basic security practices 80/20 guideline

[skeptic]

In conjunction with Microsoft, Symantec outlines three basic security practices in the following link:

[http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/security/Content/security.articles/fundamentals.of.info.security.html]

While the prescription of not opening email attachments from unknown sources, and not visiting or clicking on links to questionable sites have their usefulness. It's evident that not all of us will follow such guidelines.. especially in a home environment where strict administrative security protocols are not in place. It's more important to be aware that if you do..to know what you're getting into and to consider certain practices to minimize the effects of being compromised, which are:

1. keeping up to date especially with OS service packs, patches and updates.

2. turning off or weeding out unecessary services

3. utilizing "strong" "non-dictionary" based passwords.

In addition to employing an effective av, at, firewall and so forth and so on, the above guidelines should be considered.