Critical Updates? Oh yeah!

[MissTaken]

So, when your home page gets replaced by a Windows Update page, what do you do?

Well, generally, I move on and think to myself, "Self! Ya gotta catch that update later."

Hark!
Don't wait.
Update now!

I just spent two days messing with my pc to resolve something that would have been prevented if Bill Gates had gotten XP right the first time.


The best part of this particular worm, the Sasser worm, is that it shuts down your damned pc before you have time to download what you need from the net to deal with her. Go figure!

 

[morninggirl5]

I install the critical updates as soon as i get notification of them.

I learned that lesson 3 years ago when i got a virus that wouldn't let me go to any Microsoft, MacAfee or Norton website. I had to totally reformat and reinstall everything on my hard drive.

 

[MissTaken]

wahoooooo

I finally got rid of the worms!

Yep, had both Sasser A and Sasser B.

And found a free virus scanner , complete with removal tools. Panda is the name.

Norton didn't pick this stuff up, so I am very pleased.,

 

[bunny bondage]

glad your computer's all better now! ^_^

 

[FungiUg]

I run that "automatic update downloader" thingie, and it downloads the critical ones as they come out. But then, I regularly check in on the update pages as well -- since they have non-critical updates which are quite worthwhile on there at times.

Also, DO run an anti-virus. The one we have on the PC that my lover's kids use picked up three on their system last night (all downloaded in the same day... hmm...) so I did a virus clean last night on it.

And when you're typing, it's best to wear those thin latex gloves, to prevent transmission of viral infections from the PC to you... (Well, okay, safety can be taken a little far.)

 

[DVS]

I've been kind of out of the loop, lately. When I had a computer job, it was easy to be up on the new viruses and worms.

But, this time, my ISP was getting hit so badly, that they sent out a message explaining things and what to do to keep yourself from getting infected.

I've done the necessary updates, and am now sitting back and feeling kind of pretty. Don't ask me why I feel pretty. It is kind of a strange feeling, for sure. It must have something to do with this being MY FRIDAY!!!!!! WOO HOO.

So, I'll be writing more on my anal lust thread, I guess. It's a small world, and little things tend to make me happy. Little luxurys like Fridays and little holes like a nice tight ass. Oh, baby!

Sorry, this might not be the right thread for such language, but when you get infected with a virus you do kind of feel fucked in the ass, a bit, I would guess. Can you relate, Miss Taken? Hummmmm? Did you feel like you had been used and taken advantage of...so to speak?

Don't you just hate it when you are the target of these things, when it really shouldn't be your fault to worry about critical OS updates?

And, to make matters worse, Bill has made billions and billions from this less than complete business venture of his, he calls Microsoft. What if you were less than complete in your work and had to constantly provide updates to people. Think you would still be employed, let alone have BILLIONS?

And, what's worse, is some of these updates are AFTER someone has been fucked by the latest worm or virus, and because his company didn't do their job in the first place.

Yep, someone found out about these "back door holes" the hard way, before Microsoft or anyone else (other than a virus creator and those unfortunate ones) knew about it.

That means, Bill and Microsoft only care about the bottom line...being on top of the industry. They let the user beta test their systems and software. Sure, they provide updates in a timely fashion, but a company that size should have a much better reputation than that, don't you think?

And, if they don't provide updates until AFTER the first infections, that means McAfee and Norton didn't know, either. If they don't know, how are the people who pay McAfee and Norton to secure their systems suppose to get their money's worth?

Just a few thousand unfortunate users having and intimate relationship with the newest worm!

I say we form a class action suit against Microsoft and clean Bill of a few Billion bucks! Didn't you lose valuble computer time? Didn't you spend time fixing it that you would have spent doing other things? Other valuble things like spending time with family? Don't you feel VIOLATED! because of it, and not in a good way?

Don't think it was YOUR fault this happened. Microsoft and the anti virus softwares have you thinking that way, because it is in their best interest. It was Microsoft's fault, and you are paying for it. Never forget that.

Just a few words from a Microsoft hater...yep, that'd be little ol' me.

 

[MissTaken]

Yep, Bill Gates sucks waste matter.

