This post is not about what you might expect to hear – the standard sins mentioned in sermons and such. Things like time-wasting, gossip, violating copyright law, pornography, and rude behavior are serious sins, but not the subject of my concern today. No, my concern probably affects more of computer users than the above, believe it or not. And frankly, I’m not hearing many people address these sins. You’ve probably heard about them as problems, but I want to raise the stakes a bit and tell you why, if you are a believer, these things are morally wrong and in violation of God’s Word. My goal, of course, is that you will repent and stop doing these things.
1. Not having an antivirus program installed, with up-to-date definitions. Wait, you say, what business is it of mine whether you have an AV program or not? Good question, and I confess that I have strong libertarian tendencies (meaning that I hate seat belt and motorcycle helmet laws among other things). Unless you never connect to the internet, this is not a seat belt issue. That is, if you are connected and your computer gets a virus, it can easily be sent to everyone whose email address is on your computer. That may include me! Thus not having an up-to-date antivirus program is a sin because your negligence could destroy my property (see Exodus 21:33-36; the biblical ox is today’s Word document).
This is not hard to solve. You can spend some money and get highly regarded AV programs like Norton Antivirus or you can get the AVG Free Edition for no money. You have no excuse. Personally I think it should be a chargeable criminal offense for those who do not do this.
2. Not having a firewall installed. This is not so different from #1, but it is different and it is possible that some of you are in violation. The reason why a firewall is necessary is to keep evil people from taking over your computer. Again, why does this affect anyone other than you? Because those evil people aren’t going to use your computer to play games, they’re going to use it to send me a billion spam emails. Or worse. So if you don’t have a firewall installed, you may be guilty of violating the principle to love your neighbor (see Romans 13:9-10).
This also is easy to rectify. If you have Windows XP SP2, you probably already have a firewall. (Here are instructions to check if it is active.) If you don’t have SP2 or if you have some other operating system (Windows 98, etc.), you probably need to download a separate firewall. I use ZoneAlarm, which is free.
There’s at least one more major sin, which I will address at some length, tomorrow, Lord willing. I’m also hoping to go see some newly discovered Middle Bronze tombs in Jerusalem and take my boys to the Israel Museum and Jerusalem model. Yesterday I was at two cool places in Jerusalem for the first time in my life.
>Yesterday I was at two cool places in Jerusalem for the first time in my life.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
At least give us a hint. I’d like to think their isn’t a new Hooters and Starbucks in the Holy City.
Hardware routers are the best firewall solution. They are the most effective and don’t require you to have yet another program running in the background.
Btw, using a Linux-based OS is a good way to get completely out of the virus realm. Ubuntu is a good one, but there are many others, most completely free of charge.
I don’t like Antivirus software. I am convinced that Norton pays programmers to create viruses in order to create demand for its product. Think about it – why else would someone bother to spend their time creating a virus? Thus, buying antivirus software is like giving in to a Mafia protection racket.
Eric – I do not agree. I see why Norton might benefit from anti-viruses, but I see LOTS of motivation for guys to develop viruses, without needing Norton’s money. (You do believe in depravity, don’t you?) And, unless you are not connected to the internet, you are in grave danger of being infected and spreading the infection if you do not have some kind (even a free one) of virus protection.
Ryan – my guess is that most of the readers of this blog feel pretty successful if they get an email sent (thus the nature of this post). The last thing I am going to do is to recommend they go to Linux.
Al – you’re outta line. But here’s your hint: both were convents. I’m not going to say more until I’m ready, but check today’s post on BiblePlaces Blog for today’s action. (Assuming I have time to write something.)
That’s pretty good. 3 commenters, all of whom I disagree with. That’s not very typical in this part of cyberspace.
Todd,
I do have Antivirus software, so you can rest assured that your email address is safe with me. But I still resent that I have to have it.
Eric
>Al – you ‘re outta line.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sorry, just having a little fun. I started teasing my RCA and CRC friends when they opened a Hooters in Grand Rapids, Michigan (the North American Geneva)…just down the street from Calvin College.
I don’t imagine there would be any chance of mistaking a convent to such an establishment. But then, most convents don’t have good Buffalo chicken wings.
