Easiest solution I've been able to figure out with computers and the internet problems is get the kid his or her own computer to mess up and tell them to leave yours the heck alone. Kids don't normally put their personal information in jeopardy on their own computer because they don't need to. We've put together several computers now and it's not that tough and doesn't cost that much for a very bad ass computer. My oldest son used his first computer we put together for him for about six years before he built a better one on his own. My first computer is now over ten years old and I'm using it to write this message. Computers are like AMC cars, if you take care of them, they'll take care of you. he, he, notice how I snuck in that AMC content!! Armand ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sandwich Maker" <adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:47 PM Subject: Re: [Amc-list] Completely OT: wireless networks > " From: "Ross Guistino" <rossg@xxxxxxxxx> > " > " Does your son have Limewire or some other file sharing software installed? > " Get rid of it ASAP; it is designed to make certain folders shared so that > " anybody can trade files with your son's laptop. Kids install Limewire to > " snag music files from each other. Legal? Not really. Did they pay for > " any of those 100s of songs on their laptop and mp3 player? Maybe a small > " percentage but mainly they were stolen. > > that won't stop the kid from reinstalling it the second he 'needs' it > again. probably the warning that he's sharing far more than the > designated folder won't stop him either. [i get an e-security mailing > list; there was a recent item of confidential data - including account > numbers for some prominent folks - leaked through limewire when a > corporate moron installed it on his work desktop, and the leak was > discovered by someone -outside- the company. if the leak detector had > decided to rifle those accounts instead... afaik all file sharing s/w > has this exposure] > > the riaa has beek going after - and getting convictions of - music > filesharers. your kids won't think it can happen to them, until the > fbi comes knocking. > > it's possible in xp pro to close most or all of the holes, but it > takes me 2-3h and i've practiced it a few times. [see cisecurity.org > if you want details] and there is still some crappy s/w out there > that won't run on a secure machine. games seem to be out in front... > > the easiest thing you can do is take admin privs away from your kids' > accounts, but that means you have to create a wizard account with a > password/phrase they can't guess or crack, but which you can remember > without notes. that will last until they figure out how to reinstall > the machine... > > sorry for the rant, but i see a lot of computer usage today as the > internet equivalent of sleeping naked in the middle of the street. > there is no such thing as security through obscurity. > ________________________________________________________________________ > Andrew Hay the genius nature > internet rambler is to see what all have seen > adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and think what none thought > _______________________________________________ > Amc-list mailing list > Amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx > http://splatter.wps.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/amc-list > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.0/1558 - Release Date: 7/17/08 9:56 AM > > _______________________________________________ Amc-list mailing list Amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx http://splatter.wps.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/amc-list