First of all, I offer my sincerest condolences to Adobe regarding they and their customers becoming the latest victims of cyber attacks. We don't wish that on anyone, especially the people out there just trying to get their work done.

Cyber attacks are becoming all too common, and the sad reality seems to be that we can't really do much to protect ourselves against them. If you watch what's happening all over the world regarding cyber attacks, it seems that even the most secure organizations and governments are falling victim to the attacks, so as average consumers, how can we expect to be safe from all this mayhem?

What are we to do to protect ourselves against cyber attacks? I have no idea. It just seems that all we can do is stand by the wayside and witness the craziness while our information is becoming increasingly vulnerable to attack. Which is why Adobe's new online business model seems so strange, as mentioned in my May 7th, 2013 blog entry that discussed the pluses and minuses of this shift from stand-alone programs to leasing them via monthly online subscription services:

Adobe Creative Cloud, from a Critic

The above essay talks about the inherent risks associated with taking a business model online via the software subscription service, and how it's very likely to be open to cyber attacks. I'm sorry to say that the cyber attack risks that I wrote about have come to be true. I did not sign up as a subscriber for that very reason; it didn't seem to be a safe bet for doing my Photoshop work. I can't risk my work being down for an afternoon, let alone an indefinite time.

Keeping my digital photography computer offline isn't new by the way. I've had this computer offline for about two years, long before Adobe decided to put forth this new subscription service. I did this because my livelihood depends on having at least one computer that would keep on working even if the net came crashing down at any time. I wasn't thinking specifically of Adobe when I took it offline, but now that they have a very vulnerable site, you can bet that this specific computer is absolutely staying offline.

On the other hand, my laptop stays online and is the computer I use for everything online, including emails, web browsing, file downloads, etc. My work would likely grind to a halt in very short order if I went offline. Just like the rest of you, the vast majority of my interactions with other people is done online these days.

In reality, I'm not anything near a computer security expert. If you're a hacker, please don't attack my site, because I know you can do it, you don't have to prove anything to me or anyone else. At any rate, my only solution is to "throw in the towel" as they say, and not even play this game that I know I cannot win. So off goes the internet connection to the computer I use for my nitty-gritty Photoshop work, which for me and many other photographers, artists, and business professionals has become a mainstay for our work.

If anyone else has any suggestions on how to keep their computer running without cyber attacks, I'm all ears. Until then, that digital photography computer is simply staying offline. Sorry Adobe, I hope your problems get solved soon, I sincerely do, because I really like your products.