>>>>You can easily get around the security problems with the network -- regardless of the OS used -- just don't turn on the computers -- ever. There will be side-benefits too:
>>>>* Reduces electricity usage (and therefore your "carbon footprint", which is always a good thing)
>>>>* You can turn off that big honkin' environmental control system in your server room (since they're not on, so they'll not overheat) -- talk about something that sucks down power 'cause it's on 24 hr/day
>>>>* Save money on payroll -- you can signficantly reduce your IT staff.
>>>>* You can continue to use the older computer systems -- even systems you've "retired" -- they'll work just the same as newer ones
>>>>* Older software will run just as well as newer ones!
>>>>* Heck, at that point, one write "computer" on a cardboard box (or even "laptop" on a pizza box) and it'll run just as well as any brand-spakin' new computer!
>>>Naoto,
>>>this is indeed a very sound and good advise, are you 100% sure my pc will than never be effected with a virus?
>>>Great
>>>Thanks for sharing.
>>>Koen
>>
>>The virus writers have managed, in the past, to make viruses which infect PCs before they're sold. I wouldn't be sure they can't make a virus which would infect a PC which is turned off.
>
>They could have someone with bird flu sneeze on the keyboards prior to packaging.

By proper application of "social engineering" you don't even have to infect the users's computer -- you just get the users themselves to do your bidding without them realizing what they're doing. Far more insidious than a "meatware" virus.

A friend of mine as a joke mounted a plain box with a lever on a wall at where he worked. Connected to the lever was a counter. A clearly-readable sign was attached to the box stating "DO NOT PULL LEVER". At the end of the first day the counter registered tends of pulls. By the end of the week it was registering well into the hundreds. It was also noted that traffic through the hallways near where the box was mounted started to get congested.