As Michael Kassner replied to me (I couldn't reply directly as I'd reached my "maximum reply threshold"), he's getting a $200.00 Lenovo, with an AIR card for WIFI, just for doing his banking (Apologies, Mike, if I got that wrong--I'm going from memory since I cannot see your entry as I write this). My thought is that, for a modest monthly fee, a bank could offer each customer just such a laptop expressly for banking and with full control of the software on it in the hands of the bank. That way, the BANK knows what's on the laptop--e.g. a Kiosk-style WEB browser that only goes to their website, and, also, that way, it becomes much easier for the BANK to control the laptop and ensure that all laptops have the same software, same security and same measures to block viruses, ZeuS, etc. And, of course, it also becomes the BANK's responsibility to protect their customer's data, rather than that of the customer to ensure that their machine is able to protect them from the BANK's failure to provide a secure on-line transaction system.

It's like having your own personal ATM right in your own home!

I'd surely pay for that! $200--even $200/year is a small price to pay to know that I'm not being robbed. And yes, I speak from experience. I am a victim of identity-theft.