows, it's connor33  richardw66 | 10/31/09
What "insecure by design" programming choices?  Lester Young | 10/13/09
Approach it from the evidence side.  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
You're the one who invoked "by design."  Lester Young | 10/13/09
lool - the hangup.  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
If you say so.  Lester Young | 10/13/09
By design  honeymonster | 10/14/09
Trojan in my box?!  VistroDotNet | 10/14/09
Poor MSW platform  drleos | 10/13/09
It is simply so  drleos | 10/13/09
Linux no more secure than Windows  bklooste | 10/13/09
HAHAHAHAHAHA!  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
Again please provide non-anecdotal proof not involving idioict security  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
So you want proof that - uhm - ... water is wet?  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
He can't. He's a moron and you just ignore him...  transposeIT | 10/14/09
No need for namecalling.  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/14/09
You Must Be  kyn_67@... | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  mmagliaro | 10/13/09
Just becuase you say it, doesn't make it so.  ivanotter | 10/13/09
Neither does what you say make sense  richardw66 | 10/31/09
Tell that to CanSec West.  Lester Young | 10/13/09
Good point but...  kaveetdanani@... | 10/13/09
If this isn't a big heap of flame bait I don't know what is....  JoeMama_z | 10/13/09
Wow!  Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNet Moderator | 10/13/09
you don't have enough real world experience  JoeMama_z | 10/13/09
Oh, and about that nsslabs report ...  Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNet Moderator | 10/13/09
Oh well then, this article is worth the electrons that contain it after all  JoeMama_z | 10/13/09
Using Windows is pant-dropping in a jailcell with 3 sex starved inmates.  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
Discuss your fetishes elsewhere. (nt)  Lester Young | 10/13/09
Lies, damn lies and statistics  DNSB | 10/14/09
but wouldn't it be easier,  JoeMama_z | 10/14/09
Not trying to start a flame war? Really?  tonymcs@... | 10/13/09
Naive or funny ...  Adrian Kingsley-HughesZDNet Moderator | 10/13/09
Funny  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
"securing Windows in the first place"  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
This applies to ANY AND ALL OS'es! Thanks for being misleading!  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
That's good advice.  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
Thanks!  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
Another example  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/14/09
It's a joke surely  richardw66 | 10/31/09
Adrian's suggestion makes a lot of sense  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
No it doesn't!  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
Adrian didn't say your steps are ineffective.  CounterEthicsCommissioner-23034636492738337469105860790963 | 10/13/09
But he's implying that his idea is some sort of silver bullet. It's not.  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
For idiots, that is...Linux is crap that nobody but bums uses...  transposeIT | 10/14/09
Bums - just bums  symbolset | 10/14/09
That's ALL he was trying to do for traffic.  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  Agnostic_OS | 10/13/09
Time to ditch writers who think ditching Windows will cure dumb moves  jdaughtry@... | 10/13/09
More like saying...  richardw66 | 10/31/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  Agnostic_OS | 10/13/09
Answer the question...  Agnostic_OS | 10/13/09
This isn't a problem if you implement decent security and aren't stupid.  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  samavedam_vijay@... | 10/13/09
So, other than the fact that phishing has nothing to do with malware . . .  CobraA1 | 10/13/09
Linux (or some other OS) in motherboard firmware  djchandler | 10/13/09
Paranoid  xdogg@... | 10/13/09
And HARMFUL if you use this in lieu of REAL security practices!  Heatlesssun | 10/13/09
Paranoia  DNSB | 10/14/09
Stop using MS software altogether, Adrian. You're not a great loss to MS...  transposeIT | 10/13/09
Adrian, trying to start another flame war..And freetards are really suckers  transposeIT | 10/13/09
So True  SonicLogic | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  bkn2000 | 10/13/09
that must be a really DUMB FBI agent!!! loool  SonicLogic | 10/14/09
That's why Adrian hangs on to every word he speaks...LOL...  transposeIT | 10/14/09
Spying on your account number  DNSB | 10/14/09
All very well...  wright_is | 10/14/09
average user doesn't know what Windows is  Agnostic_OS | 10/18/09
LOL...Adrian with another successful flame war and cheap thrills for the...  transposeIT | 10/14/09
