Want to scare yourself without spending $15 on a movie ticket and popcorn? Try out the Secunia Software Inspector. I did this on a test machine, and found that of 10 software applications, only two were up to date with no outstanding security upgrades available from the vendor.
Some of my “insecure” applications are done purposefully. Since I don’t use Outlook Express on that machine, I don’t download and install any patches for that software, so it appears on the list. But QuickTime should be downloading updates, as should the Macromedia nee Adobe Flash player. Take a look and scare yourself.
Now that you’re scared, let me tell you about an upgrade to an excellent backup tool: Iomega’s REV drive AutoLoader now uses their 70GB removable disk, an upgrade from their 35GB version. Want to pack 560GBs into a tiny desktop backup system? Done, using eight 70GB removable REV disks. Or you can go for “only” 280GBs in their earlier version that uses the 35GB REV disks.
I contend backups should be automatic, reliable, and partially offsite. The REV autoloader meets all three requirements. You can put three or four REV disks in your shirt pocket with room for a few pens.
If you prefer wireless storage, lots of wireless storage, Iomega has a rebate offer on their 1TB Wireless Network Attached Storage units. Is it NAS if connected wirelessly, since it’s not physically attached? The first company I saw do this was Tritton Technologies several years ago with a 120GB version. I don’t hear much from them any more, but they have upgraded their wireless (and wired) storage units.
