John Coyle wrote: > > I would highly recommend downloading all the security patches that Microsoft > offer: I have my systems set to auto-update, so most of the time I'm in bed > when it happens! > Don't forget that, if you don't have the latest patches installed, rogue > programs can exploit any vulnerabilities in those executables anyway, > whether _you_ use them or not.
Ugh - every time I get on the computer the little window pops up I just "x'ed" out of it - I dont' even know how to set it on auto update but auto anything always worries me. I guess I've seen too many people on AOL badgered by pop-ups - I used to have an AOL account as a back-up - GAWD was that awful. I'd like to be able to tell the difference between security updates and silly fancy stuff I dont want, though. ann > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2006 3:32 PM > Subject: Re: OT: joys and woes of new computer - couple of questions > > > In a message dated 10/9/2006 8:51:21 PM Pacific Daylight Time, > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > writes: > > I hvae no credit cards listed on the web, fortunately. I > > dont buy ANYTHING > > on line - well, I did once or twice, but I avoid it as a > > whole. > > IF someone tried to take "large amounts of money" from my > > bank account they would > > be in for a big surprise! LOL! > > > > I dont use explorer - I took it off the desktop so I couldnt > > even hit it by mistake. > > I installed Firefox right away. > > > > While much of what you say I'm sure is right, I can't even > > fathom it... > > > > When I get on line I only go to my personal homepage, my > > cafepress store, > > photo.net, ebay and craigslist. or to look at pics you guys > > put up. > > > > I never go to any sites have anything to do with > > entertainment or sports - > > I don't open attachments or forwarded mail. > > > > And I'm keeping my old dial up account for email - for a > > while at least. > > > > ann > > ======= > > That will cover most security holes, ann. It really well -- common sense > > is > > always the best defense. :-) > > > > I do think, however, some of the MS updates are worth it. The first ones, > > later ones often have to do with Outlook and IE. If one doesn't use them > > the risk > > is much, much less. Especially Outlook. > > > > It doesn't hurt to go to the update page occasionally and look over the > > patches. One can pick and choose which to install. Many are useless for a > > majority > > of us. > > > > I highly recommend though, that you create a system restore point before > > downloading/installing any update. Go to help on your XP menu bar, then > > Pick a > > Task, then Tools, then System Restore, then Set a Restore Point. That > > saves the > > current state of your computer so you can set it back if something goes > > wrong. > > Actually it's not a bad idea to do it before installing any new program. I > > forget and don't do it enough. > > > > I've probably accepted about 6-8 updates since I started with XP about > > four-five years ago. Many are to plug security holes in Outlook, so I > > don't bother > > with those. Some are foreign language patches, and I don't need those. And > > some > > are to plug holes in IE, which I do use occasionally, rarely, but > > occasionally, so I evaluate those on a case by case basis and see if I > > think one or > > another is important or not. And occasionally there is one that is more > > general, > > not applying to either Outlook or I.E., and helpful. > > > > Yous take yous choice. But always create a restore point first. > > > > Avast isn't bad. > > > > Marnie aka Doe > > > > -- > > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > > [email protected] > > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