 

[FungiUg]

A little perspective from someone who also works with Oracle, Sun, Linux, Apple, etc... it's not just a Microsoft problem. It's industry wide. Microsoft being the biggest target (largest number of users) tend to cop a lot of flak that the other companies miss, but they are all equally guilty!

 

[DVS]

A little perspective from someone who also works with Oracle, Sun, Linux, Apple, etc... it's not just a Microsoft problem. It's industry wide. Microsoft being the biggest target (largest number of users) tend to cop a lot of flak that the other companies miss, but they are all equally guilty!

Personally, I see Microsoft as the giant that could and doesn't. 99.9% of all worms and viruses are created to infect Microsoft products. Sure, that's because Microsoft is the giant in the industry. But, if they would only tighten up their code, it would stop quite a bit of the virus and worm problem we see, today.

I have always preferred Netscape products, over Microsoft. I started with Netscape in the very beginning when it was the product to have. Netscape mail and browser are not infected by many of the nasty worms out there, because worms prefer the complete Microsoft machine to work best.

Microsoft doesn't have to control the market. They should invite competition. The world thrives on competition. I believe that Microsoft was completely at fault in the law suit brought against it, but the proper decision was overturned by some stupid grandstanding judge, after the fact. I feel Microsoft should have been broken up, as AT&T was.

Sure, it would eventually be as big seperately, but it would have maybe allowed competition to continue. Now, what have we got at the user end of the spectrum that will ever rival Microsoft? Linux? Maybe, some day, but I doubt it. Apple/Macs? Gates owns part of that product when he helped them come out of hock.

He has successfully squelched any close competitors, so with no competition, he has no worries. He certainly has the power to change, if any of the companies do. But, he will never change. Miss Taken is completely correct in saying he (or at least his company) sucks waste matter.

I think saying "everybody does it" is a cop out. It never promotes change and change is what we need if we ever expect to see any kind of control over what we receive in the mass market. Everybody's wearing blinders supplied by Bill, so I think it's already too late.

 

[FungiUg]

I think saying "everybody does it" is a cop out.

And I think saying "Microsoft is to blame" is just plain silly. Yes, Microsoft do dominate some of the IT markets. They don't dominant databases though -- there it's Oracle or IBM (depending on who you talk to, or which buttock you happen to be leaning on.) And both Oracle and IBM databases have frequent security releases too.

Think about it -- most of the world's data resides in Oracle and DB/2 databases. And they're not secure. And you think that's Microsoft's fault?

The truth is it's a hard problem -- a really REALLY hard problem. The industry AS A WHOLE is struggling with it. Not just Microsoft. Sure, I'd agree that Microsoft don't have the best business practices, but again they are not the only ones. (That too is an industry wide problem -- recent suits against Intel and Oracle spring to mind.)

Let's face it, the real people to blame are the little shits and arseholes who think it's funny to trash other people's stuff. The people who write the virii and worms. Them.

So if you are going to blame someone... maybe you should reconsider your target?

 

[DVS]

And I think saying "Microsoft is to blame" is just plain silly. Yes, Microsoft do dominate some of the IT markets. They don't dominant databases though -- there it's Oracle or IBM (depending on who you talk to, or which buttock you happen to be leaning on.) And both Oracle and IBM databases have frequent security releases too.

Think about it -- most of the world's data resides in Oracle and DB/2 databases. And they're not secure. And you think that's Microsoft's fault?

The truth is it's a hard problem -- a really REALLY hard problem. The industry AS A WHOLE is struggling with it. Not just Microsoft. Sure, I'd agree that Microsoft don't have the best business practices, but again they are not the only ones. (That too is an industry wide problem -- recent suits against Intel and Oracle spring to mind.)

Let's face it, the real people to blame are the little shits and arseholes who think it's funny to trash other people's stuff. The people who write the virii and worms. Them.

So if you are going to blame someone... maybe you should reconsider your target?

LOL, don't think I let virus creators off the hook for their share of the blame, here. And, I won't dispute you in the area of data bases, but data bases are more business use software. I know we all can be a victim of a data base hole, one is if we use the Internet to make credit card transactions. But, businesses have IT personnel who know (or should know) what is possible and what measures should be taken to secure data, with fire walls, access control of their company users, encryption practices in their email, and on and on.

