InfoWorld - Security Adviser: Making your personal computer safe

By Roger A. Grimes
JULY 11, 2008

I frequently give talks on the state of today's malware. In a nutshell, it is highly sophisticated, criminal-motivated, and out to steal your money. Despite the nearly universal use of anti-malware programs, tens of millions (if not hundreds of millions) of home PCs are compromised by one of these crimeware programs. Most home users are oblivious to their home PC's exploited state. Some consultants think it is simply an end-user training problem; that only inexperienced home computer users are at greatest risk. But I beg to differ. The average IT worker, even the average IT computer security worker, really has no idea whether their home PC is compromised or not. It's a problem for "experts" as well.

If you're not sure whether or not your home PC is compromised, should you be checking your bank balance online, buying movie tickets, or conducting other e-commerce transactions? Not really. So, what's a home user supposed to do?

Click the URL above to read the full article