Quote:I would love to be able to afford to have you build a computer for me set up with a VPN and everything. My husband is pretty paranoid about the government, or anyone, knowing our surf habits and such. We don't go to sites that would get us on a watch list or anything but still.... we don't like the idea that everything we do can be monitored.

 

I would be more-than-happy to build and set up a computer for you or anyone else, but keep in mind it's not the Operating System, applications or the hardware that will keep you safe/secure from threats.  Sure in my opinion some OS's are more secure than others, but that's not the primary means of a breach or compromise of security and/or privacy.  The #1 technique that hackers use is social engineering in one form or another.  Take for example the situation that is the subject of this thread.  The attacker was trying to use "fear" and "authority" to get my wife to give him/her sensitive information.  Often attacks happen when people open email attachments from sources not known to them, or sources that "look like" something/someone familiar to them.  Social media is a prime target and infested with attempts.

 

The bottom line is that you have to use common sense whether it's on a PC using email, on your cell phone or "smart-device" or when using certain social media applications.

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