I'm talking about end user products that every computer owner will likely have in their home to make their computer work. These are non IT users, who consider their computer like any other end user product, such as a stereo, or TV. They don't expect someone from Hong Kong to be able to reach out and "touch" them.

Look at the typical home user's computer...
1) their operating system
2) their browser to view web sites
3) their email program to send and receive emails

These are all more than likely made by Microsoft. Sure, there are some that aren't completely Microsoft (me, for one), but the number of computers that are COMPLETELY Microsoft is staggering.

This has made Microsoft quite nearly the ONLY company the virus creator will go after. Obviously, the larger the number of infections a virus can infect, the more mass media the virus has from the computer society as a whole, and the more "repect" this person gets from his fellow cohorts. So, Microsoft is very much their obvious target.

So, with this knowledge, why wouldn't a multi-billion dollar company like Microsoft step up to the plate and sufficiently beta test their software before it gets out to the mass market?
These home users are being victimized by viruses and worms at a stagering pace and they are being forced to know more about computers and viruses than most of them are capable of.

These aren't computer junkies. They are just people who like to chat and view cool web sites and send emails to their friends. Some have lost valuble personal data... i.e. passwords, credit card info, not to mention email addresses of their unsuspecting friends, the next stage in the worm's path.

Sure, the virus creators are the first stage creeps who feed on the home user's lack of computer knowledge, but Microsoft has the ability to stop these creeps in their tracks, or at least make a large dent. It's not like Bill can't afford this, because he can. It's not that Microsoft has to get these products out to regain their R&D costs, nor do they really have any competition to race against.

Sure, this is likely industry wide. Sure, apathy rules in such things. Sure we can all point the blame at the virus creators, because if they weren't doing what they do, it would be a much better world.

I'm just saying Microsoft could do so much more to secure the code of their programs before it even leaves Seattle. And, the rest of the computer world is probably looking at this and saying "look at all of the cash Bill takes in. Why should we spend our hard earned time and money to make a better product when his software is far from perfect."

Apathy feeds on apathy! Someone needs to step up to that plate. Who has a better advantage? Who has the better financial ability and possibly a moral obligation, because of that victimized mass market end user their software services? Who could make the largest impact in the computer world if they would? What...do I hear Microsoft?

 

[FungiUg]

This has made Microsoft quite nearly the ONLY company the virus creator will go after.

I wish this were true -- there are already attacks on Linux and Apple systems out there, for example. DNS has been hacked, Apatche has been hacked, sendmail has been hacked... It is true that attacks on Microsoft are more common.

So, with this knowledge, why wouldn't a multi-billion dollar company like Microsoft step up to the plate and sufficiently beta test their software before it gets out to the mass market?

Again, a mis-conception. They do. In fact, Microsoft spend more money on this than any other IT industry player, including useability laps, security reviews and so on. The new service pack for XP coming out has even more security stuff in it.

These aren't computer junkies. They are just people who like to chat and view cool web sites and send emails to their friends.

Indeed. People who are susceptible to attacks on the network infrastructure of the internet (remember the Denial of Service attacks on the DNS routers that power the internet? Nope, not Microsoft products) or on web-sites (the most common web server out there is Apatche, which has security holes/updates and attacks -- again, not Microsoft), or having their personal details lifted from databases (again, more often than not, not Microsoft products)...

You see my point? It's not a Microsoft problem -- it's an industry wide problem. Even for the little people that "only use Microsoft products" -- when they connect to the Internet, it's no longer a Microsoft world.

Sure, the virus creators are the first stage creeps who feed on the home user's lack of computer knowledge, but Microsoft has the ability to stop these creeps in their tracks, or at least make a large dent.

Uhuh -- and that's what they have been doing with the security patches etc.

I'm just saying Microsoft could do so much more to secure the code of their programs before it even leaves Seattle.

I think even Microsoft agree with you there! They started a security initiative two years ago to do exactly that.

Someone needs to step up to that plate. Who has a better advantage? Who has the better financial ability and possibly a moral obligation, because of that victimized mass market end user their software services? Who could make the largest impact in the computer world if they would? What...do I hear Microsoft?

