WinXP, Win2K or Win98SE for moms computer, virus considerations?

[GaryH]

My 70 year old mother wants me to set her up with a computer so she can do
her email with family members.
I don't think she will be doing any web surfing.
I live on the west coast and will not be able to help very much when the
ad-ware starts trying to infect her pc.
I get the impression from reading the post here it is mostly XP & Win2k that
are being infected.
Any feed back on OS selection with regard to virus/adware/malware?

 

[GSV Three Minds in a Can]

My 70 year old mother wants me to set her up with a computer so she can do
her email with family members.
I don't think she will be doing any web surfing.
I live on the west coast and will not be able to help very much when the
ad-ware starts trying to infect her pc.
I get the impression from reading the post here it is mostly XP & Win2k that
are being infected.
Any feed back on OS selection with regard to virus/adware/malware?

Most of the 'non email, non-browser' exploits target the newer OS, yes,
however if you set XP up to 'auto update', ensure she has a decent email
virus scanner (my ISP does it for me, but PcCillin, and others, works
too), turn on the firewall (and/or use a NAT/Router to attach to the
Internet, if she's on broadband) and explain to her the basics of Safe
Hex and the need to keep things updated, she should be fine with XP.

98SE has several gaping holes that are never going to be fixed, and may
well lack drivers for some bits of a modern PC (so you'd have to find
her an antique).

Unless she one of these trusting LOLs who open the door to every scum
bag claiming to be there to check the water pipes because there is a
leak next door, then she should be fine. Mild suspicion is good enough
(although outright paranoia probably does no harm).

 

[Conor]

My 70 year old mother wants me to set her up with a computer so she can do
her email with family members.
I don't think she will be doing any web surfing.
I live on the west coast and will not be able to help very much when the
ad-ware starts trying to infect her pc.
I get the impression from reading the post here it is mostly XP & Win2k that
are being infected.
Any feed back on OS selection with regard to virus/adware/malware?

Stick a Linux distro on. Something like SuSE is childs play to use.

 

[Adam Thomas]

Well, if she isn't going to be doing any web surfing (not connected to the
net) then she really will not have much to worry about.