View Full Version : A bit of a dilemma...
becstar93
10-27-2003, 02:52 AM
Okay, my computer is totally dodge-ville. It's ####.
It's windows 98 and it only has like 48 ram. So I'll have to update to xp and also get more ram.
My dad's is xp and is like HEAPS of ram. But it's a business computer and won't let me put the internet on it so I can use it for iTunes and iPod and stuff.
He's paranoid about viruses.
Do you think I am better off updating my computer (i dont know if I will have enough memory as well), or using dad's pc.
How can I make sure that he wouldn't get any viruses if I conected his computer to the net? Is a firewall 100% effective? is it possible to get viruses through iTunes or anything?
I know that's a lot of questions, but I need to know. I ordered my iPod today. They're on backorder at my shop though, I can't imagine I'll be getting it too soon.
Use your dads computer, and then get a virus checker to get rid of any fears he has.
Nothing is 100% effective, but it will do a #### good job.
No, you will probably never get a virus through iTunes, unless of course you classify iTunes as a virus ;)
I don't know of any good virus checkers, I have never used one and have never got a virus, well since the internet became the internet. As for firewalls, heres a good, free one: http://www.tinysoftware.com/tiny2/protected/tpf-5.1.1242.exe
noogabooga
10-27-2003, 08:04 AM
I suggest u convince ur dad to allow you to use his computer. Just assure him that you will responsible in using the net connection and install the appropriate software to protect it.
If you are using a dialup connection then no firewall is needed.
For a good and freeware antivirus program try AVG Free Edition at http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
Also install and regularly run Ad-aware to get rid of any spyware that may unknowingly be installed from the Internet.
northernlights
10-27-2003, 09:15 AM
Eh?!?! Excuse me, but having a dial-up is irrelevant, you should ALWAYS be firewalled while online if you (or others) have valued data on that PC.
My personal favourite:
Kerio Personal Firewall (http://www.kerio.com/dwn/kpf4-en-win.exe)
LoneStar
10-27-2003, 04:24 PM
Aren't you guys making too big of a deal for this ? Internet isn't a chaos where every site you visit will potentialy give you a virus. I've been using Internet for many years now (since it's early ages) and I've never had a single virus. I'm not even using anti-viruses that much. Basically, if you download files from professional websites and no underground stuff, there is NO risk. It's only when you start downloading illegal stuff or through P2P softwares that it becomes risky. Otherwise, just be happy.
LoneStar (virusfree)
sparks9
10-27-2003, 04:27 PM
Originally posted by LoneStar
Aren't you guys making too big of a deal for this ? Internet isn't a chaos where every site you visit will potentialy give you a virus. I've been using Internet for many years now (since it's early ages) and I've never had a single virus. I'm not even using anti-viruses that much. Basically, if you download files from professional websites and no underground stuff, there is NO risk. It's only when you start downloading illegal stuff or through P2P softwares that it becomes risky. Otherwise, just be happy.
LoneStar (virusfree)
I agree :D
I will third that statement.
BoothUK
10-27-2003, 10:48 PM
VERY important to add the statement that you have to make sure that you keep your computer up to date using http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com and I mean on a daily basis (or use the XP automatic update thing) if you're going to take a windows PC on the net without a firewall. Or else you can become infected with worms and viruses without so much as downloading anything!
Also don't forget that if all you want to do is rip CDs and manage your iPod you don't need net access at all! Although you'd need to put the itunes installer onto a CDR or something.
becstar93
10-28-2003, 01:14 AM
Oh thanks! I didn't even realise that I didn't need internet connection if I'm just using CDs. Well I did presume, but I didn't really think of it. Thanks heaps! Can't wait to get my little baby!!
noogabooga
10-28-2003, 03:32 AM
erm... if u want to rip ur CDs to the computer to put on the iPod then you would ideally need internet access so the track info can be grabbed from CDDB, unless u want to manually type all those info in urself. And your own computer wont be able to rip them with those specs.
northernlights
10-28-2003, 12:28 PM
Hehe I take it all back, the internet is a completely safe place if you have been using it for years. Apparently.
So put your dads business PC online, especially don't update it if it has business critical information on it, NEVER get a firewall...after all it's a waste of time & money, you know, like spam.
And then, when you figure out Peer2Peer networks or a Google search promises 'FREE MP3s' then try and find them, you can watch your Da's machine fall on it's infected arse.
Alternately why not attack the Windows PC with a hammer now, & save us all the bother.
The point of my original post is that the lassie was concerned about her dads BUSINESS PC being online.
