[AuckLUG] internet banking

[Ghodmode]

On 8/31/07, Anthony Winter <aw30 at sayne.org> wrote:

http://www.nzba.org.nz/pdfs/Code of Banking Practice 2007.pdf


Where's the threat?

I've skimmed the section on Internet Banking and I don't see a threat.  They
won't take responsibility for our computers, but I don't see anything that
suggests we must install anything in particular.  They just agree to provide
information about securing our computers.

...

I have been working with NZOSS on a press release about how it disregards
> Open
> Source software (linux, for example, which doesn't need virus scanners,
> which
> are specifically *required* by the above CoBP).


I've been using Linux exclusively for several years now, and as far as I
know there haven't been any significant viruses or spyware that affect
Linux.  However, I'm not sure I agree that Linux doesn't need virus scanners
at all.  We just haven't been as popular a target as Microsoft.  As Linux
continues to gain market share, I think that we will also become a more
interesting target for would-be virus writers.  Coincidentally (or perhaps
not), I think that we will also gain the attention of large anti-virus
software vendors such as Norton and McAffee at the same time.  It is a
profitable business, after all.  When this happens, our best defense against
viruses and spyware will not be any special software, but awareness of the
possible danger, as it is now on any platform.

-- Vince