Saturday, October 30, 2004

Cybersource Safe Internet Computer  According to the  Cybersource web site:  Every time you restart your Safe Internet Computer, it is wiped clean of any malware and reset to factory settings. A clean slate, every day.  The SafeIC is a small-form factor PC which will sit unobtrusively in your lounge room, study or home office. It plugs straight into your ADSL router or office hub/switch. It needs zero configuration.  If your home or office is connected to the Internet, the SafeIC will be connected too. ["Computers" like this were formerly called "dumb terminals"; then "network computers". No onboard permanent storage, no hard disk drive (or writeable optical drive - there must be some form of temporary storage); original system restored each time system is restarted (which is why it could be impervious to malware although frequent, deliberate restarts would be required). Monitor not included. At AU$595, which includes "all  the software",  it  is expensive. The software environment isn't MS Windows nor is the application software from Microsoft . The product brochure indicates a "standards compliant browser"; an office suite that "supports" Microsoft file formats; games and educational programs; and an RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) client that "connects to Windows Terminal Server or Windows XP Profressional."  Once such a connection is made, especially if it's a long-lived one, this arrangement doesn't seem so safe.] 4:53:21 PM    comment []