As such I gave advice for a BUSINESS pc, maybe some of you can survive a format without major impact on your workstack, but I know most can't, cos if there's one thing Windows users are more complacent about than using firewall/anti-virus, it's data backup & recovery.
Working for a major UK Business ISP, you would not believe the amount of 'I didn't think I could get a virus from email/browsing' calls I have listened into.
Quite a few from the 'I've been on the Net for yeeeeeeeears & never had a problem until now...!' camp as well I may add.
glucoseboy
10-28-2003, 06:42 PM
Time to ask your dad for a new PC.
Shoot, you could get a dell for like $350.
Check www.techbargains.com
(If I were your dad, I would do that in a heartbeat rather than risk you doing something to my business PC that could screw it up)
If I were you, I would not touch your dad's PC, I mean, can you imagine what he would say or do if you did something that screwed it up?
Originally posted by BoothUK
VERY important to add the statement that you have to make sure that you keep your computer up to date using http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com and I mean on a daily basis (or use the XP automatic update thing) if you're going to take a windows PC on the net without a firewall. Or else you can become infected with worms and viruses without so much as downloading anything!
Also don't forget that if all you want to do is rip CDs and manage your iPod you don't need net access at all! Although you'd need to put the itunes installer onto a CDR or something.
Very important? I have never updated XP since it came out, I've never got a virus or a worm, what gives :P
Lance
10-29-2003, 10:35 AM
Originally posted by Adam
Very important? I have never updated XP since it came out, I've never got a virus or a worm, what gives :P
Are you sure it's not set on auto update? I garentee you that if you havn't run an update you would have gotten a worm. Check your system32 folder, look in the wins folder, and tell me if somthing called "dllhost" is present. If so, you've got a worm. This is the whichita (sp?) worm. My hard drive crashed on my old computer, got a new hard drive, installed windows, was plugged in for no more than 1 hour, and was only downloading windows updates, and I caught the virus/worm.
Now it's going to sound like I'm contradicting myself here, but...
If used by an intelligent person, the internet is infact safe. My dad was big w/ the pioneers of the internet, and we had some little box thing, don't even remember what it was called, but it basically had email, chat, and discussion boards, and all the hardware was, was a screen and a keyboard that folded down. Kinda looked like a travel version of those old ibm's. Anyways, I've been using the net since I was around 7, I'm 18 now. Never once have I gotten a virus (other than that one worm that just appeared due to lack of obtaining the windows update in time). If you update your computer regularly, and you're not putting yourself out there to be attacked, chances are you probably won't get one. i've used many p2p networks, and havn't gotten anything.
p.s. I've never used any firewalls or virus checkers other than what windows update provides.
ashawley
10-29-2003, 01:41 PM
DllHost.exe is a standard file installed by windows. Just because you have it doesn't mean you have a worm. It's whether or not that file is infected which determines if you have the worm or not.
With that said, I do agree with you that not using Windows Update is somewhat silly. I mean, I bet you all check your games for the latest updates right? ;) Why wouldn't you do the same with your operating system.
Adam
BoothUK
10-29-2003, 08:02 PM
Originally posted by Adam
Very important? I have never updated XP since it came out, I've never got a virus or a worm, what gives :P
As others have pointed out it really is very easy to get a worm if you take unprotected unpatched Windows machines onto the 'net.
Perhaps you have yours behind a router or firewall?
Never ran Autoupdate in XP ever. I disabled it as soon as the installation was finished.
I have been behind a router for a couple of months, but for the many years before that it was the same.
I have ran a virus check and a spyware search, but neither came up with anything.
Anyway, if anything suspicous does come up, I nuke it straight away, be it a startup file or a hidden process.
When that big worm was going around I knew about 20 people who got it, I didn't and I didn't have any protection.
ashawley
10-29-2003, 08:27 PM
Adam:
I'm just curious. Why don't you want patches on your OS? I mean, really? AutoUpdate isn't just about security holes. It's about patches to fix bugs that will make your OS run better.
Why are you against fixing problems.
I just don't get the reluctance.... :rolleyes:
Adam
I'm not really against it, I just see it as more of a trouble than a convinience.
There will be the day, the day I dread. I know it will come. Mistakes are learn't from experience, and I haven't had that experience yet. I hope I don't, but its inevitable.
Anyway, with all of that said, its a bit impossible to do it because my version of windows is *cough cough*, and it doesn't allow windows update to run.
ashawley
10-29-2003, 11:50 PM
Aha....got it. Say no more...