Another Day With My PC

It’s Christmas Eve. The last thing that I should be doing is discussing PC problems with you guys. However, I can’t contain my excitement in sharing with you the gifts that I think I would be receiving.

On top of my list is a Mac notebook. Although many consider a Mac as a novelty rather than as a real functioning computer, I’m still excited with the thought of owning one. I’ve never had a Mac desktop or notebook before. My first PC was a 386SX clone. My mom almost bought me a Mac, but unfortunately (or fortunately), it was the Intel-based unit that was on sale.

While the PC and the Mac are starting to blend or morph into something that could seamlessly work together, differences still abound. This makes file sharing very difficult. And since 95% of the computers in the office are PC-based, the chances of successfully or productively using a Mac at the office are as slim as the latter’s new notebook.

Another present that I think I would be getting is a copy of Vista Ultimate. What I have in my new notebook is just a registered copy of Vista Home Basic. While the copy has already satisfied my curiosity as to how the new Microsoft OS looks and feels, it hasn’t allayed my fears with regard to dependability. If just for my peace of mind, I want the full (licensed, of course) copy Vista.

The license of my other system and security suites are already expiring, so I guess a good present for myself would be a new set of PC defenders. I’m thinking of trying a new antivirus for a change. Norton has already been my companion for almost a decade. While many regard it as the most reliable antivirus in the market, many are complaining that it’s making their system slow. I might try McAfee’s. Hmm maybe I’ll even try the freeware available in www.cnet.com or www.pcworld.com.

All of these might just be wishful thinking, though. I haven’t seen any box under our tree yet. Who knows, I might just be receiving gift checks or coffee mugs (again). I guess I’ll just be getting software license renewals (from me!!). While I may be contemplating on changing my antivirus, I will definitely be retaining my registry cleaner. RegCure has effectively kept my PC free from unwanted instructions brought about by malware attack or incomplete uninstall procedures.

My friends at the office usually wonder as to why their unit runs slower than mine considering that we’re using the same type of laptop. Even the applications that we have are also the same, except for the registry cleaner. The antivirus came in free when our boss gave the laptops to us. However, that was the only sentinel that came with the unit. My officemates were already contented in having a lone antivirus to protect their unit. I wasn’t. Judging by the way our units are running, I could definitely conclude that an antivirus is not enough in keeping and protecting a computer from things that could slow it down.

It seems that anything that could access the Internet or has a computer processor could be used to hack or crack passwords.

A research study conducted by Nick Breese revealed that a seemingly harmless electronic gadget such as the PlayStation 3 could be used to crack passwords. The project has also shown that breaking into sites or accounts padlocked by passwords could be done faster in Sony’s gaming console.

Some might question the use of the study. There are people in the IT industry which deplores the release of such reports as it might encourage others to try the pernicious act or trade. Their fears may seem founded, especially since many curious minds are just in their early 20s. It should be noted that a good number of those who own gaming consoles belong to the said age bracket.

While security freaks like me abhor the publication of such studies, many also treat it as a challenge to put more cement on their PCs’ defenses. There’s really no excuse anymore to dispense with critical security suites and system tools, such as McAfee’s Virus Scan and RegCure. Your PC won’t last long, or at least you’re sanity won’t, when dozens of unwanted malware starts taking control of your system.

If you think that virus authors are quickly discouraged by knock out blows from antivirus programs, think again.

IBM’s Internet Security Systems has recently revealed that an old foe of anti-malware applications is slowly making its way back to center stage again. The worm, which debuted in January 2003, is known as Spammer. It damaged countless systems during that year, making it one of the most dreaded and unwanted programs in recent history.

Resurrected?

Many thought that the worm had already been completely wiped out of every PC unit after security suites focused on its eradication during the months and years after its discovery. In fact, many have already forgotten about it during the past two years. However, IBM’s revelation had brought back its ghost, along with the reluctant prediction that the worm may come back with a vengeance.

What’s the Worry?