Again, Microsoft have done that. Hence the security releases -- which is what the critical updates often are.

Just to remind you -- Microsoft (Oracle, IBM, Netscape, Linux coders, Apatche, etc) are not being apathetic about this. A huge amount of time, effort and money has been poured into this very issue in the last four-five years.

I'm not fond of Microsoft -- their business practices suck (for example). But I don't agree they are to blame for security issues. I know how secure (i.e. not) their products were two years ago, and in comparison, Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP are so much better! It's just a never ending job, and I can respect them for their willingness to tackle it.

I could respect an opinion that Microsoft WERE to blame -- their systems were designed to be easy to use, but they made no effort to make them secure. The last three years have seen a massive change in that apathetic attitude now. The biggest problem they have now is that they provide these security updates, and people don't install them.

Which brings us back to MissT's point -- for gods sake, APPLY the security patches!

 

[DVS]

Originally posted by Me
This has made Microsoft quite nearly the ONLY company the virus creator will go after.

I wish this were true -- there are already attacks on Linux and Apple systems out there, for example. DNS has been hacked, Apatche has been hacked, sendmail has been hacked... It is true that attacks on Microsoft are more common.

Actually, hacking isn't a virus, so it is less of a problem. One virus can infect thousands of computers. Sure, hacking is not a good thing, when a credit card data base is hacked, etc. Still though, the impact of one hacking does not equal one virus, even if a credit card data base is hacked. There is potentially a disaster there, but someone has to use that info. That is slow, compared to a virus. A virus will continue to do it's job as long as there are computers to infect.

Originally posted by Me
So, with this knowledge, why wouldn't a multi-billion dollar company like Microsoft step up to the plate and sufficiently beta test their software before it gets out to the mass market?

Again, a mis-conception. They do. In fact, Microsoft spend more money on this than any other IT industry player, including useability laps, security reviews and so on. The new service pack for XP coming out has even more security stuff in it.

That's AFTER the fact. I said why don't they beta test BEFORE it gets out to the mass market. Again, they let the end user take a hit and then put out a patch for the rest of us. So sorry for the first few thousand or so who didn't have the patch.

Indeed. People who are susceptible to attacks on the network infrastructure of the internet (remember the Denial of Service attacks on the DNS routers that power the internet? Nope, not Microsoft products) or on web-sites (the most common web server out there is Apatche, which has security holes/updates and attacks -- again, not Microsoft), or having their personal details lifted from databases (again, more often than not, not Microsoft products)...

You see my point? It's not a Microsoft problem -- it's an industry wide problem. Even for the little people that "only use Microsoft products" -- when they connect to the Internet, it's no longer a Microsoft world.

DoS attacks are made possible because people's computers aren't secure from outside invasion (Microsoft could have done that). A person (creep, asshole, person without a life, etc.) uses an IP search to find IPs with open ports. These are usually machines that are up 24/7 and don't have a firewall (yes, they could get a fire wall, but again, we are talking about people who don't fully understand computer technology).

He sends his zombie bots to these computers, through an open port, and controls it through the back door holes in the Microsoft OS. Because of the speed of today's computers, and the stealth means of these bots, a user has no idea they are even on his machine.

If the creep can get several hundred of these bots in his control, he can then flood a web site with requests to view the main page, etc. The server (yes, probably an Apache) can't handle this load and is esentually taken down.

Yes, this is only one method of a DoS attack. there are several ways, and viruses can also be used to send these zombie bots to computers via attachments.

The FBI told Microsoft of this potential situation when XP came out. They said XP installed on many new computers could leave government sites open for DoS attacks and requested Microsoft to fix the problem as soon as possible.

Microsoft told them they had an update for that issue, but the FBI had people who could still take control via a DoS attack, even with the update installed. Of course, Microsoft said poppycock to that.

Uhuh -- and that's what they have been doing with the security patches etc.

Again, patches are after the fact. I've been continually talking about BEFORE they ship the product. After the fact is too late for those people who get attacked by a virus taking advantage of the holes left in the software.

