will SP2 reduce or remove the need for antivirus?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dave Gower
  • Start date Start date
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Dave Gower

I've been reading a lot about the upcoming Microsoft Service Pack 2. Based
on company hype, it sure sounds wonderful for improving security. But
realistically, how much can it be expected to reduce the problem of viruses
worms, trojans, spies etc? Will it really close loopholes forever, or merely
close existing ones and provide new ones?
 
Dave said:
I've been reading a lot about the upcoming Microsoft Service Pack 2. Based
on company hype, it sure sounds wonderful for improving security. But
realistically, how much can it be expected to reduce the problem of viruses
worms, trojans, spies etc? Will it really close loopholes forever, or merely
close existing ones and provide new ones?
Click to expand...

You will still need an anti-virus program. SP2 will probably do away
with some common security issues but it won't solve the problem of viruses.
 
Dave Gower said:
I've been reading a lot about the upcoming Microsoft Service Pack 2.
Based on company hype, it sure sounds wonderful for improving
security. But realistically, how much can it be expected to reduce
the problem of viruses worms, trojans, spies etc? Will it really
close loopholes forever, or merely close existing ones and provide
new ones?
Click to expand...

So, you really think SP-2 is going to close all communication channels
so that you end up with a totally isolated computer that cannot connect
to other hosts? Networking is NOT going away. That means you WILL be
able to download files. That means you ARE and always will be
susceptible to viruses or malware. Unless the programs protect
themselves from tampering, they can still get modified or replaced. If
really paranoid and you don't mind the performance hit, look at
Abtrusion or System Safety Monitor which records a hash value for every
program and only lets those run that you allow. Of course, YOU become
the ultimate authority in what is allowed to run so YOU have to know
what you are doing and if the files you are authorizing are okay files.
 
I've been reading a lot about the upcoming Microsoft Service Pack 2. Based
on company hype, it sure sounds wonderful for improving security.
Click to expand...

SP2 will certainly help... Unfortunately Microsoft still hasn't found
a way to "patch" all the clueless users and administrators who can't
be bothered to take even the most basic risk mitigation steps.
But
realistically, how much can it be expected to reduce the problem of viruses
worms, trojans, spies etc?
Click to expand...

See above... The thing with viruses is they don't need bugs, or
security flaws or anything other than clueless users who blindly
double-click on anything you put in front of them.
Will it really close loopholes forever, or merely
close existing ones and provide new ones?
Click to expand...

SP2 closes or tightens a number of long standing holes Windows and
IE... Whether or not it'll close them for good remains to be seen.
Same goes for new holes.

Cheers-

Jeff Setaro
jasetaro@SPAM_ME_NOT_mags.net
http://people.mags.net/jasetaro/
PGP Key IDs DH/DSS: 0x5D41429D RSA: 0x599D2A99 New RSA: 0xA19EBD34
 
Dave Gower said:
I've been reading a lot about the upcoming Microsoft Service Pack 2. Based
on company hype, it sure sounds wonderful for improving security. But
realistically, how much can it be expected to reduce the problem of viruses
worms, trojans, spies etc? Will it really close loopholes forever, or merely
close existing ones and provide new ones?
Click to expand...

LOL!!!!!!
 
Dave said:
I've been reading a lot about the upcoming Microsoft Service Pack 2. Based
on company hype, it sure sounds wonderful for improving security. But
realistically, how much can it be expected to reduce the problem of viruses
worms, trojans, spies etc? Will it really close loopholes forever, or merely
close existing ones and provide new ones?
Click to expand...

it will not close loopholes forever, that's not possible... and even if
it were and sp2 did it it still wouldn't remove the need for anti-virus
products...

virus infectability is inherent in *all* general purpose computing
platforms...
 
kurt wismer said:
it will not close loopholes forever, that's not possible... and even if
it were and sp2 did it it still wouldn't remove the need for anti-virus
products...

virus infectability is inherent in *all* general purpose computing
platforms...
Click to expand...
Yes Dave, at last those wonderful people at MicroSoft have found out how to
make your computer completely safe, from all risks, forever and you won't
ever need to buy or install a program from any other manufacturer ever
again!

Aren't they superb!

After all it makes sense doesn't it Dave? they invented windows and
everything so they must be the best company to take care of it's security!
We can all go back to pink fluffy doo-doo land now...hurrah!

polly
 
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