| Forum Home | ||||
| Press F1 | ||||
| Thread ID: 97218 | 2009-02-08 00:19:00 | Do I really need Windows Updates? | tuiruru (12277) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 745936 | 2009-02-08 03:41:00 | Funny. I do not disable updates on customers PCs. I do, always, ensure they never leave the shop without adequate 3rd party protection on them and stress the need for that to be kept current and used often. So, all the techs here that have decided Nortons is useless because they see Nortons protected PCs stuffed with malware - now explain to me how MS updates have protected all these people that bring their fully patched PCs in also stuffed with Malware? It doesn't work. Simple real world observation. Having a patched PC doesn't stop the need for 3rd party AV and the likes, but surely using solely 3rd party apps without a fully patched system is asking for trouble. This latest worm was getting through a lot of 3rd party firewalls that were up to date. |
plod (107) | ||
| 745937 | 2009-02-08 04:34:00 | I use XP pro SP2 and Vista Home Premium No Updates. The XP is on 2 Desk Top's and have never had any updates, other than SP2 and Firefox, Anti virus plus software etc. The HP laptop was bought over a year ago. I removed the Norton AV & installed Avast and Zone Alarm. In all this time it has never faltered, nor had a Windows Update, not even SP1. 1) Keep antivirus, firewall & anti spy ware up to date. 2) If it aint broke, don't fix it. As for reformatting & installing, why?? just make an Image of the system, takes a few minutes to restore. |
mzee (3324) | ||
| 745938 | 2009-02-08 04:38:00 | The HP laptop was bought over a year ago. I removed the Norton AV & installed Avast and Zone Alarm. In all this time it has never faltered, nor had a Windows Update, not even SP1. Is this on the net tho? If it isnt, thats prob why it hasnt been hit yet |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 745939 | 2009-02-08 04:57:00 | The Lap top on Vista belongs to my ex wife who knows nothing about computers. It is connected to Broadband via a wireless router plugged into a Dick Smith LAN/J45 router shared by 3 other computers. I scan it for virae and spyware every 3 months or so and ensure that they are up to date. It has never refused to boot. No Windows updates have been done. I made an Image of the drive after installing the software but never had to use it. (must do another) Murphy's law being what it is, I will expect a call anytime soon! Should keep quiet ;-) |
mzee (3324) | ||
| 745940 | 2009-02-08 06:08:00 | Thanks for the prompt replies and advice people - lots for me to think about. I'll soon start a new thread on the third party stuff I'm already using and whether I need anymore - watch this space! |
tuiruru (12277) | ||
| 745941 | 2009-02-08 06:59:00 | ... I update via Autopatcher and my estimate is there is about 10-15% of the updates I don't need to install I thought MS has blocked Autopatcher? Still available for download? |
bk T (215) | ||
| 745942 | 2009-02-08 07:13:00 | I thought MS has blocked Autopatcher? Still available for download? Thats what I thought, but obviously not. I think they were told to stop BUT it does work. I used it to make ISO's last mth for updates for Office XP/07/03, the net framework updates, and x64 |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 745943 | 2009-02-08 09:40:00 | It all depends on what you use the computer for, and particularly, whether or not it ever sees the internet. I have a games machine that has had no updates, no patches, no service packs beyond the SP1 it came with. There is no current antivirus, but there is the protection of a software firewall, and a router as another layer of separation. It rarely gets connected to the net, and when it does, it is going to trusted sites, like steam to get more games, and is promptly disconnected once the task is complete.. It never surfs the net. It's been fine! If you use something OTHER than the main vectors for attack (Internet Explorer, Instant Messager, Outlook, Torrents), and if you have a bit of a brain about what you click on, then you may be relatively safe. Particularly if you avoid the MS trap of using Media Player and Internet Explorer, then 90% of all the updates are worthless to you anyway. I'm a tad frustrated about some new hardware out there requiring SP3 on Vista, but am addressing that problem by simply not buying that hardware. Most of my internet use is done via an old Win98 system, and it's been fine too! Has Avast and ZoneAlarm. Nortons was indeed a piece of excrement. If you have some nouse, and use the internet with caution, you may be able to cut down on the updates. If you have kids using it online, put every patch and protection you can find on it, and get familiar with using restore points. Kids will bring every digital curse you can imagine. |
Paul.Cov (425) | ||
| 745944 | 2009-02-08 10:49:00 | You can pick up many infections without being internet connected. A growing concern is the presence of USB device worms which are becoming more prevalent. There have been recent cases of conference delegates given USB keys and digital photoframes as freebies which were all infected "maliciously" at the manufacturing source. These viruses will then spread fro PC to PC via USB . The number of users thought to be infected by CONFLIKER is estimated at 20 million. I think this highlights the need for security awareness and the risks of complacency. Regarding the availability of the mentioned Autopatcher. A good alternative is Personal Software Inspector from SECUNIA which runs inobtrusively in the background, monitors any changes to your software, informs you of any end-of-life or at-risk progs which need patching and suggests the best solution, with direct links to download the patches Automatically. A system restore point is optional before any patching. A good way of keeping abreast of things. |
blanco (11336) | ||
| 745945 | 2009-02-08 18:11:00 | Autopatcher and MS came to some agreement. Autopatcher did stop for a while but is back again now and updates are current. | Bantu (52) | ||
| 1 2 | |||||