Many are downplaying the possible dangers that Spammer could bring to present computer systems. For one thing, security suites have already dealt with it successfully in the past. Hence, they shouldn’t encounter any difficulty in doing a repeat of their bout with the worm a few years ago.

The problem though, is that security software are having a tough time keeping at pace with the release of new viruses or the modified versions of old unwanted programs. It’s not as if Symantec or McAfee will be able to automatically detect the release of every worm or virus that is born in cyberspace. That’s almost next to impossible. Most of the time, they only come to know about the unwanted program after it has already infected a number of systems. There are thousands of hackers and malware authors around the globe. The number is simply and obviously overwhelming.

Keeping the Program Manageable

It would be very easy for antivirus applications to just retain old virus definitions in order to stem future attacks from old worms. However, this is quite impractical. Without retiring old virus codes, the size of anti spyware or antivirus programs could easily swell to exponential proportions. I’m sure you wouldn’t want your antivirus to be as large as Windows Vista, would you?

This practice of trimming down antivirus programs to manageable levels by retiring old definitions creates gaps on the security of a PC unit. Hence, all that a defeated virus author has to do in order to make a comeback is to put his creation in hibernation for a few years, then resurrect it after a new version of the antivirus that eliminated the worm comes out. This is a very easy task for the malware maker, especially since he need not even have to make any modification anymore.

New Approach

Security suites and system utilities, such as registry cleaners, should come up with a new plan on how to prevent the resurrection of old worms and viruses without having to resurrect its old warriors. There must be some way by which an antivirus or anti malware software could efficiently protect a unit from all known forms of unwanted software without being bloated by definitions and other algorithms.

Much has already been said on how OS X edges out XP and Vista in the OS market in terms of design and security. Windows fans dismiss such claims as mud slings from Apple’s henchmen who make their product look good by deforming Bill Gates’ banner products.

So which OS has the upper hand, at least as far as having the most durable and shiniest armor is concerned?

The CNET Duel

CNET has recently sponsored a duel between these two top operating systems. OS X easily put the lights out off Vista in the security category. This is hardly surprising since Vista’s predecessors were known to be vulnerable to all sorts of attacks. While Microsoft has claimed that Vista is the most secure OS in the world, their checkered track record hasn’t convinced even their software’s most loyal fans that their system will be fully protected against malware threats.

Pride-Swallowing Revelation

Take for example Vista’s User Account Controls (UAC) feature. This innovation was supposed to be one of the cornerstones of Vista’s impregnable wall. Its function is mainly to ferret out attacks from malicious programs and prevent them from making any changes to your system. I originally lauded Microsoft for this. I was even tempted to say that Vista’s security features could take Symantec and McAfee out of business.

Complacent folks such as yours truly were taken for a rude awakening by Joanna Rutkowska, a known Windows decapitator, when she revealed the useless nature of Vista’s UAC. She exposed the vulnerabilities of this supposedly impenetrable filter. Microsoft was stunned at the revelation. It didn’t heavily dispute the claims made by Rutkowska. What it only did was to sheepishly point out that the UAC is not exactly a part, or at least an important component, of Vista’s security repertoire.

Having More Enemies

One of the reasons why Vista seems more vulnerable to external threats than OS X is the fact that the former has more enemies than the latter. I’m not sure why many want to see Microsoft go down. Could it be because of its monopoly over the OS industry? I don’t know. Personally, I don’t have any problem with Microsoft ruling over the world. Maybe the reason why people prefer Windows over Linux or OS X is because the former is more easy or convenient to use. You could argue that OS X might have been the world’s most widely used program had it not been for Microsoft’s bully tactics. That’s definitely a good point to consider. But the fact remains that many people are simply comfortable using Windows than any other OS available in the market.

If OS X is more secured than Vista simply because the former is subjected to fewer attacks than the latter, then Apple’s triumph is a hollow one. The circumstances or conditions should be the same for both programs. Maybe OS X critics are indeed right in saying that the Apple software’s security record seems unblemished since nobody has ardently tried to climb its walls.

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