The fact that you aren’t running a network means you aren’t the typical user of a Windows box. From what I recall - the average time to infection for an unmodified XP box (from the original XP release) directly connected to the internet (as opposed to being behind a firewall of some sort) is under 7 minutes.
The system can just be sitting there - and it will get hacked.
If you aren’t running with a password & you are able to install software on your Windows box - this means you are running as Administrator. That is the same as running as “root” in a linux environment. You are then susceptible to attack via malicious email and browsing hacks that can take over your machine. Because you are running as an Administrator - this software can seize your machine. This same thing is true on a Linux machine.
To prevent this scenario - Linux enforces the idea of user accounts and permissions. It is further recommended that a user not run as root. So - even if you did run into malicious stuff, the hacker wouldn’t gain complete control over the machine, because they aren’t root. That means if you want to do something requiring “root” access, you get to put in a password. If you want to access something your normal user level doesn’t provide - you run into a password. It’s called security.
It is QUITE possible to set up a Linux box without requiring passwords... you might have to hit the carriage return, but it can be done. It just isn’t recommended!
In the Windows world to prevent those hackers from taking over your machine you are going to have to run anti virus software that scans your every move on the internet and your email operations. This takes away horse power from your normal applications, and can cause even FAST systems to feel sluggish. Depending on the virus software in question, it might have multiple pop-up messages saying your about to do this or that - do I have permission to do it? How is this much different from having to type in a password to do something requiring “special” privileges?
Linux because of it’s password requirement and other design decisions inherited from the Unix world doesn’t require antivirus software.
So I guess my contention is - if you are running antivirus software, I don’t think you have really gotten away from it - you just pay for it in other arenas in other ways.
I used to have Vista, and was often asking for permissions, so i found a way to pretty much negate it (TakeOwnership, and Unlocker). And rarely ran Virus software, and did never needed it, Thank God.
Users should know what is loading with the PC and what is using CPU cycles. A helpful free utility for Windows is “What’s my computer doing?” It shows all programs (with details), that are accessing your hard disk or using the CPU. You also have the option to close these programs or even uninstall them. http://www.itsth.com/en/produkte/Whats-my-computer-doing.php?fromwmcd And WinPatrol (freeware) is also very useful, as it alerts you to surreptitious changes.
In time, things like this may be useful for Linux.
There should be a program that tells more about Internet traffic. I do use the mvps host file which blocks a lot of unwanted sites. http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm