Vulnerability Protection and Mac Systems

While highly touted as being less susceptible to attacks, Mac systems and their users still need to consider vulnerability protection needs. There are viruses and attackers that can get into your system, and the damage they cause can be severe. Knowing the vulnerabilities, accounting for them, and reassessing them regularly are key steps to keeping your network safe. You may be safer with a Mac, but you are still not immune to attack.

The Truth about Macs and Safety

While it is true that Windows systems suffer more viral attacks and may not be as secure as Macs, it's important to understand that this is because Windows is used more widely, not because Macs are actually built to be safer. Most viruses and attackers specifically seek out Windows weaknesses to exploit, so it is the sheer number of viruses targeting Windows instead of Macs that offers the protection, not the system itself. As Macs become more and more popular, vulnerability for Mac systems will become critical, as the weaknesses in these systems will be increasingly exploited.

Vulnerability Protection for Macs

Installing an anti-virus program for your Mac system is a good start. There are less than 200 known viruses that target Macs, but these programs are a minimal investment and are easy to install. The chance of a viral attack may be small, but if you're a target, it's worth the time. Installing and updating an anti-virus program on your network can significantly increase vulnerability protection on your Mac system. Using the program to scan incoming email and attachments is always a smart move.

Another important vulnerability protection for Mac systems is avoiding websites that aren't appropriate for work. While there are few viruses that can infect a Mac, many of them exist on these sites, waiting to infect your machine. Educating your employees about what sites are appropriate is critical. Viruses can lurk anywhere, but visiting sites that aren't necessary for business increases your risk of coming across spyware or viruses that may infect your machines.

Although you may have a Mac system, it is still possible to be running Intel-based Windows on it. Windows is Windows, no matter what computer you are running it on, and it is susceptible to Windows-specific viruses and attacks. You can't let your guard down on vulnerability protection just because you have a Mac system. If you are running Windows on your Mac, be sure to investigate anti-virus programs and security protocols that work on both systems. If you need a little assistance choosing your best defense, consider working with an IT consultant. They know the market and the products available and can secure your system in no time.

Even though vulnerability protection for Mac systems is less extensive than it would be for Windows, you still need to protect your business or personal information. The risks may be low, but they still exist, and you can't take chances with your customers and data. By installing comprehensive anti-virus programs and using safe computing skills, you can keep your system clean and your business running smoothly.

source: http://EzineArticles.com/6260265

Robotic Alligator Sentinels for Protection Against Rebels and Terrorists

By Lance Winslow Lance Winslow
Level: Diamond

Greetings to Everyone, I am a retired Franchisor, Business Consultant, Philanthropist and I run a Think Tank, as well as do a lot of Traveling, ...

Humans are inherently and perhaps even genetically fearful of Alligators. Could it be that our ancestors knew that these prehistoric looking creatures would eat them alive if they came near? If so it might have something to do with survival of the fittest, and those of our ancestors who were most fearful ran like heck when they saw on alligator, or a large reptile. Still, I believe we can use this fear to keep rebels and terrorists away from pipelines, railroad assets, livestock, airports, and refineries.

Since rebels and terrorists will not want to get anywhere close to an alligator, they will never get close enough to see if it is real. Therefore we can create realistic looking robotic alligators as sentinels. We can use the eye sockets as cameras and the tail as an antenna to send the information back. If the terrorists approach one of our robotic alligators, the alligator will start getting closer and scare them away. Since we can build the skin of a robotic alligator out of very robust materials, even if the terrorists try to shoot it with an RPG or an AK-47, they will still be terrorized by the alligator, which will continue to approach.

Not long ago, I was discussing this with a fellow think tanker, and he suggested that the alligator could actually grip the individual insurgents or terrorists infiltrator with its teeth and jaw, and a compartment could open up on the side, and the individual could be thrown inside, where they'd stay captured. Then the robotic system would alert authorities, and they could come out and retrieve the prisoner for water-boarding interrogation. At first, I laughed at this concept, but as I got to think about it, it made perfect sense.

You see, we have many oil refineries there in the bayou areas of Louisiana, and we have oil pipelines in Southern Nigeria, and we are on careful alert of potential terrorists in both locations, so why not put some of the MIT superstars to work creating Robotic Sentinel Alligators to protect us and our assets against terrorists and rebels?

In other words, why don't we let our robotic engineers, and techno-geeks create unmanned robots to terrorize the terrorists? They would have a lot of fun, and they could get funding for their project, and it would be a great experiment with all sorts of various prototypes to scare the ever living crap out of the rebels. Indeed I hope you will please consider this very smart idea to protect our infrastructure. Think on it.

Lance Winslow is the Founder of the Online Think Tank, a diverse group of achievers, experts, innovators, entrepreneurs, thinkers, futurists, academics, dreamers, leaders, and general all around brilliant minds. Lance Winslow hopes you've enjoyed today's discussion and topic. http://www.WorldThinkTank.net - Have an important subject to discuss, contact Lance Winslow.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

This article has been viewed 19 time(s).
Article Submitted On: May 09, 2011

source: http://EzineArticles.com/6251560