Goodbye Win. 98

[Rove]

Hi. I copied this article from a Site that I visit.

Its likely many of you have already read it.

Anyway here the info.
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Goodbye, 98 and ME
from Kim Komando

For 98 and ME, could user behavior effectively reduce Internet security risk? I'm talking about only visiting respectable sites such as Yahoo, Amazon and the New York Times. I'd watch which links I click.

Not everyone is able to run out and get a new computer, just because Microsoft and Zone Labs have given up supporting those of us who still have Windows 98 or Windows ME. I am disabled and live on $600 a month. I am lucky to have a computer. There are thousands like me. We don't have these old systems because we WANT them. If we COULD upgrade, we would have done it long ago.

I received a number of messages from people who say they are stuck with 98 or ME. As the second person says, a lot of people simply can't afford to replace their computer. It's not a question of safety for them. Either they use 98 (or ME), or they don't have a computer.

If I were in this situation, I'd continue to use 98, too. Same with ME. You really can't make these machines perfectly safe. But there are things you can do.

First, I'd stop using Internet Explorer. Security problems pop up regularly for this program. In fact, there's one out there now that Microsoft cannot fix.

Instead, I'd download Firefox. This free browser has problems of its own. But it is not tied into Windows the way IE is. So the security problems are not as severe. Besides, it can be patched, even if it is running on an old Windows version.

Don't try to remove Internet Explorer from your computer. It's part of Windows, and is virtually impossible to uninstall. Just stop using it.

Next, you need a firewall. ZoneAlarm no longer supports 98 and ME. But Agnitum does. You can download Outpost Firewall Free. It will even run on Windows 95.

You need anti-spyware software, too. In fact, you need more than one program, to be safe. After you get the programs, update them regularly. Spyware is a moving target.

The best such program is Webroot's Spy Sweeper, in my opinion. (Webroot is also one of my advertisers.) Spy Sweeper supports Windows 98 Second Edition, along with ME. So if you use the early edition of Windows 98, you're out of luck.

Spy Sweeper is $30. It updates itself automatically.

Spybot-Search & Destroy is also good. And it is free. Furthermore, it runs on all Windows 98 systems. Download and install it. You have to update it manually.

Ad-Aware Personal is also free. And it works fine on Windows 98 and ME. It will not keep spyware off your computer. But it does a good job of removing it. Download and install it. Update Ad-Aware manually.

I have links to all of these programs on my site.

Don't forget antivirus software. There's plenty available for 98 and ME. Free programs are available from AVG and avast!. You'll find links on my Web site.

Install a HOSTS file. If something gets onto your computer, the HOSTS file will keep it from contacting the Internet. You can get a good HOSTS file online. Follow the instructions for installation.

Most important, use common sense. Most threats arrive via e-mail. Don't open spam. Delete it. If you do open it, do not open attachments. You will almost certainly be attacked.

There is a slim possibility that a Web site could download something dangerous to you. I emphasize the word slim. However, if you use common sense, you should be OK.

Nonetheless, Microsoft's lack of support is a problem. The bad guys could find and exploit a weakness in these old systems. There is an outside chance that a keylogger could be placed on your computer. So don't put any confidential information on them. I wouldn't do online banking or stock trading with these systems

--

Bill

[John]

Most threats arrive via e-mail. Don't open spam. Delete it. If you do open it, do not open attachments. You will almost certainly be attacked.
Bill
I would add to that, cease using outlook/express. I'm using XP now but when I was still using 98 I noticed an instant and dramatic drop in virus and spam when I stopped using OE.
There are other free and cheap mail programs out there, I use Eudora which is free if you don't mind very discreet ads in one corner of the screen.

John

[MarkJ]

If I was in the position of the article writer - very limited income and worried about Win98 support being withdrawn - I would look at installing a modern Linux distribution, such as Mandriva or one of the Ubuntu variants. A variation - such as Xubuntu - which runs with a lighter window manager like XFCE - will run on a machine which runs Windows 98.
The old days of Linux being for geeks and computer experts are fading away - I use Linux exclusively and find XP a lot harder to use if I have to.
Windows 98 is still a viable OS - the dropping of support for it by Microsoft is sad, but it can still be safe to use. As mentioned, using a decent browser such as firefox, thunderbird or similar for mail and some basic precautions will keep Windows 98 machines viable into the future.
I see a very large number of compromised XP machines - and that is with Microsoft support and all the things which are being worried about!
All operating systems - yes, even Linux and MacOSX - have security issues. Despite all the doom mongers on various websites saying that Windows 98 machines will be targetted now there is no support, I cannot see it happening. To make it worth the effort, the "hacker"* will always target the largest audience - little point in aiming for Win95/98/ME when most folks use XP.

*hacker is not the correct term - I used it for simplicity as most people can understand it. These people are actually "crackers".

[Ed McKie]

All good advice of course....but he spoiled it at the end.



