Partha Sarathy asks:
By using Live CD like Ubuntu on my Windows desktop, do I have more security in my online financial transactions?
15 Answers -
Justin Pot
October 25, 2012Assuming you have your Windows firewall up and running and a decent antivirus program set up, Windows should be fine. A potential advantage: none of your passwords will be saved whatsoever when you’re done with your live CD.
Freud Iomc
October 25, 2012FWIW, there’s no such thing as a “secure online financial” transaction… your data, I.E, your identity, your money, is only as secure as the server at the other end… local cache is not the problem really.
as i know linux is more secure than windows
October 26, 2012Manuel Guillermo López Buenfil
October 26, 2012It will protect you against malware installed in your computer.
If you suspect that your computer is infected, then it will help you.
If you think that your computer is fine, then there’s no difference.
mohit kumar
October 26, 2012Use Firefox as browser and run PeerBlock software.
susendeep dutta
October 26, 2012Most of the online transactions are secured and are encrypted so as to prevent any eavesdropping.Using Live CD will make sure that any password stealing,hijacking is prevented and no traces of transaction would be left behind.
Lisa Santika Onggrid
October 26, 2012Hypothetically yes, since you’d have a clean environment without any malware, and no data trace could be found once you eject the CD. This can be useful especially if you’re doing your transaction with another machine that’s not your own (assuming we always set our own machine to be fully protected) or in public places.
That in mind, it’s not a good idea dealing with such important activity using public network, as someone could ‘sniff’ you, whatever OS you’re using.
Justin is right. With good setup, Windows is okay.
ha14
October 26, 2012Linux Live CD like Ubuntu is read-only media, running entirely in RAM, will be much more secure than Windows. shut down and reboot will be only thing that stop you to use live cd.
I agree, live cd means you run it in virtual environment so thats means anything you do is on cloud, once reboot its leave no trace behind.
November 29, 2012vivek yadav
October 26, 2012no…it does not make any difference
Sunil Joseph
October 26, 2012Using live CD would be a bit safer since it is a clean environment, but if you run it within Windows, then any keylogger already installed in Windows will be able to pick up the keystrokes even though it wont be able to say which page you were on. You might want to read this if you are interested in keeping your computer safe.
http://www.suniljoseph.net/2010/02/08/how-to-prevent-malware-infection-on-your-computer
Adrian Rea
October 26, 2012On the whole it can be considered as safe as the day that CD version was launched as it will not have been updated with any security fixes since then. So unless you hear of a specific vulnerability you would be fine to use a LiveCD. If you are concerned your windows install is compromised, think about backing up vital files and reinstalling.
Dino Pearsons
October 26, 2012Yes and no. While running a Live CD natively on the machine (not inside a Virtual Machine) will certainly make sure that you don’t have any malicious processes running in the background, it still won’t guarantee your safety.
As with most things, the most important part of safety with these kinds of transactions is user diligence.
If you keep your system clean, run a firewall and a decent anti-virus program, and pay attention to what you’re doing, I honestly don’t see why you should bother with running Linux from a Live CD.
Ramon Fletcher
October 29, 2012Probably best to try booting from that CD and shutting down when finished however you should just get rid of windows and use ubuntu. Depending on your location and as long as your being responsible if your money is stolen then it is the banks responsibility to replace it
Douglas Mutay
October 31, 2012Yes but only if your windows is already infected.
Abba Jee
November 24, 2012any Live OS is more secure than any windows OS no matter what AV or firewall installed in it for financial transactions , I’ve seen so many banks now adays using live OS for transactions
dragonmouth
January 30, 2013As Freud Iomc stated, the problem is the security of the transmission and of the server on the other end. Once the financial data leaves your computer, no matter how secure that is, you have NO control over the security of that data.
It’s one half less of the What-if problems that you have to worry about. Now, if only the online banks can provide a last login information of where and when every time you log in.
April 9, 2013