Business

Small Businesses Should Bank Securely – And That Means Linux: WashPo

Bill Gates isn’t going to like this one bit. Small business owners should boot their Windows computers into Linux, according to Washington Post columnist Brian Krebs, if they want to bank online without risk of someone stealing their banking password, and shortly after that, their money. Assertions like that must sting Microsoft, especially considering the […]
Photo courtesy of Flickr user zone41.
Photo courtesy of Flickr user zone41.

Bill Gates isn't going to like this one bit.

Small business owners should boot their Windows computers into Linux, according to Washington Post columnist Brian Krebs, if they want to bank online without risk of someone stealing their banking password, and shortly after that, their money. Assertions like that must sting Microsoft, especially considering the emphasis it placed on security during the launch of its Vista operating system.

Krebs claims that Windows computers -- despite Microsoft's best efforts to secure them, and even with the latest security software installed -- are susceptible to malicious software that logs your keystrokes and sends your password to a hacker, who is then free to clean out your account.

Consumers are generally protected against such thefts, says Krebs, but banks typically hold small businesses accountable for funds lost when hackers steals their passwords. As such, prudent small business owners should reboot their Windows computers into Linux before doing any online banking, if they want to minimize the risk of having their businesses wiped out by a hacker.

"I'm not saying it's impossible to bank online securely with a Windows PC," writes Krebs. "This advice is aimed at those who would rather not leave anything to chance."

The technique he recommends requires a bit of legwork: downloading Ubuntu (which comes with FireFox for Linux), burning it to CD, toggling to BIOS mode, and booting into Ubuntu from the CD. Every time you want to bank securely, you'd need to restart your computer and reboot into Ubuntu (updated).

There is another option for small business owners who want to heed Krebs' advice: picking up an inexpensive Linux netbook purely for online banking purposes and writing it off on their taxes. If the IRS wonders why you needed another computer, simply refer it to the security concern mentioned above.

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