Re: XP vulnerabilities?

From: joe (joe_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 02/21/04 

Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2004 23:13:01 +1000

"Leythos" <void@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.1aa1188137d0e4f198a1ff@news-server.columbus.rr.com...
> In article <c16lh4$s05$0@pita.alt.net>, joe@hotmail.com says...
> > OK - please don't flame me for a newbie dumbass question but I have been
> > searching the net for a while now without finding a clear answer to the
> > following, and I am hoping you can help.
>
> Most people don't flame people that have honest questions here.
>
> > I have recently changed from Win98SE to WinXP corp pro,
>
> This is a concern - what do you mean by Corp? Since the open license
> version are only available within a company, and since home users can't
> install a copy of their companies open license are we to assume that
> this is a bootleg copy?
>
> > running Norton
> > Internet Security 2003. Under Win98 I had Atguard and BlackIce running
in
> > addition to NIS and I came up undetected at every security test site I
could
> > find. I understand that WinXP has some (many?) holes and was wondering:
>
> Windows XP has more "holes" than Win98, but Win XP is a different
> version of Windows - meaning that Windows NT, 2000, XP are in the same
> family, Windows 95, 98, ME are in another family.
>
> > 1. How important is it to install the SP's from MS, and what "surprises"
> > should I expect from them?
>
> If you don't install the Windows Update service packs you are asking for
> a lot of trouble. There are more than security updates that you need.
>
> I have installed hundreds of copies (licensed) of XP on systems, fully
> patched, and never but hurt by any service pack or critical update.
>
> > 2. What additional software should I have and/or what settings should I
> > change in WinXP to be invisible on the net?
>
> When you log-on, do it as a user level account, not an administrator.
> Only run as administrator when installing software or running something
> that absolutely requires administrator level access.
>
> Set your IE settings on Security for the "Internet Zone" to it's highest
> setting, then put sites you trust in the trusted zone - change the
> trusted zones settings to Medium-Low or Medium.
>
> > 3. Does Steve Gibson know what he's talking about or not?
>
> There are many people that will hammer Steve, but I've use his products
> since Spin-Rite came out. I've found his scanner to work well for
> testing my routers and some firewalls for simple holes. In general, he's
> reliable.
>
> > I have also recently changed from dial-up to DSL, hence my increased
> > concern.
>
> Your concern should be the same - there is no less threat when you are
> on dial-up.
>
> Get a DSL router with NAT and then use ONE firewall application. The
> router will block all unsolicited inbound attempts, so that's your first
> layer (border). The personal firewall will block outbound.
>
> I'd be more concerned about your "Corp" version of Windows XP than
> anything else right now.

Thanks for your comments but - are you taking on the role of the net police?
For your information, I run my own company from home so I have installed the
valid corp edition on all my networked computers. Nice of you to jump to
conclusions - and why the hell are you so personally "concerned"?

>
> --
> --
> spamfree999@rrohio.com
> (Remove 999 to reply to me)

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