Computer Problem

[snoopy1239]

I haven't updated my Windows for ages.

The reason for this is because last time I clicked the icon, the update halted half way through, claimed that there was a problem and said that 'Windows may not work properly'.

Great, I thought.

Anyhow, next time I booted up the lappie, Windows was indeed stuffed and I was forced to reinstall.

Since then, I've been reluctant to touch that icon and update Windows as I don't want to go through the arduous task of reinstalling everything again.

Is there anything I can do, as I don't want my hard drive to be susceptible to viruses simply because I haven't updated windows?

[RED-DOG]

Update and be damned!!


I have mine on auto update

[kinboshi]

If you have an up-to-date virus checker and firewall and make sure they're running whenever you're connected to the Internet you should be fine.

[byronkincaid]

I wasn't able to update windows on my old computer and it got owned by viruses even though i was running norton and XP firewall.

[Graham C]

Yep, just keep your antivirus and firewall up to date (get another firewall - not the windows one) and you'll be ok.  I have a PC working on XP that's about 12 months out of date.

[kinboshi]

I still haven't installed Service Pack 2 on one of mine.  It would 'upset' too many of the programs I run on it.

A good firewall that you can control what comes in and out, and an up-to-date virus checker should keep you OK.

Also, some sense as to what you open and don't.  I tend not to open attachments that I wasn't expecting if they could contain a malicious file.

[totalise]

can you get virus' from these websites that require you to install ActiveX?

I visit a few websites of a rather dubious nature, and they all say that some ActiveX plugin is required, and I used to click on install without a second thought, because its not an executable file so (in my eyes) it cant do any harm.

Am I stone cold wrong about that?

[CelticGeezeer]

Yes don't install anything on your PC unless you know what it is and who its is off.

As others have said make sure your firewall and virus software are up to date and you should be ok.

I like to use firefox because most of the virus's are written for ie.

Unsolicited e-mails are also a major source of virus's I just delete em, and never run there attachments.

P.S. The lottery that you just won without even entering is a scam lol.

[kinboshi]

can you get virus' from these websites that require you to install ActiveX?

I visit a few websites of a rather dubious nature, and they all say that some ActiveX plugin is required, and I used to click on install without a second thought, because its not an executable file so (in my eyes) it cant do any harm.

Am I stone cold wrong about that?

They could 'potentially' do harm.  But most are there for a reason.  I'd be dubious if a page I went to wanted to run and activex control before the page has loaded and I've requested a resource or something.

What they basically do is allow a web page to run an application on your PC. 

Someone more technical might be able to explain it better than I can...

[Bongo]

Basically once you've said yes to an active X control running it can do whatever it wants on your machine...

I'd feel slightly dubious about running a PC without all the updates, a firewall isn't going to do anything about a vuln in IE...