Chromebook question

[Sam]

OK you computer geeks on here. :) I'm not as intelligent when it comes to the cyber world.

I think I've heard somewhere, maybe from the consumer advocate Clark Howard, that the Chromebook is a good little laptop that is very secure with built in virus protection. He said it makes a good device to use as the online banking computer. I mean do nothing else on it except use it for banking. No youtube, no forum, no porn surfing, not even email. That should minimize intrusion from attackers.

What do you say?

[skijunkie55]

OK you computer geeks on here. :) I'm not as intelligent when it comes to the cyber world.

I think I've heard somewhere, maybe from the consumer advocate Clark Howard, that the Chromebook is a good little laptop that is very secure with built in virus protection. He said it makes a good device to use as the online banking computer. I mean do nothing else on it except use it for banking. No youtube, no forum, no porn surfing, not even email. That should minimize intrusion from attackers.

What do you say?
I think staying away from the underlined / bolded portion makes any computer secure :D

Just wondering about the Chrome OS in general? I don't know if I like all of my info stored on the cloud, but maybe you prefer that.

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-reasons-chromebook-solve-digital-security-issues/
http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/decrypt-os-security-showdown/

I think you've got a safe bet with Chrome OS a lot of options for the price.

[Sam]

I don't know if I like all of my info stored on the cloud, but maybe you prefer that.


I think you've got a safe bet with Chrome OS a lot of options for the price.

I don't plan to store anything. Its only use is for online banking.

Thanks.

[djegators]

We got a small Chrome Book for running background checks at the gun shows, and that is about all we do. Not much storage or features, but works fine with online apps, social media, web surfing, etc. Meets our needs, and I think we spent like $200. Oh, and we get like 12 hour battery life which is key for us.

[pinzgauer]

Just wondering about the Chrome OS in general? I don't know if I like all of my info stored on the cloud, but maybe you prefer that.


Except all your important stuff (Banking, etc) already is stored in the cloud. And the Chromebook does have some local storage, and can also use NAS type storage if I recall.

I got tired of windows stuff frustrating my wife, and she uses a Chromebook for just about everything now. Pays bills, facebook, etc. Very rarely uses her windows laptop. Did not like the macbook I got her at all.

The chromebook is already safer without Flash and windows macro & exe virus vulnerabilities.

We could argue about core OS security/vulnerability, but unless you are using firefox on TAILS booted from a real CD, it's going to be hard to get more secure.

I do agree about not trusting non-encrypted+zero knowledge platforms (OS or cloud) to store super sensitive stuff.

Realistically, you are far more likely have issues with your vendor or US Government leaking your data than the laptop platform.

[Outlander Systems]

This.

I can protect my own shit all day long, and twice on Sunday.

BUT

What happens on the Internet, stays on the Internet. You've also got shit weasels doing MITM-attacks installing bogus readers on ATMs, and filching your info off of the bank itself. Along with that, anywhere your cards may be used is another attack vector, as the staff can obtain access to your information as well.

If you want the dead-nuts most security for banking, conduct ZERO activity on-line, RE: banking, and do NOT use your debit card, even at your bank's own ATMs. Conduct transactions with a teller, and the only way someone is going to jack your shit is by an attack on the bank itself.

ETA: one thing you could also do is set up multiple bank accounts. Only do online purchases with your "online purchase" account, and there's less likelihood of a massive problem with your cash. Distributed banking. If it isn't a thing, it is now.

This is why encryption is vital; the maths don't lie. That said, you can't control what's going on down stream, all you can do is mitigate the potential for bad actors to screw you.



Except all your important stuff (Banking, etc) already is stored in the cloud. And the Chromebook does have some local storage, and can also use NAS type storage if I recall.

I got tired of windows stuff frustrating my wife, and she uses a Chromebook for just about everything now. Pays bills, facebook, etc. Very rarely uses her windows laptop. Did not like the macbook I got her at all.

The chromebook is already safer without Flash and windows macro & exe virus vulnerabilities.

We could argue about core OS security/vulnerability, but unless you are using firefox on TAILS booted from a real CD, it's going to be hard to get more secure.

