Stay “tuned” (pun intended) as more companies are announcing iTunes compatible players in the near future – next month or so – I am sure before the Christmas buying season – so I think you will have more to choose from.

However – as an self-proclaimed audiophile – 600+ CDs – and as a “computer security expert” (or so I have my employer believing) I must warn that downloading music has become one of the best(?) avenues (along with porn, on-line gambling, and spam) for the proliferation of spyware, viruses, Trogans, worms, etc.

Therefore, should you decide to proceed, you MUST take all necessary proactive steps to ensure the integrity of your systems. These include the use of:

• Current/Updated Antivirus programs
• Software based firewall (ZoneAlarm for example – and yes they corrected the problems that a “few” very vocal users had in 5.0) – Microsoft’s is woefully inadequate, even in SP2
• Hardware based firewall through the use of a router with NAT – a must for broadband users – many include dial-up support
• Spyware scannners (SpyBot S&D and Ad-Aware SE as minimums – with current signature files, of course)
• SPAM blocker
• Pop-up blocker
• And possibly the most important – disciplined safe computing practices including:
  1. Perform all Critical and Security Updates for the OS and other applications on a timely basis
  2. Maintain scaners with current signature files
  3. Scan all downloads BEFORE opening/installing
  4. Always delete email from unknown sources without opening or previewing first – just delete
  5. NEVER open attachments without scanning first- even from known sources – your contact’s address could be spoofed

  [/list]I like to equate it to responsible driving, you don’t just throw the keys at your kid and say to have fun, you teach them to buckle up and drive defensively!

Stay “tuned” (pun intended) as more companies are announcing iTunes compatible players in the near future – next month or so – I am sure before the Christmas buying season – so I think you will have more to choose from.

However – as an self-proclaimed audiophile – 600+ CDs – and as a “computer security expert” (or so I have my employer believing) I must warn that downloading music has become one of the best(?) avenues (along with porn, on-line gambling, and spam) for the proliferation of spyware, viruses, Trogans, worms, etc.

Therefore, should you decide to proceed, you MUST take all necessary proactive steps to ensure the integrity of your systems. These include the use of:

• Current/Updated Antivirus programs
• Software based firewall (ZoneAlarm for example – and yes they corrected the problems that a “few” very vocal users had in 5.0) – Microsoft’s is woefully inadequate, even in SP2
• Hardware based firewall through the use of a router with NAT – a must for broadband users – many include dial-up support
• Spyware scannners (SpyBot S&D and Ad-Aware SE as minimums – with current signature files, of course)
• SPAM blocker
• Pop-up blocker
• And possibly the most important – disciplined safe computing practices including:
  1. Perform all Critical and Security Updates for the OS and other applications on a timely basis
  2. Maintain scaners with current signature files
  3. Scan all downloads BEFORE opening/installing
  4. Always delete email from unknown sources without opening or previewing first – just delete
  5. NEVER open attachments without scanning first- even from known sources – your contact’s address could be spoofed

  [/list]I like to equate it to responsible driving, you don’t just throw the keys at your kid and say to have fun, you teach them to buckle up and drive defensively!