...... wouldn't do online banking or stock trading with these systems


Bill

If you can afford to play the stock market, then you can afford a new pooter at todays prices.

Cheers..Ed

[Mythology]

Personally, I have no qualms about using online banking in Windows ME.
I do keep a clean PC, of course, but if your bank is any good, I suspect that their system would detect nasties anyway.

For example ...

I use Firefox. One of the add-ons (extensions) that you can get is the "HTML Validator". With this installed, when you right-click and view the source, instead of just getting all the code in plain text, the validator will read it and tell you if there are any coding errors. Very handy as a quick offline check of web pages that I've written before I upload them.

Now ... there is an *option* to "Enable HTML validation in the browser". If enabled, it will read the code for web pages when you're online and let you know if there is any duff code. I cannot remember now *why*, after having it switched off, I switched this option on at some stage, but the result was that I could not get at my Co-op bank account, because their system detected that something "unusual" was going on, assumed it was a nasty that was trying to get at their system, so locked me out! :)

[John]

All good advice of course....but he spoiled it at the end.



If you can afford to play the stock market, then you can afford a new pooter at todays prices.

Cheers..Ed
I think he is using that as an example of the level of security not suggesting that that may be a use.

John

[Ed Bradford]

In reading the posting, I was a little confused as to who had done the writing in the later portion. Was I reading something that Rove wrote or something that Kim Komando wrote and Rove was quoting?

If you're on a tight budget I might suggest trying what we call in the States as garage sales. I was able to pick up a complete working computer (1.4G Celeron, 256K RAM, 40G harddrive) for $50.00 US. It came with software which included an XP operating system. I've bought several that way.

If your not familiar with the term or concept, a garage sale is what a home owner does when they have a collection of stuff they no longer use or need. They assemble their stuff on tables inside or in front of the garage, advertise the garage sale in the newspaper and sell the stuff over a weekend. The concept is quite popular here and I would expect in other countries. The government looks the other way concerning taxes.

.............Ed

[Linda]

Ed

They have boot sales in Britain, but they have nothing at all to do with footwear or giving your computer a boot :D.

As I understand it they (the Brits ;) ) put their junk into the boot (car trunk) and go park somewhere to sell the stuff. I'm not sure how it is organized though.

Comparing that with garage sales, I think most people in North America would have to have an awfully big trunk to fit all their junk into it :D (and to explain to the Brits - at most garage sales here people usually have enough junk to fill a double width/length driveway :eek: )

Linda

[MarkJ]

Garage sales *do* happen in the UK - probably not as popular as the car boot you mention Linda.
Car boot sales are very popular - every weekend there is one close by. The general idea is that a large car park or field is chosen and advertised as the site for a sale. People then turn up with their car, plus a table and pay a small entrance fee to sell. Sadly, they started out as a good idea - people selling their unwanted bits and bobs cheaply, but now they are a commercial venture for most people who simply buy stuff even before it is out of the boxes and put it on their own table with a large markup. Very few genuine sellers now - which spoils the whole idea.

As far as cheap PCs is concerned, if you know what you are doing, the local refuse tip is a surprisingly good place to collect them. Some are beyond repair, but a lot are fine - just that they have been replaced with a new model. Also, in MicroMart, a magazine here in the UK you see adverts for companies who buy the machines from companies who upgrade - they are very cheap and even have a limited warranty.

[Ed Bradford]

MarkJ, along with garage sales we also have what you've described, however, we called them flea markets. They started off the same way as yours; small and in some field or parking lot. Like yours they've grown. Today they are enterprises under roofs and some even have air conditioning. Most of the sellers are more or less permanent. Every once in a while some home owner will carry his stuff there to sell but like what you've described, it's quickly bought up, marked up and resold on other seller's tables. ..............Ed

[coenmfam]

I still use win 98 and will do so for some time to come.

My computer also runs Mandriva Linux as well
on start up
a little screen will come up and say which do you want to run
Windows or Linux

Mostly for the net I run windows but that is mostly because I use
Outlook Express to get my e-mails
and havent yet configured Thunderbird in Mandriva to do it

I would challenge this comment though
quote
Most threats arrive via e-mail.

while true, I have come across web-pages with embedded viruses in them - usually java-script type.

To protect against this I run an extension called "No-Script" in firefox.

cheers
Nev

[Bengie]

If your not familiar with the term or concept, a garage sale is what a home owner does when they have a collection of stuff they no longer use or need. They assemble their stuff on tables inside or in front of the garage, advertise the garage sale in the newspaper and sell the stuff over a weekend. The concept is quite popular here and I would expect in other countries. The government looks the other way concerning taxes.

.............Ed

I can't see that it's any business of any government or tax department. You have paid the tax on it when you purchased it new. It is your money and you are just recouping some of it. It is not extra income, it is used income that has already been taxed.

