Windows X/P "Security" Upgrade is Ridiculous

[RBS]

I downloaded the new hoo-ha Microsoft Security X/P Security Pack. I've never had an ounce of trouble with my Dell computer for over a year and a half now.

What happens? First up, a big Windows screen comes up and tells me that my virus scan isn't up and I should check it. Then they install an ugly red thing in my task bar. Then, they tell me I can go to a website which will enable me to get a better Virus Scan!

To top it off, all I see all over my computer is MICROSOFT WINDOWS SECURITY UPGRADE WINDOWS SECURITY UPGRADE! I can't get into one damn program.

I finally say "screw this," and uninstall it. My computer is now working just fine.

Screw Microsoft, screw their upgrade and screw their sleazy way of trying to get more business. Granted, the security upgrade may really work, but I have a firewall. So screw them.

[Captain Hate]

I just finished fucking around with it myself. This service pack is MASSIVE compared to the first one, which just took a long time to install. I'm gonna leave it in place but I'm not very pleased with how my Dell has performed. Based on an article in the WSJ the advantages outweigh the disadvantages but anybody that thinks they can get rid of their Norton anti-virus is begging for a dead computer.

[frankenmeister7]

same thing happened to me when i bought my dell. i upgraded my IE to a 7
and i also have netscape navigator 7.

what fries my butter is the fact that if you get into any search engine for an item, or go to web site, this scan that you are talking about pops up on my dell also.

i do believe that when dell came out with the cute commercials of that kid who got busted, the dell products at the time were not fit for the market yet. Now everyone who owns a dell has one complaint or some dificiency with their harddrive.

its very maddening and then to call the dell offices of the world only to find that they don't speak a language that you can hear very clearly and its quite
difficult to explain what is wrong with your machine and they never give you and answer to what you have to do with your computer to fix it.

The only upgrade that makes sense...

BTW, I have Windows XT (Home) running on my Mac. Hate it!

[Kevin Bresnahan]

What security update are you talking about?? The latest Windows XP update was "Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 (KB867801)". It came out on July 30th and was absolutely benign. It didn't even require a re-boot.

I am hearing about a new Windows XP update which they're calling SP2, but that should just be all the recent security patches rolled up into one.

I really hope you didn't just run one of those viruses that spoof Windows Update! Those are nasty. How did you receive the update notice? Please don't say "E-mail". Microsoft never uses E-mail. I only use http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ to get updates. Actually, I usually have Windows automatically update itself. Once again, to date, not one problem with a Windows XP update.

Later,
Kevin

[Captain Hate]

Originally Posted by Kevin Bresnahan

What security update are you talking about?? The latest Windows XP update was "Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 (KB867801)". It came out on July 30th and was absolutely benign. It didn't even require a re-boot.

I am hearing about a new Windows XP update which they're calling SP2, but that should just be all the recent security patches rolled up into one.

I really hope you didn't just run one of those viruses that spoof Windows Update! Those are nasty. How did you receive the update notice?

This came through the usual Windows update method; it was so goddam large that it took about 20 minutes to load before it even notified me about it being available. There was that screwy little icon at the bottom when it's grabbing an update. It is the SP2 that you mentioned and installs a firewall, a not particularly effective one. As a result, when I rebooted I had to clear all the things that operate in the background to be allowed through the firewall.

I think that the problem RBS was having, and which I'm still having, is caused by Norton taking longer to activate because of the new firewall.

[RBS]

Originally Posted by Captain Hate

I think that the problem RBS was having, and which I'm still having, is caused by Norton taking longer to activate because of the new firewall.

That's exactly right! And it did something to my ZoneAlarm -- which is the firewall I use. I finally got so fed up with this goddamn "security update" that I uninstalled it. I figure my ZoneAlarm is excellent, so screw Microsoft.

I can't speak about the Windows environment, but Norton Utilities has always caused me problems on my various Macs, so I stay far away from it.

[Ron Thorne]

I've never had a problem with Norton AntiVirus or ZoneAlarm. I'm using Norton AntiVirus 2003, which I keep updated, along with ZoneAlarm Pro as my firewall on Windows 98. I've been virus-free and feel adequately protected with these two products. at least thus far. I also scan with Ad-aware 6.0 on a regular basis.

It sounds like MS Windows XP Security Pack may have created a conflicting firewall with ZoneAlarm, RBS.

[Nathaniel Catchpole]

You should all get dual-boot Linux installations and wean yourselves off Windows - that's my very recent solution to crap like this. The Dual boot is a bit scarey, but I did it with SuSe Linux (free 740MB download), and everything was rosey.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Well, I don't get it. The new SP2 update is not on the web site, even as a Beta version. If it downloads and corrupts my Norton Anti-virus, I'll be pretty damn upset myself.

As for the firewall, I use the Windows XP firewall (as well as a hardware firewall). I tried ZoneAlarm but I found it too intrusive. I got sick of trying to figure out if I should let each program access the Internet I just gave up on that. Also, ever since I installed ZoneAlarm, even though it's been removed, Outlook Express takes about 2 minutes to open. Prior to ZoneAlarm, it was instantaneous.

Reading up on this update, it has some very nice features like the ability to block browser helpers, a very recent PIA on many of the computers I've been called out to help with. Download Trojan viruses are getting bad out there. I've yet to find a way to stop them with the current toolset. Maybe this new update will give me the tools I need.

Later,
Kevin

[LennyH]

Originally Posted by RBS

That's exactly right! And it did something to my ZoneAlarm -- which is the firewall I use. I finally got so fed up with this goddamn "security update" that I uninstalled it. I figure my ZoneAlarm is excellent, so screw Microsoft.

I believe the SP2 turns on the Microsoft firewall by default, so if you're happy with your firewall setup than you should turn the Microsoft one off.

[frankenmeister7]

Originally Posted by Chris A

I can't speak about the Windows environment, but Norton Utilities has always caused me problems on my various Macs, so I stay far away from it.

i can't believe that i am even agreeing with Chris A. on this subject. Windows of any kind is a real pain. from macafee to norton utilities to download into your computer is bad.

i got rid of both and have a whole new setup of scanning for viruses.

also i hate any kind of computer to speak of. the next time that Chris puts up anything with a mac product on it, i am disabling my computers and am going out to by a mac laptop.

so there!! i have had it with dell, gateway or compac.

i have wanted to get a mac for so long that now the worm that has been dangling in front of this fish is going to buy a desktop mac and a laptop.

[clinthopson]

The latest issue of PC World has a big article about SP2.

When it becomes available, I'll ask our computer guys about it and if they say "go," I'll probably have them install it in our system.

It sounds like a good improvement on security.

[john williams]

Calm down folks. Please read M/soft article before installing SP2.

Service Pack 2

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Well, last night I got the notification and the install went fine. So far, I'm really liking the added features. I still haven't been able to figure out how to block auto-installed web tools, which have been my biggest headache for the last few months.

Kevin