My information security career has made me very paranoid!  For example, I only read my email in plain text to prevent any rogue links or other issues.  I also use Firefox with add-ons like No Script and Ad-Block Plus.  At home, I have replaced Adobe Reader with FoxIt Reader and I am in the middle of looking for an Adobe Flash replacement (Gnash seems appropriate).

I still use Windows Firewall because I've been lazy about finding a replacement, and I prefer to use OpenOffice at home as well.

In regards to hardware, I just bought a Kensington lock because I am bringing my laptop to school.

What paranoia have you been driven to since you know all the evils of the internet?

Same here, thanks to what I do, I'm more aware of the threats that exist out there and I feel confident that my computers are well protected. Now, that doesn't mean that my computers aren't vulnerable, there's always a way in but at least I have the necessary protections in place to make my computers hard to hack into.

Pfft! Real hackers use netcat for surfing teh interwebs.

I think paranoia is part of my nature, knowing how (some) things works and "be aware of which the threats may be" just gives you a better chance to avoid them and be somehow more serene...

I mean, if i don't know what's going on with something that manage anything important to me, i'll probably be more 'paranoid' than knowing what is the risk and what i can do in order to mitigate it, or why am i accepting that.
This is just because i usually don't trust what i don't understand, and even less what i don't know anything about.

Obviously you can't get deep knowledge about everything, but the more you know, the more you can be good at evaluating risks, and this should decrease your paranoia level.

In short, there's nothing bad in using countermeasures, but since some of them require time or resource charge or makes your experience poor, you shold become good to evaluate, case by case, when they are appropriate or not.

all sounds very familiar! sometimes when i want to order stuff on the internet and see oscommerce i get suspicious! however, i think you can throw that kensington lock away, or did you get some improved version?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SkKJ4yOKo8

All locks are just a deterrent or a method to slow someone down.  99% of the students at my school do not use locks like this.  If someone had the opportunity, would you rather take a computer with a lock or without?

I am just using the lock for when I am in class and take a break, if I am in the library or open area the laptop comes with me.  I'm also going to use it in my next SANS class, so I do not have to carry around my laptop.

I think he was generally in agreement, and was solely noting that he'd prefer to at least have a deterrent, to slow down the probability of his being the first one in sight to be grabbed...

Yes.