Sure, they put out a fix then, because it has been utilized by a virus. What's wrong with looking for these holes before the product is shipped? Do they need to hire these virus creators to do their job for them? Don't tell me these virus creators are smarter than the Microsoft techs.

The next quote just continues with this same statement.

Originally posted by Me
I'm just saying Microsoft could do so much more to secure the code of their programs before it even leaves Seattle.[/b]

I think even Microsoft agree with you there! They started a security initiative two years ago to do exactly that.

We will just have to agree to disagree. Even if this is true, it's too little, too late. The viruses and worms continue.

Again, Microsoft have done that. Hence the security releases -- which is what the critical updates often are.

Just to remind you -- Microsoft (Oracle, IBM, Netscape, Linux coders, Apatche, etc) are not being apathetic about this. A huge amount of time, effort and money has been poured into this very issue in the last four-five years.

I'm not fond of Microsoft -- their business practices suck (for example). But I don't agree they are to blame for security issues. I know how secure (i.e. not) their products were two years ago, and in comparison, Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP are so much better! It's just a never ending job, and I can respect them for their willingness to tackle it.

To me, it shows their lack of understanding the obvious potential, or their apathetic ways, or both.

continuing...Originally posted by FungiUg
I could respect an opinion that Microsoft WERE to blame -- their systems were designed to be easy to use, but they made no effort to make them secure. The last three years have seen a massive change in that apathetic attitude now. The biggest problem they have now is that they provide these security updates, and people don't install them.

Which brings us back to MissT's point -- for gods sake, APPLY the security patches!

Which brings us back to my origional point. Miss T and others are not computer savvy IT people. And, they really shouldn't have to be. But, because Microsoft doesn't make the software Miss T and others use (Windows, I.E. and Outlook Express, etc.) secure before they ship, she MUST become a techy to run her computer. Not only does she have to learn to do this, she is now blamed for not doing it, because it is considered her job to do it. Why should it be the end user's job to run updates? I say Microsoft isn't doing their job to create a good product in the first place. This after the fact fixing shit is just that...shit!

P.S. I hope I got all of this quoting stuff correct. Who said what and when, etc. If not, sorry. I did try. And editing was necessary to fix some untidy spacing.

 

[FungiUg]

Actually, hacking isn't a virus

True. Let me rephrase -- there are worms and virii and trojan horses for just about every modern OS in common use, including Linux and Apple.

I said why don't they beta test BEFORE it gets out to the mass market. Again, they let the end user take a hit and then put out a patch for the rest of us.

Yes. So did Oracle, so did IBM, so did Netscape (you mean you thought Netscape didn't have these problems? ), etc. Until people find a security issue, it can't be fixed. It took TEN YEARS of solid use to find the holes in DNS and sendmail, for example...

DoS attacks are made possible because people's computers aren't secure from outside invasion (Microsoft could have).

Some of the largest DoS attacks have been on DNS and on Apache. Neither of which are Microsoft products... are you saying Microsoft should be patching EVERYONE's code?

A person (creep, asshole, person without a life, etc.) uses an IP search to find IPs with open ports.

Yes, otherwise known as port scanning. A common way of finding holes on servers or firewalls. Er, the majority of firewalls aren't Microsoft products...

He sends his bots to these computers, through an open port, and controls it through the back door holes in the Microsoft OS.

Not QUITE true, but close enough for government work. The same technique works for non-Microsoft OSes.

The FBI told Microsoft of this potential situation when XP came out.

Again, not quite true but close. When XP came out, it came with a personal firewall, which Microsoft felt would be enough. The next patch for XP comes with a slightly better personal firewall that's turned ON by default. MS are learning... albeit a little too slowly for our own comfort at times!

Again, patches are after the fact. I've been continually talking about BEFORE they ship the product.

If you go with this idea, we would not have an Internet at all. Literally only two weeks ago, a fundamental flaw open to DoS attacks in the Internet infrastructure was discovered. Sorry, not MS code. Sorry, been there since the '70s...

Sure, they put out a fix then, because it has been utilized by a virus. What's wrong with looking for these holes before the product is shipped?

The last patch set that came out patched a flaw BEFORE an exploit was released. The same happened last year with, um, the SLAMMER worm, from memory?

