win 98 and conficker virus - am I safe?
Is win98se vulnerable to the conficker virus/worm?
My system has both Firefox and the final updated/patched version of IE6. I do have AdAware and Norton 2002 (or whatever was their final year that still ran on win98), which does a great job of catching and removing most adware/spyware/malware.
I mean like NEARLY ALL of these huge viral newbreakers tend to not affect me simply because win98se is so old (and usually "more secure" ) than XP and Vista simply because these new virals use newer code vulnerabilities.
Seems that half the sites out there list "all versions of windows", naming each version from Vista down thru XP thru 2000 and back to old win98. Yet the other half only list win2000 up to Vista, and only provide instructions to check for, prevent, or remove on those win2k/XP/Vista systems.
I say win98se is "more secure" since it's so thoroughly patched and it hasn't had updates in years so there are no new holes to exploit... and most of the newer virii we hear about on the news are usually targeted through a "new feature" (either hardware or software).
Lots of these new virii are, when it comes to older systems, like trying to run a DVD-RW disk by sticking it into an old 4X speed cdrom drive (the really old ones, from before DVD's were around). The disk might spin, and the lights and laser flash, but you won't get it to play the movie on the disk no matter how many times it tries.
rapierdragon
My system has both Firefox and the final updated/patched version of IE6. I do have AdAware and Norton 2002 (or whatever was their final year that still ran on win98), which does a great job of catching and removing most adware/spyware/malware.
I mean like NEARLY ALL of these huge viral newbreakers tend to not affect me simply because win98se is so old (and usually "more secure" ) than XP and Vista simply because these new virals use newer code vulnerabilities.
Seems that half the sites out there list "all versions of windows", naming each version from Vista down thru XP thru 2000 and back to old win98. Yet the other half only list win2000 up to Vista, and only provide instructions to check for, prevent, or remove on those win2k/XP/Vista systems.
I say win98se is "more secure" since it's so thoroughly patched and it hasn't had updates in years so there are no new holes to exploit... and most of the newer virii we hear about on the news are usually targeted through a "new feature" (either hardware or software).
Lots of these new virii are, when it comes to older systems, like trying to run a DVD-RW disk by sticking it into an old 4X speed cdrom drive (the really old ones, from before DVD's were around). The disk might spin, and the lights and laser flash, but you won't get it to play the movie on the disk no matter how many times it tries.rapierdragon
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Enjoy your time capsule!
Have you considered perhaps instaling a light version of Linux on that old hardware? I think a lighx linux client, perhaps slackware.
Personaly I think slackware will provide a far better experience than Windows 98.
While I partially agree with your "Win98 is so old" theory, you should not lull yourself into a false sense of security. I worked R&D for IBM and we tested our software for use on 98. I can tell you will 100% conviction, 98 IS NOT thoroughly patched, there are many exploits available to anyone interested in using them. As Prime noted, you cannot use modern software, incuding anti-virus and anti-spyware applications.
You'd be much more secure with a fully patched version of XP Pro with premium anti-virus and anti-malware/spyware apps.
Is there a reason you are using Windows 98 instead of a newer system?
(1), I'm on disability welfare and the some $300 cost of Vista is beyond my price range. (my dad's latest sys is a duel-core p4 with Vista and its run problem free... unlike his previous p3 with XP). Plus I'd need a DVD drive for teh Vista install cd, and most DVD's usually require XP since they don't provide win98se DVD drivers)
(2), I like, and am used to, the old dos prompt which is so handy for quick manual registry backups/restores... if two or three critical files corrupt all at once, causing win98 to crash (not load beyond the startup 98 screen), I can easily extract it from the cdrom.
(2b), when my dad went to XP (on a brand new p3) and had nothing but problems with it. Every 6 months for the first 3 years it practically needed teh drive formated with a total re-install cause XP (thankfully XP s.r.1 finally came out and fixed that problem). Since he's gone to Vista with a new computer I could take his old XP cdrom, but we're gonna be using his old p3 which means we can't legally use the XP cdrom to install onto my comp without buying a 2nd licence (cause both computers will be online... which means one will eventually being caught by MS during a windows update... and I can't afford some letter from their legal dept demanding I buy a 2nd lic.key least I get hit with legal action)
win98se... its old, unsupported, has its security holes, is easily pirated, but come one, barely anyone hacks it anymore unless its out of true evil. (as opposed to "evil for fun or profit" by hacking XP or Vista just to annoy microsoft, lower the price of MS stock, redirect net traffic to get revenge on some company by crashing or Denial-of-Service'ing its servers, or whatnot.)
Your #2 also works on Windows XP (and Windows 2000).
Aren't they pushing xp to the 'end-of-life' cycle already as well?
XP is about to enter the Extended Life portion of the support cycle and will receive security updates well into 2014.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/SystemRequirements
If you can, you should burn an ISO on the old man's machine instal it on yours. Give it a go.
CPU speed always seems realy secondary in my Ubuntu experience, so if your on a Pentium III, that will do, but you should plan on at least 256 mb of ram, preferably 512mb (it runs like butter on 512),
If you have that Pentium III, at least 256 mb of RAM, ditch that old 98 instal and give ubuntu a go. There is a small learning curve, but If you need help getting set up, I am sure I can walk you through some problems you may encounter.
Ubuntu is a realy nice mature, and free OS, and its a savior for alot of older hardware that would find a landfill otherwise. Ubuntu has a realy nice instaler that gives you the option to set it up with loads of useful free programs. FireFox, Picasa, the Gimp, Open Office, VLC media player, its realy decent, and its going to be a far better experience than windows 98 for the price of nothing.
You don't need XP to install a DVD drive. In fact you don't need any special drivers beyond what Microsoft provides. I've had a Maddog Megastor DVD burner installed in my Windows 98SE machine for over 2 years now and I never installed any drivers for it. It's possible that some of the fancier drives, like the LightScribe ones might need a special driver, but a plain DVD drive will work just fine.
The system requirements on the box are usually for the included software, like Nero 7 or Roxio Creator, which no longer work under 98. The drive itself normally has no special requirements.
Now if you had windows 3.1....then you'd be safe from pretty much all viruses...
You'd also be safe from anything not DOS based