As you pointed out password security is only as good as the "idiot" that makes it up.
I love how everyone thinks the data on the PC is so top secret that someone would actually take the time to hack into it. Sorry, but I have no desire to see your donkey porn collection.
Who said you had to have valuable information to be a target, ANYONE is a target to the right audience. A home system connected to broadband is a very convienient target, most home users have no idea how to protect themselves or how to strike back. And while you may not have sensitive info to steal, it's a PITA to restore your system when you weren't planning any downtime.
BTW Remote Desktop is not turned on by default,
I beg to differ, remote assistance IS turned on by default on a fresh XP install, and while that only allows the home user to "request assistance" how hard is it to code an app that will use the os's hoooks and send itself a request?
and the other two need administrator privledges to access We already talked about passwords didn't we?? Further study, search for L0phtCrack on google. l0phtcrack [Google]
Just to name a couple of the 'lacking remote admin features': Remote Desktop, Remote Registry, Remote Computer Management,
I dual boot w2k and mandrake 9.1 and being something of a windows guru and a *NIX n00b let me point out that those "features" you're sporting are also turned on by default leaving you wide open to your "friends" messing with your system from the safety and convienence of their home.
I work in an IT department with users who for the most part just don't understand. A VP sent a link to all our staff (roughly 500 users) to install hotbar...about 200 did and we spent the next month cleaning it up alongside our regular duties. So the best way to put it is this. When you rent a car, do you mod the engine? Do you tint the windows, install a new stereo, lower it, or paint it just because it makes you "feel more comfortable"???
Of course not! I'm not against people changing desktops/homepages things like that, but when they start messing with new fonts, color schemes, adware and spyware "Because it's sooo cute!" That's when I have a problem, it affects MY job!/rant off
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Yeah, if you give them your password...
As you pointed out password security is only as good as the "idiot" that makes it up.
I love how everyone thinks the data on the PC is so top secret that someone would actually take the time to hack into it. Sorry, but I have no desire to see your donkey porn collection.
Who said you had to have valuable information to be a target, ANYONE is a target to the right audience. A home system connected to broadband is a very convienient target, most home users have no idea how to protect themselves or how to strike back. And while you may not have sensitive info to steal, it's a PITA to restore your system when you weren't planning any downtime.
BTW Remote Desktop is not turned on by default,
I beg to differ, remote assistance IS turned on by default on a fresh XP install, and while that only allows the home user to "request assistance" how hard is it to code an app that will use the os's hoooks and send itself a request?
and the other two need administrator privledges to access
We already talked about passwords didn't we?? Further study, search for L0phtCrack on google. l0phtcrack [Google]
I dual boot w2k and mandrake 9.1 and being something of a windows guru and a *NIX n00b let me point out that those "features" you're sporting are also turned on by default leaving you wide open to your "friends" messing with your system from the safety and convienence of their home.
Well Said!!!!
/rant off
I work in an IT department with users who for the most part just don't understand. A VP sent a link to all our staff (roughly 500 users) to install hotbar...about 200 did and we spent the next month cleaning it up alongside our regular duties. So the best way to put it is this. When you rent a car, do you mod the engine? Do you tint the windows, install a new stereo, lower it, or paint it just because it makes you "feel more comfortable"???
Of course not! I'm not against people changing desktops/homepages things like that, but when they start messing with new fonts, color schemes, adware and spyware "Because it's sooo cute!" That's when I have a problem, it affects MY job!