Windows XP Advice...

[EricB]

How many windows xp users don't use IE?
Majority of them use IE
Yes, some use firefox
But most of websites nowadays cater for IE

Sad but true. but due to security issues, websites are coming out of that

 

[The Rage]

If you don't use IE or Real one player and Use 3rd party software, you don't need SP2

As I recall, msblast worm has NOTHING to do with any of the programs listed. If people would of updated their PC this worm would not of affected MILLIONS.
Keep your PC up to date with Microsoft. It is a no-brainer.

 

[gaara]

Either way, you are most likely going to have to download the SP2 patch, as SP2 has huge software/hardware incompatibility issues.

Microsoft will mail you the CD for free, so "waiting to download" shouldn't be an issue.

 

[EricB]

As I recall, msblast worm has NOTHING to do with any of the programs listed. If people would of updated their PC this worm would not of affected MILLIONS.
Keep your PC up to date with Microsoft. It is a no-brainer.

I had a 3rd party firewall (Zone Alarm) . I didn't get it.
But I get your point.

 

[gaara]

Firewalls only control what is sent and recieved over your internet connection. It basically protects you from hackers, and has little to do with protecting against viruses and worms.

Viruses, worms etc. are spread when you execute an infected file, the easiest way to fix this problem is to scan all files with Anti Virus before executing any file, although this won't help against new viruses that cannot be detected.

Zonealarm is not the reason why your computer was not infected, don't think that your firewall will protect you from everything.

 

[EricB]

Firewalls only control what is sent and recieved over your internet connection. It basically protects you from hackers, and has little to do with protecting against viruses and worms.

Viruses, worms etc. are spread when you execute an infected file, the easiest way to fix this problem is to scan all files with Anti Virus before executing any file, although this won't help against new viruses that cannot be detected.

Zonealarm is not the reason why your computer was not infected, don't think that your firewall will protect you from everything.

read up on blaster. yes it was.
on most virues and worms what you say is true, however

I have enough knowledge to keep myself mostly virus and trojan horse free without the need for sp2. I got it because it had a lot of differents looks. it was something different. I have it only on 1 computer

 

[The Rage]

I'm not sure how the blaster worm works I won't act like I do. I know if you are behind a router this worm could not get through. I do not believe it was a file to execute though. I do know that it infects an unpatched system as soon as it connects to the net. I've seen it with my own eyes on an infected system.
Firewall or not, SP2 is required to keep your PC safe. Just do it!

 

[ShoobieRat]

SP2's new security and firewall features are not just geared towards people who use IE and the RealOne Network.

If you download, connect to the Internet, recieve email, or anything else that connects you to the digital realm, you're at risk, and SP2 helps. End of story.

This "IE is the only problem" stuff is just pure horse crap. You may be more at risk using IE, but if you're an idiot it doesn't matter what you use.

IE ain't going anywhere, either, so we can ditch that myth too. IE is still most widely used, and the most compatable with new (and existing) technologies, and remains the key focus for web developers and browser-application developers.

Bottom line: It doesn't matter what browser or OS you use, there's nothing better than intelligence. A firewall alone won't save you. A VP app alone won't save you. And you could have Linux with the worlds best AV apps and firewalls, and still get wasted if you don't make an effort to keep things up to date and connect smartly.

This is the digital age, and like anything else (banking, owning a car, home, etc) you have to make an effort to protect yourself. If you don't keep your AV apps up to date and you go surfing through shady websites and P2P sites, the viruses you get are your own fault and not the applications.

The tools have been provided. Use them, or don't complain.

 

[EricB]

SP2's new security and firewall features are not just geared towards people who use IE and the RealOne Network.

If you download, connect to the Internet, recieve email, or anything else that connects you to the digital realm, you're at risk, and SP2 helps. End of story.

This "IE is the only problem" stuff is just pure horse crap. You may be more at risk using IE, but if you're an idiot it doesn't matter what you use.

IE ain't going anywhere, either, so we can ditch that myth too. IE is still most widely used, and the most compatable with new (and existing) technologies, and remains the key focus for web developers and browser-application developers.

Bottom line: It doesn't matter what browser or OS you use, there's nothing better than intelligence. A firewall alone won't save you. A VP app alone won't save you. And you could have Linux with the worlds best AV apps and firewalls, and still get wasted if you don't make an effort to keep things up to date and connect smartly.

This is the digital age, and like anything else (banking, owning a car, home, etc) you have to make an effort to protect yourself. If you don't keep your AV apps up to date and you go surfing through shady websites and P2P sites, the viruses you get are your own fault and not the applications.

The tools have been provided. Use them, or don't complain.

I never thought I would say this. I kinda agree with you.
the only reason I say don't use IE or Real one (who based their program off using IE for web browsing, instead of just using the internet like musicmatch and winamp)is because they have more holes than swiss cheese. they will continue having this problem until they get rid of ActiveX. Or make a secure alternative. you automatically make you computer more secure by bypassing these 2 options. now if you also don't go to the porn sites, download from peer to peer, use your firewall and antivirus properly, and get your a program like spyware blaster, you are automatically safe from 85-95% of the viruses and holes and trojan horses

I suspect in a couple of year SP2 will be more unsafe than SP1, due to people writing viruses against it.

 

[ShoobieRat]

they will continue having this problem until they get rid of ActiveX.

Can't. ActiveX is way too powerful. Though it's nature (not it's programming) makes ActiveX dangerous, it's also an incredibly wonderful tool for doing browser intranet integrations and developments.

I suspect in a couple of year SP2 will be more unsafe than SP1, due to people writing viruses against it.

Not a chance. SP2 can't become worse than SP1, for two reasons. 1: SP2 is a continuation of SP1 with many security holes from SP1 patched, and 2: SP2 includes a firewall and new security features, while SP1 does not.

Besides, Windows is like the ultimate proving ground for software. With a huge chunk of the world's PC's running windows, the amount of effort being thrown at Windows from hackers is just a million times that of Linux or Mac.

If you put Linux into a situation on the scale of Windows, with the kinds of connectivity tools and products that Windows has, with as much traffic as Windows sees...you'd find Linux getting nailed to the wall too.

There's simply a lack of hacker interest for Linux, because they can do more damage attacking Windows. More people use Windows, more damage can be done. Small amount of people use Linux, small damage can be done.