Question 2

[persian ram]

I am confused about three things:

1. how come there are so many "independent" suppliers of security software?
MS seems to go out of its way to have an operating system that buggers
non-MS applications and self destructs in house applications over time, why
doesn't it provide a good security system with its OS?

2. Which of the independent Security applications is best? I have been a
"norton" user since 1985, so I kind of lean toward that brand, but I am not
married to it. McAffee seems to be popular, but I don't know if it really
has any distinct advantage over another brand. It is all very confusing.

3. There are a lot of links on this NG to independent gurus and problem
solvers. How do I know they can be trusted?

Really, all I want to do is use my computer in piece. I am spending way too
much of my time being a computer mechanic.

chuck

 

[Leythos]

I am confused about three things:

1. how come there are so many "independent" suppliers of security software?

Because there are people that don't take the time to learn to secure
their machines and because the default settings of the OS make it prone
to compromise.

MS seems to go out of its way to have an operating system that buggers
non-MS applications and self destructs in house applications over time, why
doesn't it provide a good security system with its OS?

I've been doing this for almost 30 years and I don't think that MS does
anything different in the above area (apps/problems), it's mostly a user
issue when I see it.

Security has always been a problem, as they moved from a non-secure
platform to a still non-secure platform. The started with Businesses
needing networks and they assumed they were also secure networks. It
seemed like they jumped into the Internet arena without knowing how to
change the OS and still give corporate users the same setups.

2. Which of the independent Security applications is best? I have been a
"norton" user since 1985, so I kind of lean toward that brand, but I am not
married to it. McAffee seems to be popular, but I don't know if it really
has any distinct advantage over another brand. It is all very confusing.

It really depends on your Internet connection and your own abilities. In
most cases, all users should be behind a NAT device when connecting to
the Internet with their computer(s). A NAT is the starting point.
Personal Firewall/Security software, in the hands of the ignorant, does
not protect the system, only gives a false sense of security.

AV software, backed by quality/timely updates, is the next needed
protection method.

And then we get to users that don't protect their own system - meaning
that they don't use a secured browser, use P2P File Sharing apps without
knowing about all the bad things in them......

3. There are a lot of links on this NG to independent gurus and problem
solvers. How do I know they can be trusted?

You can't. You can only start to trust if you stay here long enough to
learn about the people posting solutions.

Really, all I want to do is use my computer in piece. I am spending way too
much of my time being a computer mechanic.

There are several documents on Microsofts site that tell users how to
install securely, secure IE, and surf safely - try reading/following the
directions.

 

[persian ram]

Leythos,

thanks for the response. Your suggestions were all good. I frequently get
the updates from MS on both computers. I may not be as diligent as need be
due to the inability to determine whether or not I really NEED the chnages.
I am on a SLOW dial up line, and the upgrades are more often than not in the
10s of megabyte range. Since MS insists that EVERY computer must be network
capable, it complicates life for those of us who have stand alone machines.

At least SP came on a disk (thank you MS).

 

[Kerry Brown]

I am confused about three things:

1. how come there are so many "independent" suppliers of security
software?
MS seems to go out of its way to have an operating system that buggers
non-MS applications and self destructs in house applications over time,
why
doesn't it provide a good security system with its OS?

2. Which of the independent Security applications is best? I have been a
"norton" user since 1985, so I kind of lean toward that brand, but I am
not
married to it. McAffee seems to be popular, but I don't know if it really
has any distinct advantage over another brand. It is all very confusing.