Adrian, I believe you need to read more on social engineering risks...  transposeIT | 10/14/09
A Live CD environment is not read only  keebaud@... | 10/14/09
Underlying OS issues?  DNSB | 10/14/09
a LIVE CD CANNOT be written to  Ole Man | 10/26/09
Maybe my GF or her daughter should write your blog.  ye | 10/14/09
Why?  Michael Kelly | 10/14/09
Because they can use Windows malware free where it appears...  ye | 10/14/09
HAWW!!!  bendib | 10/14/09
Always ends up in a Mac/Linux/Windows discussion  GeorgeWagner | 10/14/09
Wrong.  ye | 10/14/09
Of course  sjaak327 | 10/14/09
Thank You!  GeorgeWagner | 10/14/09
Not sure if..  sjaak327 | 10/14/09
Not sure if...  GeorgeWagner | 10/14/09
Oh but I do.  ye | 10/14/09
I follow security best practices....  GeorgeWagner | 10/14/09
How are they incomplete?  ye | 10/14/09
Dont believe you and never will  deaf_e_kate | 10/15/09
Try Portable Ubuntu running inside Windows  iRMX | 10/14/09
Impractical because I need writeable data  deepee912 | 10/14/09
Writeable Data - here is a good solution  iRMX | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  iRMX | 10/14/09
I work for a finanical institution and your proposal is crazy..  MLHACK | 10/14/09
let's see...  ARyKaXaN | 10/14/09
Read-only?  dchase@... | 10/14/09
apples vs. oranges?  ARyKaXaN | 10/14/09
I see your point.  dchase@... | 10/14/09
hope this helps...  ARyKaXaN | 10/15/09
Adrian i think you really got your screws lose on this one  nessrapp | 10/14/09
wow  ARyKaXaN | 10/14/09
ignorant at best  kckn4fun | 10/14/09
you got a point  ARyKaXaN | 10/14/09
Wow, Adrian!!!  Userama | 10/14/09
VMs CAN be read-only  capam2k2@... | 10/14/09
ROTFLMAO at you silly Windows users  mlindl | 10/14/09
Waste of money....  storm14k | 10/14/09
Got a source  rtk | 10/14/09
US military?  condelirios | 10/14/09
MAC? You mean the easiest OS to hack? ROTFLMAO....  transposeIT | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  judithlcw | 10/14/09
I noticed a trend in the talkbacks...  storm14k | 10/14/09
It's a stupid recommendation.  ye | 10/14/09
Nothing stupid about it.....  storm14k | 10/14/09
Yes, it's a very stupid recommendation.  ye | 10/14/09
Two vehicles  dchase@... | 10/14/09
The problem with your argument is...  ye | 10/14/09
I don't think thats the argument...  storm14k | 10/14/09
No.  dchase@... | 10/14/09
@storm14k: A live CD of Windows would be just as stupid.  ye | 10/14/09
Nothing wrong with USING two cars....  storm14k | 10/14/09
It's more hassle.  ye | 10/14/09
Eliminates variables.  dchase@... | 10/14/09
@dchase: I like to make my life simpler, not more complicated.  ye | 10/14/09
@ye  dchase@... | 10/14/09
@dchase: Anything is possible.  ye | 10/14/09
@ye  dchase@... | 10/14/09
@dchase: So let me get this straight. You recommend leaving the system...  ye | 10/14/09
@ye  dchase@... | 10/15/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  douglh | 10/14/09
still has problems...  NetAdmin1178 | 10/14/09
in addition to using a liveCD...  NetAdmin1178 | 10/14/09
False sense of security  epaval@... | 10/14/09
Time to re-read the article  DNSB | 10/14/09
Reboot between shopping and banking then...  epaval@... | 10/14/09
Easier and sane solution.  Cayble | 10/14/09
but that wouldn't line Adrian's pockets  JoeMama_z | 10/14/09
It will never fly  Mythos7 | 10/14/09
Perfect post!  Heatlesssun | 10/14/09
Or Readonly Shopping/Banking IE  x21x | 10/14/09
Dual boot  davidr69 | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  abc123a | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  SysAdminII | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  groupereater | 10/14/09
You do it your way, I'll do it mine  Crestview | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  rmark@... | 10/14/09
Fine and dandy unless you have a broadcom  Zorched | 10/14/09
No insurance for bank accounts & debit cards  dogbreath1 | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  steve@... | 10/14/09
Just use PHONE BANKING  pupkin_z | 10/14/09
Just Use...  condelirios | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  rlsantucijr | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  angiek | 10/14/09
Additional USB tool for passwords  midenginedrift | 10/14/09
My guess  rapson | 10/14/09
It's hard to argue that this solution is not a ...  mwagner@... | 10/14/09
Refining number 1  Mythos7 | 10/15/09
How can so many of us be so dense?  djchandler | 10/14/09
If most institutions Demanded Macs..  condelirios | 10/14/09
Who brought demands into it?  richardw66 | 10/31/09
As unemployment goes up the quality of these responses goes down.  softwareFlunky | 10/14/09
You are right!  Ole Man | 10/25/09
Done with ZDNET  bitsmythe | 10/14/09
RE: Done with ZDNET  slimmac1 | 10/14/09
This hack won't work for the average user  gypkap@... | 10/14/09
There is no patch for human stupidity  fireman949 | 10/14/09
