Important security issue overlooked by new users?

[Guest]

Hey everyone, I'm a new user, just recently learning how to just turn a machine on. After 'catching' something from the net, I started researching a lot, to find some help to get rid of what I have. Of all the advice I have read in the last couple of weeks, only one link that I just recently went to, talked about 'passwording' your computer. I know I'm showing my ignorance, but if you don't know how important it is, you just dont' know what you're opening yourself up to, like me.

A question I do have though, is about accounts. I have seen some talk about why an admin. acct. should'nt be on the net or used as an every day acct. Can someone provide some insight on the why's & why nots?

 

[JW]

Because whatever attacks/crippleware get past the defenses (firewall,
anti-virus and anti-spyware) would have the same permissions as the
Administrator (almost unlimited).

Hey everyone, I'm a new user, just recently learning how to just turn a
machine on. After 'catching' something from the net, I started researching a
lot, to find some help to get rid of what I have. Of all the advice I have
read in the last couple of weeks, only one link that I just recently went
to, talked about 'passwording' your computer. I know I'm showing my
ignorance, but if you don't know how important it is, you just dont' know
what you're opening yourself up to, like me.

A question I do have though, is about accounts. I have seen some talk about
why an admin. acct. should'nt be on the net or used as an every day acct.
Can someone provide some insight on the why's & why nots?

 

[galcoolest]

I was new to XP about a month ago, and despite my
firewall, anti-virus, spyware, etc. etc. I got hacked very
badly... it was because I was on a new DSL LAN account
with a static IP.

No matter whether I was admin or not, no matter that I
configured the services and firewall (ZAP) with experts'
help, I still got invaded over and over--- well, targeted
all the time anyway, after I locked down specific ports
and shut off stuff like UPlPlay.

My point is that if you just want to avoid hours of
headache (and potential reformatting) GET A ROUTER!!! It's
totally worth the 40 some odd dollars!
I have not had even one firewall hit since I got it (but i
still have to deal with outgoing nonsense, which
sneakiness can come in from websites, HTML email, etc.)
It's the best investment you can make these days if you
are on broadband (especially)...