Ping Edwin: Virus damage 626

Irrelevant. My recommendations are just as effective against the smaller "trickles".

My recommendations are just that...insurance. While they won't protect in every case they cover the vast majority of them.

Well...that's what it is.

Sure I did. I said that anti-malware software is good for people who download software from the Internet from unknown sources. You never know when you're going to download something bad. From a business perspective one shouldn't be downloading software from unknown sources and installing it on their system. Thus one has to wonder if anti-malware software is really necessary. Take a look at the list as an example. All but one (Melissa) could have been prevented by following one of the three no cost measures I listed below. As for Melissa...well, not sure what could have been done to prevent it. Not much you can do about user behavior other than education (which tends not to be that effective).

It can be done when the computer is initially setup. And if the system is setup via imaging then there's really no additional work. And any cost with configuring and managing it is more than offset by not having to pay and manage anti-malware software and especially so by the protection it offers to prevent infections.

I've already said it but I'll say it again:

1. Use the built in firewall. 2. Run as a non-privileged account. 3. Keep up to date on patches.

No Snit...I repeatedly answer them...just as I have above. However at some point I get tired of repeating myself so I stop answering them.

You gave a long and detailed response. Unfortunately what you responded with was stuff that I put to bed a while ago. I suggest that you get over this need of constantly dredging up stuff from the past in an attempt to continue discussing it. I don't know who's worse at this...you or Steve. Now if you'd like to discuss the list then let's do that. If not take some friendly advice and let it go.

Josh