|
|
|
Windows updates yes or no?
Showing all messages in thread #1210204780
Windows XP Annoyances Discussion Forum
The following are all of the messages in this thread (3 in all), shown in chronological order. Click any message subject to view that message by itself or to view the thread hierarchy.
|
Windows updates yes or no?
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Posted by Jimmy
(1 messages posted)
Hi everybody.
I would like some opinions please about windows update.
I own a small real estate company with 3 desktop computers that the agents use regularly.
They always say that I should update windows for security reasons. There is data
on them we all want kept private like most biz.
They are firewalled, we also use WPA for wireless Laptops agents use sometimes.
I used to have it setup to download updates automatically. However when IE7 came
out it downloaded it and messed up 2 of the 3 computers up..huge headache. (also
smaller issues before IE7)
So what I want to know is updating worth the headache for security reasons or is
it just futile and not worth the trouble?
Thanks
[Reply or follow-up to this message]
|
re: Windows updates yes or no?
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Posted by normanw
(801 messages posted)
Many users of this forum do not download Windows
updates and have not done so for a long time
without problems. Of course, we all take sensible
precautions including:
-- running a firewall and antivirus software
-- running antispyware software
-- updating the antivirus and antispyware updates files daily
-- not using Internet Explorer
-- not using Outlook Express
-- not visiting suspect websites
-- blocking known rogue websites
-- making all but the system adminstrator work under limited user accounts
-- making the administrator operate under a limited account when not performing maintenance
or installing new software
-- not allowing unauthorised persons to access our computers
Like many others, I have never had a virus or malware
infection. The important thing is to be vigilant and to
take the question of security extremely seriously. This
provides at least as good protection as the Windows
updates, which all too often cause serious problems of
their own, as many people who made the mistake of
'upgrading' to IE7 or SP3 can attest.
I also use my computers in a business
environment so would never follow any practice that
compromise their security. Paranoia is better protection
than a thousand updates!
On Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 4:59 pm, Jimmy wrote:
>Hi everybody.
>
>I would like some opinions please about windows update.
>
>I own a small real estate company with 3 desktop computers that the agents use regularly.
>They always say that I should update windows for security reasons. There is data
>on them we all want kept private like most biz.
>
>They are firewalled, we also use WPA for wireless Laptops agents use sometimes.
>
>I used to have it setup to download updates automatically. However when IE7 came
>out it downloaded it and messed up 2 of the 3 computers up..huge headache. (also
>smaller issues before IE7)
>
>So what I want to know is updating worth the headache for security reasons or is
>it just futile and not worth the trouble?
>
>Thanks
[Reply or follow-up to this message]
|
re: Windows updates yes or no?
Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 5:10 am
Posted by Ricer46
(19384 messages posted)
Since many updates have caused a variety of problems that are worse than the problems
that they are supposed to prevent, it is best to NOT automatically do every update
that comes your way. Aside from the two major SP releases, I have done zero updates
in six years. And I waited a year before re-installing with SP2 slipstreamed into
my original XP CD. I feel that it's better to learn from the problems of others than
to have to be the first to experience them.
However keep in mind that one needs to be responsible for their own security -- why
would anyone trust Microsoft on this issue anyway, since they are so inept at it?
Use IE as little as possible, don't use OE. Keep an up to date anti-virus scanner,
and regularly scan for spyware. Never disable your firewall. And most important of
all, make separate backups of your system and data files on a regular basis.
On Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 4:59 pm, Jimmy wrote:
>Hi everybody.
>
>I would like some opinions please about windows update.
>
>I own a small real estate company with 3 desktop computers that the agents use regularly.
>They always say that I should update windows for security reasons. There is data
>on them we all want kept private like most biz.
>
>They are firewalled, we also use WPA for wireless Laptops agents use sometimes.
>
>I used to have it setup to download updates automatically. However when IE7 came
>out it downloaded it and messed up 2 of the 3 computers up..huge headache. (also
>smaller issues before IE7)
>
>So what I want to know is updating worth the headache for security reasons or is
>it just futile and not worth the trouble?
>
>Thanks
[Reply or follow-up to this message]
| |
Tip: Use one of the [Reply or follow-up to this message] links above to add a message to this thread
| |
Return to the Windows XP Discussion Forum
|
|
|
|