Do they need to hire these virus creators to do their job for them?

Done.

Don't tell me these virus creators are smarter than the Microsoft techs.

Are you saying Microsoft are somehow super-human?

We will just have to agree to disagree. Even if this is true, it's too little, too late. The viruses and worms continue.
To me, it shows their lack of understanding the obvious potential, or their apathetic ways, or both.

Weeeelll... most of what you said I find quite amusing, because MS themselves would agree with your points. This is why the huge (three year delay) in shipping Longhorn, the next version of Windows. This is why the massive delay in Service Pack 2 for XP (which was originally due last year.)

Which brings us back to my origional point. Miss T and others are not computer savvy IT people. And, they really shouldn't have to be.

Agreed! But then, IT is still working toward that holy grail -- and security is just one part of it. Haven't you noticed that it's when they connect to the Internet (which is largely run on non-Microsoft software) that computers are most at risk?

Yes, Microsoft can take part of the blame for not making their software more secure, but if you use another product, you are JUST AS MUCH at risk (and in some cases, more so)... it's not a Microsoft issue per se as an industry wide one.

I say Microsoft isn't doing their job to create a good product in the first place. This after the fact fixing shit is just that...shit!

True, but nor is anyone else. Which should make you realise that it's a very very hard issue.

P.S. I hope I got all of this quoting stuff correct.

Doin' just fine!

 

[DVS]

OK, you are sidestepping my questions with the same statements you have been. Sure, everybody has problems, but I'm talking about end users like Miss T who have limited techincal know how, and Microsoft machines.

I'm finished with this, because it's getting too much of you say this and I say that, and neither of us is going to agree on anything.

It's near impossible to carry on a lengthy conversation in this sort of forum. If we lived closer, we could go for coffee, or something.

You say my statements are not quite true, or just nearly so? So, again, we will have to just agree to disagree.

Microsoft is a main player in Win2000 and XP holes that should be found, by their techs, but haven't. I say they should find these holes before a virus creator will, but somehow they don't seem to.

It seems to me, the people who create the software would have a much better idea of where to look for these holes than someone from the outside working on his own.

You say it takes years to find these holes, so I wonder why these worms and viruses continue to be exploited on new, fresh out of the box computers.

Sure, some will take a while to find, but not all of them will. I stand by my statement that Microsoft is STILL lacking in sufficiently beta testing their own software. Until I see a Microsoft end user product that doesn't attract these worms and viruses like a magnet, I will continue to believe that.

You might say other company programs are also at fault, but I say it doesn't matter who else's software has security holes, if the end user getting hit by viruses is using a Microsoft product. Maybe some day the other softwares will be hit, but today it's Microsoft.

You say it's not Microsoft software when they are connected to the Internet. What difference does that make, if the virus lands on a Microsoft computer and infects it? Sounds like a Microsoft failing, to me.

Miss T, sorry for hijacking your thread. It was kind of like a virus attack, wasn't it.


Oh, in case anyone wants to read some stuff on one person's quest to get Microsoft to fix it's software, here's a link. This is a guy who has a company web site, hit multiple times by DoS attacks. If you can handle the technical wording, because he goes into detail in several areas. He even uses pictures.

It is really quite easy to read, even if you are technially challenged. But, there are also areas that get pretty technical, so just skim past those areas to the good parts. Even if you don't read it all, it has some very interesting reading about his situation. I first found this site in the mid 90s. He has since updated to more recent issues, in some areas. I'm going back to check those out.

http://grc.com/dos/grcdos.htm

 

[Wizard]

Intresting thread to read. I like a thread where ya learn something.

Always wondered why our Mac at work never got viruses.

 

[catalina_francisco]

Seems to me with my limited technical knowledge on these things, but being slave to a security expert ofhigh rating, that many problems just seem to lie in that companies continue to employ and put faith in engineers who for whatever reason are not either doing their job correctly, or don't have the ability they need. Master went to a training session on a new product a week ago, sat there and listened while the person demonstrating and explaining the system told everyone it was inpenetrable and they knew this from employing the top engineers to attempt to infiltrate it for over a week, without success. Of course, Francisco had to ask if they were sure it was 100% unable to be gotten past to which he was assured yes it was. Hmmm, well less than 5 minutes later he had demonstrated to them how simply and quick it was to penetrate. LOL, he was then asked to show and explain to their technicians had he had created his magic, and so quickly. And this is not that infrequent a thing that happens with him.