[Rove]

This is good........LOL

Well, we have ' garage sales ' all over the place here in Melbourne. One very popular talk back radio station (its an all day talk back) gives FREE ads to anyone holding a garage sale. This is only on a Sat morn from 6am to 9am. You tell them what junk you have, plus street address a time of sale.

My sister is a total addict for this garage sales. People having such a sale place small boards on street corners and even drop leaflets in your mail box.

My sister then buys just about anything. All elect items she brings them to me for repair (I am a qualified sparky) Amazing, some vacuum cleaners only need the cord fixed. A near new microwave oven, only a blown 6 amp fuse needed.

I operated a Shell service station for 34yrs and when I left / retired took all my junk home, stored in a large shed. I need to do a garage sale very badly ...sorry, call it a warehouse sale....LOL

Problem is I cannot find the time. One day I'll call the local Boy Scouts and give them the lot for free. Hope they can get hold of two large trucks.

[Mythology]

"My sister then buys just about anything."

I hope she's a little more selective than the harmless but "not quite all there" lass who used to live along the road from me, was very fond of car boot sales, and could not resist picking up a "bargain", which she would then proudly present to me when she called in on her way home.

Typical example:
"I bought this thing - do you know what it is?"
"Yes - it's a fold-up chip basket. Handy if you have a chip-fryer and want to store the basket away separately, takes up less space being flat."
"Oh! I get it."
"Ummm ... Marian, do you have a chip-fryer?"
"No."
"I thought not. Why did you buy it then?"
"It was only 20p!"

|banghead| :D

(Edit: And she once spent £1.40 on bus fares to go to a shop that had a special offer on her favourite large chocolate bars, 50p less than in the corner shop ... and bought two, so she had "saved" a pound. :D )

[Rove]

Myth

She must be a blonde !

[Linda]

She must be a blonde !
Oi! ;)

Bengie, We are taxed to death over 'ere. We are even taxed after we die! ;)

We pay tax on funeral costs!

If we sell a car we have to pay the taxman on the price that "they" think the car is worth. It doesn't matter what you actually sell it for.

We even pay tax on dirt!

[Linda]

she once spent £1.40 on bus fares to go to a shop that had a special offer on her favourite large chocolate bars, 50p less than in the corner shop ... and bought two, so she had "saved" a pound :D

Reminds me of the ads....."the more you spend the more you save" :D

[Diane Grant-Salmon]

:D

Reminds me of the ads....."the more you spend the more you save" :D


:D Example: When I buy clothes in the sale and I say to hubby *Look at all the money I've saved* ...... meaning the amount if I'd had to buy them at full price!

His answer: How can you have saved money, when you've just spent some? This is one area where *we have to beg to differ* in our opinions.

Although I have Windows XP Pro, after reading this thread, this morning I took the plunge (head first!) and downloaded Firefox to my laptop. During installation,it asked me a question which I didn't know how to answer, so after a mad panic phone call to a friend ;) it was installed OK!

Then I downloaded the extension to view a page in IE Tab, this was necessary to be able to post emoticons and piccies in my MSN Group ..... it works!

When I've got used to it and after I download Firefox to my desktop computer, (small steps, one step at a time!) ...... I shall have a go at telling Outlook Express to push off too!

[MarkJ]

Nice one Diane :)
Firefox is a nice browser - and it is a lot more secure than IE. There are some very useful little add ons for it too - Adblock is one I use a lot, and Flashblock too.
For mail, have a look at Thunderbird - from the same people as Firefox (Mozilla.org) and again, it helps to secure against some of the nasties out there.
Of course, using anti virus software and spyware removal tools are still vital in the fight against web borne problems - but firefox and thunderbird (or other mail program) will help too.

Mark

[Diane Grant-Salmon]

:) Mark ..... all the best made plans and all that! My friend advised me to 'have a play around' with Firefox for a couple of weeks, get used to it etc. before making it my default browser.

I managed to 'play' a little this afternoon, I was flitting from Firefox to IE like a yo-yo and I'm so pleased that I did this!

I read all New Posts in BG Forums and all New Posts in my MSN Groups in Firefox, which as you know, the 'read' messages are feint in colour, the unread ones are 'bold' in colour.

Then I swapped to IE and threw a fit! :(

Every message I had just read was showing in 'bold' and therefore unread! I will get myself into a real mess using both, so I realised that it's decision time now.

I have made it ..... Firefox, thumbs up and IE, thumbs down.

[Bengie]

Oi! ;)

Bengie, We are taxed to death over 'ere. We are even taxed after we die! ;)

We pay tax on funeral costs!

If we sell a car we have to pay the taxman on the price that "they" think the car is worth. It doesn't matter what you actually sell it for.

We even pay tax on dirt!

Good Heavens Linda!

I thought Gordon Brown was only the chancellor of us - didn't realise he was the chancellor of Canada as well.