Identify Theft and What We Might do to Avoid it.

Last Up date on: 2006 December 3
Recent changes: 2004 June 3 version with new links at the bottom.

This is a lot more than just a Computer Problem; but I am only going to discuss it from a Computer/Virus perspective.

If you have read the preceding pages, you know that until we can get some serious changes of the laws: Anything in a computer connected to the internet can be seen by the unscrupulous.

My Solution

This is simple and effective, but not elegant. It is what I use.

I have, and recommend, two computers. One has no connection to the outside world. I use the other one for email and the internet. The computer that I use on the internet has never had important things such as:

I use a separate computer for any accounting, work, or anything that I would not post on my garage door. That computer must never be connected to the internet or any other outside service.

On my "personal" computer I use DOS, but that is only because I have, and like, the editor that I have there much better than anything I have seen provided my Microsoft. For privacy it doesn't matter what software you use, information and programs can never get in or out of the computer unless you specifically do it. Just never connect it to wires that can carry information in or out.

You may ask about "Firewalls", or encryption programs. For protection they are a joke. Firewalls are supposed to only let good things into your computer, but that is an impossible task. It is like having an inspector who is supposed to figure out the intent of someone he lets pass. Encryption can be good, but how do you know some program has not intercepted the data before it gets to the encryption program. Remember: You have no control over what a program that came in over the wires might do, including monitoring every keystroke you make.

You can: E-mail me or Click on the phone numbers for my BIO:

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