J
John Donson
: > : > : Hello ...
: > :
: > :
: > : The computer works fine.
: > :
: > : Is there anything else I need to do, or is what I did sufficient?
:
: I'm sorry if you think I'm stupid. I am an independent user and am
: attempting to do the best I can manage without the assistance of a
: systems administrator, et cetera.
:
: I am also far from a stellar "tech" person.
:
: But I am trying. And I'm trying to learn. That's why I ask
: questions. If I have been a bother by asking the questions, I do
: apologize.
: >
: > How about installing a virusscanner (and keeping it up to date?)? (DUH!)
:
: I had a trial with Norton. I had been told, however, by some people
: (including someone who asked an ISP about this) that if one is not
: connected to a network, it is not essential to have a virus scanner,
: so I did not renew with Norton.
:
: I realize now, however, that it is probably a good idea indeed to have
: the anti-virus scanner. That is why I have been seeking
: recommendations on a good product.
It is correct that when a computer is not connected to a network a
virusscanner is not needed. However, the internet is a network and a major
source of virii. Especially computers that have access to the internet
should have a virusscanner.
I use Norton 2002 and I like it very much. It tends to be a little heavy on
the system, but that is not a bother to me. There are many more good
virusscanners around. Read a little bit in this newsgroup and you will find
many more names of good scanners.
Personnaly I do not like Norton 2004 very much, as it tends to scan for
adware in a very unsatifactory way, causing my system problems and it has a
quirky licencing/registering system.
Note that Norton may not have protected you from Sasser, but would have
provided you with a tool to remove it.
The ISP-person you talked to should be fired. My ISP provides a free
virusscanner and recommends it to its users.
: >
: > How about installing a real firewall? (DUH!)
: >
: Again, I have read pros and cons about using a firewall on a home
: computer not connected to a network.
:
: From what I've been able to determine at the Microsoft Web site, the
: firewall that came preinstalled is considered sufficient. If this is
: not the case, I would be most interested in any information you might
: be generous enough to share.
A "real" firewall is recommended if you spend long periods on line. If not,
you run very little risk proveded you keep your windows up to date. See
below for info on updates.
: > How about updating your windows regularly? (DUH!)
: >
: Once again -- I've been told pros and cons about this. I've been told
: that some people have had frustrations with some of the updates
: causing problems with their computers. So I've been uncertain just
: what to do about updates.
Software updates have caused problems for some users, but not all. True that
these updates may cause bugs. Note that I say software-updates. These are
not necessary. There are also security updates. These should never be
ignored, because they patch vulnerabilities that for example Sasser uses.
: In fact, I am on the updates notification e-mail list. However, I
: have also been getting false notifications of updates from people
: claiming to be Microsoft. I get far more of these than I do the
: "real" ones.
:
: Consequently, sometimes I don't notice right away that I have received
: a "real notification from Microsoft because I have become so
: accustomed to receiving the false ones, which I ignore.
If you set your machine to auto update, it warns you of updates and ask you
if you want to install then. You can then choose which updates to install.
You can then skip software updates and and take only the security-updates.
These are vital!
I have a fully updated system and I have never had an update-bug. Others may
have different experiences with updates.
: > Doesn't your ISP check you for competency, before they let you on the
net?
:
: I've been on the Internet for years, using various ISPs. I have not
: been checked for competency. Apparently you feel I should be.
:
: Either way, I am trying to learn. That's why I ask questions.
:
: I apologize if my questions are boring or stupid.
As for the tone of my earlier reply. I do not criticize you for trying to
learn. The only stupid question is the one you do not ask.
The critique I have is your method to learn. You could have learned all that
I have typed and more by reading a little around in this and related
newsgroups and on internetsites on pc-security.
Your questions were not boring. They excited me very much.
: > :
: > :
: > : The computer works fine.
: > :
: > : Is there anything else I need to do, or is what I did sufficient?
:
: I'm sorry if you think I'm stupid. I am an independent user and am
: attempting to do the best I can manage without the assistance of a
: systems administrator, et cetera.
:
: I am also far from a stellar "tech" person.
:
: But I am trying. And I'm trying to learn. That's why I ask
: questions. If I have been a bother by asking the questions, I do
: apologize.
: >
: > How about installing a virusscanner (and keeping it up to date?)? (DUH!)
:
: I had a trial with Norton. I had been told, however, by some people
: (including someone who asked an ISP about this) that if one is not
: connected to a network, it is not essential to have a virus scanner,
: so I did not renew with Norton.
:
: I realize now, however, that it is probably a good idea indeed to have
: the anti-virus scanner. That is why I have been seeking
: recommendations on a good product.
It is correct that when a computer is not connected to a network a
virusscanner is not needed. However, the internet is a network and a major
source of virii. Especially computers that have access to the internet
should have a virusscanner.
I use Norton 2002 and I like it very much. It tends to be a little heavy on
the system, but that is not a bother to me. There are many more good
virusscanners around. Read a little bit in this newsgroup and you will find
many more names of good scanners.
Personnaly I do not like Norton 2004 very much, as it tends to scan for
adware in a very unsatifactory way, causing my system problems and it has a
quirky licencing/registering system.
Note that Norton may not have protected you from Sasser, but would have
provided you with a tool to remove it.
The ISP-person you talked to should be fired. My ISP provides a free
virusscanner and recommends it to its users.
: >
: > How about installing a real firewall? (DUH!)
: >
: Again, I have read pros and cons about using a firewall on a home
: computer not connected to a network.
:
: From what I've been able to determine at the Microsoft Web site, the
: firewall that came preinstalled is considered sufficient. If this is
: not the case, I would be most interested in any information you might
: be generous enough to share.
A "real" firewall is recommended if you spend long periods on line. If not,
you run very little risk proveded you keep your windows up to date. See
below for info on updates.
: > How about updating your windows regularly? (DUH!)
: >
: Once again -- I've been told pros and cons about this. I've been told
: that some people have had frustrations with some of the updates
: causing problems with their computers. So I've been uncertain just
: what to do about updates.
Software updates have caused problems for some users, but not all. True that
these updates may cause bugs. Note that I say software-updates. These are
not necessary. There are also security updates. These should never be
ignored, because they patch vulnerabilities that for example Sasser uses.
: In fact, I am on the updates notification e-mail list. However, I
: have also been getting false notifications of updates from people
: claiming to be Microsoft. I get far more of these than I do the
: "real" ones.
:
: Consequently, sometimes I don't notice right away that I have received
: a "real notification from Microsoft because I have become so
: accustomed to receiving the false ones, which I ignore.
If you set your machine to auto update, it warns you of updates and ask you
if you want to install then. You can then choose which updates to install.
You can then skip software updates and and take only the security-updates.
These are vital!
I have a fully updated system and I have never had an update-bug. Others may
have different experiences with updates.
: > Doesn't your ISP check you for competency, before they let you on the
net?
:
: I've been on the Internet for years, using various ISPs. I have not
: been checked for competency. Apparently you feel I should be.
:
: Either way, I am trying to learn. That's why I ask questions.
:
: I apologize if my questions are boring or stupid.
As for the tone of my earlier reply. I do not criticize you for trying to
learn. The only stupid question is the one you do not ask.
The critique I have is your method to learn. You could have learned all that
I have typed and more by reading a little around in this and related
newsgroups and on internetsites on pc-security.
Your questions were not boring. They excited me very much.