( The use of  The Bible passages in this post is to show how wisdom through out the ages has applicability to technology life in 2011. These verses are repeated with respect and reverence).

If you are surfing the Internet for downloads, making a copy of a flash drive file or using wireless in your home or business read this verse from the New Testament and apply it to your use of technology.

Matthew 25: 1-13

¹ “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³ The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. ⁴ The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. ⁵ The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

⁶ “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’⁷ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’⁹ “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

¹⁰ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.¹¹ “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’¹² “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’¹³ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour”.  (NIV)

Always Be on Guard

Regardless of what your web browser claims, there is no real “safe search” setting. If you want to truly be free of identity theft hackers – pull the plug on the Internet. Even then you may have previously, and unknowing, downloaded a virus or trojan that is hiding in your computer just waiting for the opportunity to strike. For every identity theft program or firewall setting there is a crook somewhere whose sole purpose is to find a weakness in that program or setting. Life lesson: the security companies and the hackers have a shady backroom, cigar-filled, you-scratch-my-back-and-I’ll-scratch-yours, underhanded agreement. They make work for each other. Some times it is obvious. You know, when the warning comes on your screen, ” You have a virus!! Click here for our virus protection program”. They should know, they created the virus too. In the 40’s we called this the Mafia and extortion.  Even the honest security companies know that if they cured “computer cancer” today they would be out of a job tomorrow.   Viruses and worms are good for business.

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil…”

I do not mean to paint the picture that all is lost. There is something that you can do. If you are going to be on the Internet, the time to get a virus protection program is before, not after, a virus is detected. Repeat, the time to get a virus protection program is before, not after, a virus is detected. Sure the cards are stacked against the uninformed Internet user – just don’t be uninformed.

Here are some things you can do:

• Learn about net security. There are plenty of useful web sites where you can find this information. You can start by making a point to checkout information from your internet provider. Just be sure that you also use other sources by doing a web search. Do not rely on one source for your information.
• Establish ground rules for children you are using the Internet in your household. Monitor what sites they visit. Talk among others in your household or office about web security.
• Prevention + pro-activity = protection. Do not got out to buy your oil (virus protection program and knowledge about web security) only to find out that is too late. However, if you suffer damage from such an experience – treat it as a lesson learned. Be better prepared in the future. Talk to other Internet users about what you have learned.

Keep watch because you do not know…. That’s always been good advice.

By the way, admitting that something is hard to do is not a substitute for trying to do it.

Russ