3. There are a lot of links on this NG to independent gurus and problem
solvers. How do I know they can be trusted?

Really, all I want to do is use my computer in piece. I am spending way
too
much of my time being a computer mechanic.

chuck

It's financially lucrative to compromise your computer and use it for
nefarious purposes. As long as this is true some people will try to find a
way to do it. Microsoft is in business to make money and rightly or wrongly
have determined they can make more money by having more features rather than
better security. This makes it easy for the bad guys. Most experts have
their own favourite applications and methods for securing windows. Most of
them work, some better than others. You'll have to do a bit of research and
decide what's best for you. A router is a good first line of defence. Your
post in another thread indicated you are on dialup so a router is probably
out. There are routers for dialup but they are awkward to setup and use. On
dialup installing SP2 and making sure the firewall is active or installing a
third party firewall is a first step. Installing one antivirus app is the
next step. Installing two or three antispyware apps is next. Be aware that
several programs that claim to remove spyware actually distribute spyware.
Lastly and most important practice safe computing. Unfortunately this means
not surfing to questionable, but possibly interesting web sites, and not
using p2p file sharing apps. A good place to start researching safe
computing is here:

http://www.aumha.org/a/health.htm

Another excellent resource is this newsgroup. Search for posts by Shenan
Stanley and read his tips on safe computing.

Kerry

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Persian

I am presently on dialup too, but I still get the updates, some of which are
quite large.. that is no excuse for not getting them..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/User

Leythos,

thanks for the response. Your suggestions were all good. I frequently
get
the updates from MS on both computers. I may not be as diligent as need
be
due to the inability to determine whether or not I really NEED the
chnages.
I am on a SLOW dial up line, and the upgrades are more often than not in
the
10s of megabyte range. Since MS insists that EVERY computer must be
network
capable, it complicates life for those of us who have stand alone
machines.

At least SP came on a disk (thank you MS).

 

[persian ram]

Kerry and others,

good replies from all, and I thank you. Wish I had a way of saving the e
mail files. they are the only items I cannot back up. XP fixed that little
convenice available in Windows 9x. (

The infected computer had SP1 and all of the MS updates through a year ago.
The size of the downloads from MS are frustrating on dialup. MS software
engineers don't have to live with such an inconvenience, so I doubt they
really consider such a factor. I have Norton anti virus and firewall with
auto updates installed and I have been running two spy ware programs since
the first of this year. Of course something snuck through despite my
efforts.

We don't do any p2p and the sites my wife visits one wouldn't associate with
being a source for mischief. But, there you are.

We try to practice safe computing, but it is just like birth control:
abstinence is the only sure method of prevention.

c'est le vie

chuck

 

[Kerry Brown]

Kerry and others,

good replies from all, and I thank you. Wish I had a way of saving the e
mail files. they are the only items I cannot back up. XP fixed that
little
convenice available in Windows 9x. (

The infected computer had SP1 and all of the MS updates through a year
ago.
The size of the downloads from MS are frustrating on dialup. MS software
engineers don't have to live with such an inconvenience, so I doubt they
really consider such a factor. I have Norton anti virus and firewall with
auto updates installed and I have been running two spy ware programs since
the first of this year. Of course something snuck through despite my
efforts.

We don't do any p2p and the sites my wife visits one wouldn't associate
with
being a source for mischief. But, there you are.

We try to practice safe computing, but it is just like birth control:
abstinence is the only sure method of prevention.

c'est le vie

chuck

It's a rough and tumble world on the internet. I've seen computers infected
by clicking on a link in a google search. They were redirected to a porno
site and that was it. It took most of a day to clean it up.

You can back up email quite easily. Here's a program to do it with Outlook
Express:

http://www.outlook-express-backup.com/

You can also just copy the files to a backup folder or disk. In XP the files
are usuallt here:

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application
Data\Identities\{64177125-F9F1-46EA-BC2C-2C9ECD377813}\Microsoft\Outlook
Express

You have to have view hidden files on. Replace username with your user name.
The number in curly brackets will vary.

Kerry

 

[persian ram]

Kerry,

Thanks for this reply!!! This was fast to use and free!! It worked as
advertised.

Much more manageable than other suggestions!!

chuck

 

[Kerry Brown]

Kerry,

Thanks for this reply!!! This was fast to use and free!! It worked as
advertised.

Much more manageable than other suggestions!!

chuck

Glad it worked. Did you download the backup program or just copy the files?

Kerry