unrealistic... windows is safe if you know how to use it  Z1000 | 10/14/09
Hmm.. I have the CURE!  condelirios | 10/14/09
What are you talking about??  Nsaf | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  smithkl42 | 10/14/09
Thanks for the warning and a solution  sboverie@... | 10/14/09
What ? You aren't gonna try my ideas first?  condelirios | 10/14/09
no waaaaay  Z1000 | 10/14/09
MS-DOS 4.0  condelirios | 10/14/09
a dream?!?  Z1000 | 10/14/09
Seriously...  condelirios | 10/14/09
Too much fun  sboverie@... | 10/14/09
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes makes me want to unsubscribe from zdnet  jaredo | 10/14/09
Nah...  condelirios | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  jaredo | 10/14/09
So how do I download my financial transactions?  urban-lurain | 10/14/09
Minor problem..  condelirios | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  dgollahon | 10/14/09
What about this  cdac51@... | 10/14/09
LMAO!  condelirios | 10/14/09
Live CD safe from viruses and phishing  Aboleyn | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  computab | 10/14/09
I'm a Linux User - This Aritcle is Idiotic  eliwap | 10/14/09
Remember WinLite? Windows 3.1 on readonly floppy?  Aboleyn | 10/14/09
PERFECT!  condelirios | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  Willtur | 10/14/09
Increased risk of browser exploits.  Lester Young | 10/14/09
but you will be 100% safe if...  Z1000 | 10/14/09
Don't steal my material...  condelirios | 10/14/09
Sorry i didnt realize there was someone out here who actually knows how to  Z1000 | 10/14/09
Exactly...  condelirios | 10/14/09
Time to ditch people who can't live without Windows  schmandel@... | 10/14/09
Linux fanatics should go first coz they're a useless part of society.  transposeIT | 10/14/09
An alternative  rrusson_z | 10/14/09
Too late...already ditched it for online stuff  eMJayy | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  eathiel | 10/14/09
You Got That RIGHT!!!  Z1000 | 10/14/09
Snap out of it you crazy nerd!  bobfastner | 10/14/09
Sure..  condelirios | 10/14/09
Mothers  richardw66 | 10/31/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  Michael Horowitz | 10/14/09
And the hits just keep on coming...  condelirios | 10/14/09
I love this part...  condelirios | 10/14/09
Just plain stupid  rompca | 10/14/09
Here's an idea  kyn_67@... | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  gregjr@... | 10/14/09
Some are missing the point entirely....  pdickey043@... | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  VistroDotNet | 10/14/09
Live CD  Yomomma1 | 10/14/09
USB Stick isn't Read-Only  VistroDotNet | 10/14/09
Oh Yeah, That'll Woik  daves1646 | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  MattMiller | 10/14/09
Banks are locked DOWN  VistroDotNet | 10/14/09
One problem  fondy | 10/14/09
Slow Computer?  kyn_67@... | 10/14/09
The Line  VistroDotNet | 10/14/09
Let's all go back to using pidgeons!  kyn_67@... | 10/14/09
What a coincidence!  VistroDotNet | 10/14/09
Love it!  kyn_67@... | 10/14/09
This is completely untrue  symbolset | 10/14/09
Bad advice won't keep idiots from clicking.  CraiGrrr | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  samalakas | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  dwtinfo@... | 10/14/09
Not Dedicated  VistroDotNet | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  reach_tim@... | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  Bilmekanikeren | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  The Reverend | 10/14/09
Very dumb idea indeed  Cozzamara | 10/14/09
Good Suggestion - But I'm sticking with Windows  jpr75_z | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  voltrarian | 10/14/09
That's An Excellent Recommendation, Adrian  melekali | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  MattMiller | 10/14/09
Maybe Not? - Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  Sarabian | 10/14/09
What if the banking site doesn't like Linux?  lostinspace | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  carolona | 10/14/09
On improving a live CD  kpfuser@... | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  liam.hogan | 10/14/09
Adrian Wins  stillgolfing | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  littlepitcher | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  djlittlemike@... | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  jimmanis | 10/14/09
Never knew such an idiotic blog would collect such talkbacks..  transposeIT | 10/14/09
Adrian updating the blog to add more stupidity...LOL  transposeIT | 10/14/09
Does Your Linux Live Mount HD's as Read Partitions  daves1646 | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  Haight&Ashbury | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  kavallerie07@... | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  bobprickett@... | 10/14/09