I have one little word that will solve all of your computer sin issues: Apple Isn’t that ironic? – it all began and now ends with an “apple”. :)
http://movies.apple.com/movies/us/apple/getamac_ads1/viruses_480x376.mov
Aubrey – I’m not sure I’d call it ironic – more like deceptive. You’re right – an apple was the cause of all of the sins in the world, not just computer sins. :-)
Oh, Todd. Some day you’ll convert. :)
So what’s wrong with this picture – a woman trying to convince me that I should trust her and take the apple.
LOL. Wow. That was a pretty good one…but maybe if you took it, your eyes would be opened and you’d be thrown out of the Garden of PC, but in this case, you’d be much happier. It is the happy-ending version. This time the woman is right. :)
I can’t believe how much you sound like Eve!
More seriously, here’s a perfect example of Apple’s heavy-handed, rip-me-off tactics. I go to watch the trailer that you linked to above. But it won’t play on my computer. The reason is because I previously purchased Quicktime, which I can use to edit movie clips. But when Apple came out with a new version of Quicktime, they wouldn’t let me install the new free player without uninstalling my paid version. So my options are: 1) pay another $30 to Apple or 2) keep my purchased version and not be able to view the latest Quicktime movies with the free player. If it was Microsoft that did that, everyone would be screaming (and rightly so). But since it is the do-no-wrong Apple, there’s not a word. No, I don’t believe that Apple is the incarnation of evil, but I do prefer to avoid their products.
So why don’t Macs have as many viruses? Good question. Here’s my answer. Macs are purchased by rich(er) people who prefer simple to complex. Power users, programmers, and hackers want all of the power and programs that a PC has and a Mac doesn’t. And you can build a PC for about 1/4 of the cost. So that’s what hackers have, especially those who don’t live in the US (and I bet a large majority don’t live in the US). And that’s why viruses come in PC flavors primarily. Given this, it would be a good move to Apple to avoid viruses. Or, alternatively, buy a PC and a $30 AV program and have a thousand bucks left over!
“A business Mac user gets $24,000 more work done per year, his or her computer is down 14% less, and it costs less to support than any other platform.”
(Gartner Group)
“PC support costs are 4 times higher than Mac.”
(Gartner Group)
And then there are always the typical PC jokes about PCs crashing, but the sad part is…they are too true. Just 6 weeks before its release, Bill Gates demonstrated Windows 98 at the Comdex computer show in Chicago. As soon as his assistant plugged in a scanner, Win98 crashed. Watch the video here: http://cnn.com/TECH/computing/9804/20/gates.comdex/gates.30.240.mov (Hopefully your PC can load this one.)
It all depends on what you use it for, but to me (an “unrich” college student), it more than pays for itself in the long-run, and is top-notch when it comes to practical usage. If I want to make a spreadsheet though, I’ll use my Microsoft Excel (which in on my Mac).
…all in good humor, Aubrey
This article is two years old, which I realize is OLD at the hyper-speed of technology, but the Mac and PC comparisons are applicable today, and it is a good comparison of why you would want a PC for some reasons and a Mac for others. I haven’t joined a Mac cult; I am just a happy customer :)
http://www.microsoftmonitor.com/archives/005318.html
Aubrey – my PC hasn’t crashed in a LONG time. It’s true that Windows 98 crashed a lot, but it may not be fair to compare today’s Apple with Windows from 1998. I’m glad you’re a happy customer; me too! What I think we would agree on is that it is great to have options.
Yes :)
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Ok, so i realize that this article is wickedly old, but i can’t help but not chime in.. :) I’m a Mac user AND a web developer, and i can’t imagine my life as a programmer without textmate (www.macromates.com) and my trusty Powerbook G4 laptop (purchased in 08/04).
The ability to get something done quickly, efficiently and “simply” is an integral reason why I will always run back to my mac.. :)
I also use a PC at work (i work for a web development consulting firm in the silicon valley) and I’ve got to tell ya, the “power user” in me always comes back to my 4 year old Laptop if i want to just get something done… :)
(my PC at work has the all-intrusive Norton on it too… *grumble grumble grumble*)
Just adding my two cents to a 2 yr old dead discussion…..
thanks for blogging Todd, I read all your posts!