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Calling all computer geeks

posted by davel on July 31, 2003

What is your opinion on the "patch" mentioned in this article? Should I install it on my computer? Please let me know before the end-of-all-as-we-know-it arrives.

Comments

By the time MS gets around to releasing a patch, the exploit it fixes is pretty well-known, so it's generally a good idea to go ahead and install Microsoft patches when they are released. Only very rarely does one of those patches actually screw things up, but if you're running a bunch of shareware or something you might have an occasional incompatibility problem.

I haven't read about this specific issue (Microsoft discovers a buffer overrun in their operating system at least once a month, so it's hard to keep up), but I have my computer set to let me know whenever they release a patch. You should be able to do that as well. Which version of Windows are you running?

The other thing to do is get a firewall put up on your computer. If you're using a cable modem, get a router. Most of them have a firewall built in and they're very easy to set up. If you're not using a cabel modem or you don't want to drop the money for a router, install something like Zone Alarm. They have a free version, which is what Katie and I had on our computers before I got our networking stuff set up.

Posted by: mccreath at July 31, 2003 08:07 PM

thanks mang! Consider it (the patch) installed. I'm using a wireless router (linxs) for my computer and my housemate's computer to run DSL. Think that should cover it?

Posted by: davel at July 31, 2003 08:31 PM

this one is actually all over the news.

Posted by: undefined at July 31, 2003 09:39 PM

The Linksys router comes with a firewall. No worries.

Posted by: Dick at July 31, 2003 11:14 PM

thanks for the info (and spelling correction.)

Posted by: davel at August 1, 2003 12:25 AM

Ditto to all the above. Linksys routers are da bomb! If you go to start, settings, control panel, you should see an automatic updates icon in which you can set yer cornpewter up to auto update so you can spend even less time thinking while surfin' around for useless bits o' stupidity.

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Posted by: Boomhauer at August 1, 2003 09:09 AM

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