hlrguy
05-21-2006, 03:41 PM
I just got the monthly magazine from my bank, and it had a letter in it "I would like to point out another tip for online security. Purchase an additional computer to do your financial operations--no gaming, surfing the internet, or visitiing blog sites. Make sure it is loaded with the latest antivirus..." and went on like that.
I sent a letter to the magazine telling them that this is an impractical solution, since 1) Very expensive and 2) It can become infected just sitting there, online doing nothing elese and 3) even with the most up to date "Security Software", it is still no guarantee you aren't infected. I then linked them to a live CD links page, and explained how a live CD works, and for a download and CD-R or $2 for them to mail it to you, you can do your online banking securely.
Got me to thinking about doing it for the bank and learning something along the way. Build my own live CD version, with everything stripped out except the best hardware detection, FireFox browser, probably Thunderbird, and the largest available CUPS printer support. For online banking, anything else that is critical? OK some questions.
1) Used knoppix for years, and has never failed, but heard anecdotally Ubunto live is better as hardware detection. Your experiences?
2) Is there a live CD out there that is already better suited to this task?
3) I liked Puppy Linux because it has the ability to strip out what you don't want and helps you reburn a new image, but heck, that's too easy, I may not learn enough. LOL.
What I am looking to do is create as small as possible (quickest boot) live CD. I would an icon on the desktop that open's Firefox to their web page. Put a dialer on the desktop for those without HighSpeed that would bring up kppp with the bank's phone number entered (this CD is tailored for the local branch). Put an icon on desktop for Configure Printer (if not automatically detected) Basically, if you can put the CD in and reboot the computer, you can do your online banking.
Like I said, I want to do this to learn something, and heck, maybe, once I am done and show it to the local branch manager, I actually cause a stir when they put these CDs in all their branches. :)
hlrguy
I sent a letter to the magazine telling them that this is an impractical solution, since 1) Very expensive and 2) It can become infected just sitting there, online doing nothing elese and 3) even with the most up to date "Security Software", it is still no guarantee you aren't infected. I then linked them to a live CD links page, and explained how a live CD works, and for a download and CD-R or $2 for them to mail it to you, you can do your online banking securely.
Got me to thinking about doing it for the bank and learning something along the way. Build my own live CD version, with everything stripped out except the best hardware detection, FireFox browser, probably Thunderbird, and the largest available CUPS printer support. For online banking, anything else that is critical? OK some questions.
1) Used knoppix for years, and has never failed, but heard anecdotally Ubunto live is better as hardware detection. Your experiences?
2) Is there a live CD out there that is already better suited to this task?
3) I liked Puppy Linux because it has the ability to strip out what you don't want and helps you reburn a new image, but heck, that's too easy, I may not learn enough. LOL.
What I am looking to do is create as small as possible (quickest boot) live CD. I would an icon on the desktop that open's Firefox to their web page. Put a dialer on the desktop for those without HighSpeed that would bring up kppp with the bank's phone number entered (this CD is tailored for the local branch). Put an icon on desktop for Configure Printer (if not automatically detected) Basically, if you can put the CD in and reboot the computer, you can do your online banking.
Like I said, I want to do this to learn something, and heck, maybe, once I am done and show it to the local branch manager, I actually cause a stir when they put these CDs in all their branches. :)
hlrguy