On Mon, 1 Sep 2003 13:02:00 +1200, in <alt.privacy.spyware>, "Bad Elvis"
<guitars@lisandromusic.co.nz> wrote:
>
> I am running XP Pro. I have the basic anti virus s/ware. I am
> unconfortable with how easy it is to have someone nose around your system
> gathering info ie RED Sheriff.
[snip]

Red Sheriff is the least of your problems. See:

<http://www.hevanet.com/peace/microsoft.htm>
or <http://www.futurepower.net/microsoft.htm>

> What can one do to prevent unwanted's
> cruising through your files.
[snip]

1. Do NOT use WinXP.

2. Do NOT use MS mail/news/web clients. Preferably, DO uninstall them
entirely from your system (yes, this *is* doable, even under WinXP, no
matter how many lies MS and their would-be sycophants tell to the contrary).

3. DO disable Java, JavaScript, etc., in whatever web browser you do use.

4. Depending on the web browser, DO either enable the browser's own
cookie-management/rejection features (such as in Mozilla/K-Meleon/etc.), or
use a decent external cookie manager like "Cookie Cop" or "Cookie Pal".

5. Do NOT allow "spyware" and other trojans to be downladed to or installed
on your system(s). There are a number of third-party tools available to aid
you in this pursuit; but the best advice is still "don't surf stupidly".

6. DO use a proper "hardware" firewall.

> I have fire wall etc on
>
[snip]

*What* "fire wall"? If you're referring to the lame pseudo-firewall
function built into WinXP, that is NOT adequate -- in fact, by some measure
it is worse than useless. Read and understand the following:

<http://samspade.org/d/persfire.html>
<http://samspade.org/d/firewalls.html>

Here is an example of a *proper* firewall:

<http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=141>

But it is by no means the only possible choice.

--

Jay T. Blocksom
--------------------------------
Appropriate Technology, Inc.
usenet01[at]appropriate-tech.net


"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-- Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759.

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