When I get back from the upcoming trip to the UK for Open 2018, I'm thinking about doing a series of blog pieces on 'advice for windows users'. The first piece of advice would always be 'back up all your user files and install #GNU + #Linux. But assuming they're still not ready to do that, it would be interesting review what their options are for browsers, for example. Suggestions welcome.
@donkey I found a blog post a while back that actually recommended ditching the anti-virus in favour of plugging all the holes they normally enter through (HTML mail, non-updated OS and apps etc).
@strypey I think, esp. on Windows - but even generally, both of those approaches are still good practice. I wouldn’t recommend normal users ever run Windows without AV.
@donkey I was the same for years, but now I'm wondering how many security holes might introduced by adding a huge piece of proprietary, third-party software to a system, and giving it deep admin rights. Could the risks actually be greater than those created by viruses, which are not actually that common in my experience
@strypey oh - that is a very good point. Actually increasing the attack surface by putting another tool in...
Closes the risk of a ‘bad-actor’ too (like the aforementioned “Free Antivirus” to not google for).
@donkey exactly. A lot of people still use McAfee. Have you seen that batshit crazy video he made after he left the company?
@strypey not running as Admin - especially browsers. Malwarebytes is your friend.
Oh - don’t google for “free antivirus”.