I do agree about not trusting non-encrypted+zero knowledge platforms (OS or cloud) to store super sensitive stuff.

Realistically, you are far more likely have issues with your vendor or US Government leaking your data than the laptop platform.

[_Stormin_]

I think that buying a separate laptop for online banking is a foolish waste of money.

I've spent years working for two of the biggest banks in the nation, and have a background in programming (though it's not what I do now). Your information is more at risk on the bank side than on any individual computer, if you're staying away from the shady corners of the net. If you're hit you can be sure that your money will be recovered and your inconvenience will be in moving some bills and direct deposits to a new account number. It's happened to clients twice in my time in the business, both times every penny was recovered. It was an aggravation for the client, but a fleeting one. This is spread across a great number of clients and both were "high value targets." The common man is overly concerned with this kind of attack. Your credit/debit cards are the real risk, and even then, zero liability.

Keep your browser up to date, disable flash without a prompt, keep your OS up to date, and stay away from shady sh!t online. If you want to buy an additional computer, buy it for that. Get the cheapest thing you can find with the biggest hard drive they'll put in it and have at it... ;-)

[Sam]

If you want the dead-nuts most security for banking, conduct ZERO activity on-line, RE: banking, and do NOT use your debit card, even at your bank's own ATMs. Conduct transactions with a teller, and the only way someone is going to jack your shit is by an attack on the bank itself.
Only do online purchases with your "online purchase" account, and there's less likelihood of a massive problem with your cash.

.

I don't purchase anything using my bank accounts. I use a credit card and then pay it off later.

As for conduct transaction with a live teller in a branch, I do that most of the time. One bank REQUIRES the ATM card to be swiped during face to face transaction, they don't even use a paper deposit slip.

Just to clarify, I use online banking to check my accounts, pay utility bills and monitor stuff.

Interesting that it only took seven replies for me to become foolish :)

[Outlander Systems]

Roger that.

Sounds like you've got your $#!+ squared away, regarding usage.

For further clarification, is the device in question SOLELY for monitoring on-line banking? Like, no productivity (excel, etc.)?


I don't purchase anything using my bank accounts. I use a credit card and then pay it off later.

As for conduct transaction with a live teller in a branch, I do that most of the time. One bank REQUIRES the ATM card to be swiped during face to face transaction, they don't even use a paper deposit slip.

Just to clarify, I use online banking to check my accounts, pay utility bills and monitor stuff.

Interesting that it only took seven replies for me to become foolish :)

[Sam]

For further clarification, is the device in question SOLELY for monitoring on-line banking? Like, no productivity (excel, etc.)?

That is correct sir, plus paying electronic bills through the bank account, moving money within the same bank or banks (to pay bills or go to saving). I do understand that there is no totally safe way, the bank itself can be hacked and my ATM card itself can be randomly hacked by some Russian dude sitting in his basement. I am just trying to minimize the risk on MY SIDE of usage.

[Outlander Systems]

Roger that. PM inbound...


That is correct sir, plus paying electronic bills through the bank account, moving money within the same bank or banks (to pay bills or go to saving). I do understand that there is no totally safe way, the bank itself can be hacked and my ATM card itself can be randomly hacked by some Russian dude sitting in his basement. I am just trying to minimize the risk on MY SIDE of usage.

[.46caliber]

Sam,

It's not a bad idea at all. Not sure it's necessary but if it adds peace of mind for you, go for it. Chrome OS is sandboxed meaning that the OS cannot be affected by a site with a malicious JavaScript for example. (If i understand the concept correctly) But if you're only using it to connect to your bank's online banking portal, it's not of much benefit unless your bank's site is compromised.

[Sam]

Thanks all for the suggestions and advice, especially the PM.

[_Stormin_]

Interesting that it only took seven replies for me to become foolish :)

Not quite. The act itself would be foolish. Sensible people happen to commit foolish acts all of the time. If the expense is of no consequence, then you're not putting yourself in any worse a position by doing so. I simply feel that you're paying more for peace of mind than any actual protection.