Yes, Dr JBHL is/was trying to be helpful.   And i appreciate this.. thank you Doc.   Dr. Guy may also be right that 'spy' (or suvrillance) groupings may be getting into the code writing of OS's.  The OS writers, themsleves ALSO work for/ belong to corporations ('cept linux?)  so, aren't they doing 'commerical' surveliance?  Consider this:  I feel strongly that any entity, company, software seller, etc., that uses info gained from 'watching' what I do, buy, check price of etc., recording same, and marketing that info to others IS doing survaliance  ... just the corporate variety rather then the governmental variety  ... so Dr Guy does have a valid concerrn -  and I am glad he raised it.  Its the same dance, with a different tune.  And the two groups do/will work together given the extent to which (some) corperations have captured control of significant portions of the "government."

All that notwithstanding, I would love to hear (errr read) what my more knowledgable forum (most of you. LOL!) posters have to say about the tools Dr JBHL mentioned when he started this thread.  Like, should I be downloading the info for the links, and implementing the  suggestions to make my PC a little safer?   And i so, which ones?  What are the experieces people have had, who have actually tried to implement what Dr. JBHL Suggests?  Please give us a heads up before we wade in....

Here's where the NSA link took me (toolkit for Windows 7): Microsoft's Technet. A veritable den of ex KGB (now FSB) agents, GRU hangers on and CIA, DIA, NSA fellow travellers. Spy vs. Spy. Here's a screen shot:

And we do appreciate it.  Thanks.

Thanks doc for cutting through it all.... "SP1"  

Now a question for PC uses who have recently migrated' to Win 7.  As far a s security goes, do you feel safer than you did running XP?

Microsoft Windows 7

As part of a change in our development strategy for security guidance, NSA does not intend to publish a separate guide for Windows 7 beyond what was produced as a cooperative effort between the vendor and the security community. The Special Security – Limited Functionality (SSLF) settings in Microsoft’s Windows 7 Security Guide track closely with the security level historically represented in the NSA guidelines. It is our belief that this guide establishes the latest best practices for securing the product and recommend that traditional customers of our security recommendations use the Microsoft Security Compliance Management Toolkit when securing Windows 7.

Est ce que cela change quelque chose?

Reste t'on dans le même circuit?

Avons nous références d'autres utilisateurs sur le comportement?

___

What is what it changes something?

Stay you we in the same circuit?

Let us have we references of the other users on the behavior?

I moved from VISTA to 7 (and do feel safer on that computer).  But not really.  I am still in the process of cleaning a computer that got a Java Trojan.  Even MS gave up on it and told me to reload.

As we see from another of the Doc's articles, malware knows no bounds when it comes to OS - and AV SW cannot protect you from your own actions.

Elana, this explains what they are and a bit about them:

http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/Threat/Encyclopedia/Entry.aspx?Name=Trojan%3AJava%2FKoladeiter.A

True.

Elana, this reference from 2009 suggests that it won't protect:

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/archive/index.php/t-260989.html

Bitbox is a new Firefox virtualized browser which should give protection, but the installation, etc. is in German so there are plenty of ways to go wrong in installation. I don't recommend finding it and doing it unless your knowledge of German is very good. In coming versions of Firefox it may become available. One way to protect is by doing all browsing through a 'virtual machine'. Carguy1 does this all the time. I'm not sure how that applies to his email/instant messaging (other routes of infection).