It's time for Adrian to get a new job, one he's actually qualified for  woofa | 10/14/09
He's making too much money here  tonymcs@... | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  sackbut | 10/14/09
Wow Adrian!  r.u.FED.up.2 | 10/14/09
Online Banking and Shopping Sites  monei011 | 10/14/09
Re-boot for one activity? That's so 1980's  brichardson@... | 10/14/09
Credibility of Adrian is shot  marks055@... | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  scorpio4892003@... | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  prasad.comp@... | 10/14/09
Time to ditch Adrian (not Windows) for online responsible journalism ...  jpbrogan@... | 10/14/09
Use Sandboxie or similar tool in Windows itself  psaravanabala@... | 10/14/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  Chiatzu | 10/15/09
Truth my a$$...For freetards maybe because they'll believe anything if it's  transposeIT | 10/15/09
Thou dost protest too much, methinks.  Zogg | 10/15/09
Oh, a freetard me thinks...nt  transposeIT | 10/15/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  sokomax | 10/15/09
Most Windows users already know how to secure their PCs.  transposeIT | 10/15/09
The staggering amount of Windows malware running rampant proves you wrong.  Zogg | 10/15/09
Constructive criticism !!!  Steve*1* | 10/15/09
Reminds me of an old song  DNSB | 10/15/09
...if they are security conscience in their surfing habits  ~doolittle~ | 10/16/09
Look - they can still steal my checking...  JCitizen | 10/15/09
a solution that doesnt address the pblm.. interesting.  abdulbijur | 10/15/09
GASP!!!...Writing good sense is blasphemy in this blog...  transposeIT | 10/15/09
No solution..  JCitizen | 10/15/09
Use a Bookmark as link  Steve*1* | 10/15/09
Now all you have to do...  Steve*1* | 10/15/09
Ditched Microsoft long ago, life's easier  root12 | 10/15/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  hwaynew | 10/15/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  jhand47201 | 10/15/09
There ya go!...  JCitizen | 11/01/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  frj111@... | 10/15/09
Time to ditch our brains for better living  WillCroPoint | 10/15/09
Anyone who is savvy enough to use a LiveCD is savvy enough to avoid Phishin  bran.murray | 10/15/09
is there no publishing editor @ ZDNET?  Z1000 | 10/15/09
if you can't stand the heat...  ARyKaXaN | 10/15/09
need i say more?  Z1000 | 10/15/09
That's OK!  Ole Man | 10/25/09
Beyond Impractical  jmgroft@... | 10/15/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  GreatWhite | 10/15/09
Is this plagiarism or just unoriginal thinking???  LANShark524 | 10/15/09
Not really either.  LazLong | 10/15/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  evil@... | 10/15/09
Linux feels like NT 3.51/4  bklooste | 10/15/09
OTP  DNSB | 10/15/09
Poo? That's only if you don't like changes  TheITStranger | 10/15/09
yeah that's simple...  Z1000 | 10/15/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  paul.sheahan@... | 10/15/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  rush@... | 10/15/09
YOU MISSED SOMETHING IN YOUR ARTICLE...  wirelessguyNY | 10/15/09
Creating new LiveCD with modifications  DNSB | 10/15/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  bonafide49 | 10/15/09
If you close old accounts;..  JCitizen | 11/01/09
I get yor arguements however  bernalillo | 10/15/09
Nope, not time to ditch it for online banking and shopping  Lerianis10 | 10/16/09
What a nonsense post!  stano360 | 10/16/09
Linux Live CD won't save you...  ckl_88 | 10/16/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  Mancando | 10/22/09
Download this free iso burner  Ole Man | 10/25/09
Wow, Adrian, wonder where all the ZDNet hatchetmen were  Ole Man | 10/25/09
As a lot of Linux User's will tell you this is nothing new!  John Biles | 10/25/09
Time to ditch windows.  b33tr00t | 10/27/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  mudfoot | 10/29/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  JeremyBoden | 11/06/09
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  jfreedle2@... | 11/19/09
It's been time to ditch Windows since - say - 2000.  RolexDude | 01/12/10
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  twilliams@... | 01/12/10
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  cquirke1 | 01/29/10
Why not across sessions?  AzuMao | 01/29/10
Exactly...  JCitizen | 01/30/10
LinuxLive, UBCD, Winpe... How about LiveXP?  submix8c@... | 02/01/10
My bad. I wasn't aware that those confirmed BIOS integrity somehow.  AzuMao | 02/02/10
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  submix8c@... | 02/01/10
RE: Time to ditch Windows for online banking and shopping  cyba | 02/01/10
A detailed guide with screenshots  Tom6 | 02/02/10

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