Catalina

 

[kitty4ever]

My sister, who is rarely online, but still is sometimes, never downloaded any updates for her machine, that she's owned for a year and a half now. So, I spent over 2 hours downloading critical updates over dialup.

<sighs>

 

[JoseIsWild]

My critical updates do not work properly. It asks me to update Windows XP EVERY TIME I log on. When I check the log, it downloads the SAME update everytime it just FORGETs that it downloaded and installed it the last time. For this reason, I have to keep it turned off. IE updates are annoying too.

 

[Xelebes]

Thankfully I have Windows 2000 and have never come across virii at all. Mostly because 2000 is rarely used OS like Mac and Linux.

 

[DVS]

Thankfully I have Windows 2000 and have never come across virii at all. Mostly because 2000 is rarely used OS like Mac and Linux.

Well, don't sit too safely. I never get a virus, either, but that could be just good luck. Viruses and worms travel different ways.

Sometimes, it depends on who your friends are, and if they are savvy enough to update their computers and anti virus software so they don't get infected. If they get infected, they could very well send you a virus.

Sometimes it's a firewall that will keep your computer safe. If that's the case, having computer savvy friends won't help you. You would need to update your Windows version, keep your anti virus software updated and also make sure your firewall is up to par. Oh, and a little luck never hurts, either.

And, as far as saying it's rarely used, I work at a company that is a rather large U.S. widespread company, and they run completely Win2000 Pro systems. The location I'm at has nearly 1,000 computers. This company is also a backup for the NYSE, should a catastrophy ever occur. They generally subscribe to the school of "if it don't require upgrading, there's no need in upgrading". This not only saves time and money, but also possible headaches that a new version of an OS could cause across the board, if your company software is restrictive in some way.

I will agree with you that there are enough people who want to be on the cutting edge of technology that XP is "the OS to have". Also, because it is the latest and greatest, every new computer that comes out will have at least some version of XP installed on it.

Virus creators also know this, and it benefits them to stick with the new stuff that's out, because it is the less "tried and true" technology.

From what I understand, the Sasser worm will infect win2000 computers, too. Win2000 does have it's problems, but I personally consider it the most "stable" of the current versions of Windows out.

 

[Xelebes]

Yeah, I know I use 2000 Pro for media creation and stuff. I like it - been very stable for me and hasn't caused. I guess it has been mostly luck.

I hear the Susser creator has confessed and been arrested in Hanover just recently.

 

[DVS]

I like it - been very stable for me and hasn't caused. I guess it has been mostly luck.

I hear the Susser creator has confessed and been arrested in Hanover just recently.

Yep, I've been lucky, too. Never EVER caught a virus, even in the DOS days. Actually, knowing what is necessary to do has a lot to do with it.
Unfortunately, a lot of end users are oblivious to what is necessary. Just yesterday, I removed the Sasser from a friend's home computer. He wondered how he got it. He has XP.

When I mentioned OS updates, firewalls and anti virus software, etc., he quickly chimed in that he had anti virus software. But, he couldn't tell me which one, and when I asked if he had been updating the data files, he gave me that blank stare that I see so often.

And, yes, I heard the Sasser creator had been caught, too. Yes, Germany was what I heard, too.

In defense of Microsoft, I also heard they played a large part in tracking this person down.

OK, Bill, that's one for you.

 

[DVS]

My sister, who is rarely online, but still is sometimes, never downloaded any updates for her machine, that she's owned for a year and a half now. So, I spent over 2 hours downloading critical updates over dialup.

<sighs>

Dialup? I feel your pain! You're a good sister.

 

[kitty4ever]

Dialup? I feel your pain! You're a good sister.

Thanks. I sat my almost 14 yr old niece down and showed her how to do it, and put her on a schedule to check frequently for updates.

My sister did pay me in enchiladas, rice and beans for dinner.