Network with Win98 and WinXP

[Rosivaldo Fernandes Alves]

I have an old computer with Win98 installed and a new computer with WinXP
installed? How can I safely put both to work together in a home network? I'm
afraid of allowing the Win98 to access the internet, since it doesn't have
automatic update from Microsoft, so it may have security holes that will
never be closed. How can I solve these questions?

Thanks in advance.

Rosivaldo.

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

No Windows 98 doesn't have automatic Updates. You go to Windows Updates and
get what's there. Note that there will be no more Updates for Windows 98,
not any, so Automatic Updates, even if it existed, would do no good.

Scan your 98 system for viruses (use several on-demand and/or online
scanners, but only one background "resident" scanner -- I use Avast!) scan
it for Spyware (I use AdAware, Spybot Search & Destroy and Spyware Blaster),
institute standard security for IE and make sure Outlook Express's security
setting is set to Restricted Zone. Also, if you don't already have one, you
want to get a software firewall. If your internet connection (I presume it's
broadband) isn't protected by a router with NAT routing, you should set that
up.

One thing: DO NOT use any Norton or McAfee products. Stick with the simple
stuff, like Avast for antivirus and maybe ZoneAlarm for firewall (though I
think there are maybe better free ones out there.) Otherwise, set up the way
I describe, and with proper user behavior, you should be just as safe as any
other Windows system

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"Rosivaldo Fernandes Alves" <rfa@jfse.gov.br> wrote in message
news:uiNkug54HHA.1164@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>I have an old computer with Win98 installed and a new computer with WinXP
>installed? How can I safely put both to work together in a home network?
>I'm afraid of allowing the Win98 to access the internet, since it doesn't
>have automatic update from Microsoft, so it may have security holes that
>will never be closed. How can I solve these questions?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Rosivaldo.
>

 

[Brian A.]

Purchase a router that has both NAT (Network Address Translation) and DHCP (Dynamic
Host Configuration Protocol). Most now-a-days have both and will act as a hardware
firewall. You could still install a third party software firewall if you wanted to
as an extra measure of security, you'll get differing opinions on if it's needed or
not.
Install a NIC (Network Interface Card) in each machine and connect the NIC's to the
router using CAT5 straight-thru cable.

Don't rely on XP's firewall as it only does half of the job, it blocks unsolicited
inbound traffic, not outbound. In short if the machine had been compromised, any
outgoing traffic is not monitored or blocked by the malicious process and is allowed
to continue on to its destination.

Definitely have an antivirus application installed, it's a necessity, not an
option.

Depending on the flavor of XP installed depends on how you set/configure/access
Permissions. XP has Simple File Sharing which is "Enabled" by default which can be
Accessed/Disabled in XP Pro via Explorer or MyComputer menu bar Tools > Folder
Options... > View tab. To access/disable it in XP Home you must enter Safe Mode with
an Administrator account.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375


"Rosivaldo Fernandes Alves" <rfa@jfse.gov.br> wrote in message
news:uiNkug54HHA.1164@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>I have an old computer with Win98 installed and a new computer with WinXP installed?
>How can I safely put both to work together in a home network? I'm afraid of allowing
>the Win98 to access the internet, since it doesn't have automatic update from
>Microsoft, so it may have security holes that will never be closed. How can I solve
>these questions?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Rosivaldo.
>

 

[who where]

On Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:06:22 -0300, "Rosivaldo Fernandes Alves"
<rfa@jfse.gov.br> wrote:

>I have an old computer with Win98 installed and a new computer with WinXP
>installed? How can I safely put both to work together in a home network? I'm
>afraid of allowing the Win98 to access the internet, since it doesn't have
>automatic update from Microsoft, so it may have security holes that will
>never be closed. How can I solve these questions?

Apart from the good oil from Gary and Brian (as usual), the biggest single
security risk to Win98 is Internet Exploder. Piss it off and use Firefox or
Opera.

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

IE is built into Windows. Can't get rid of it, so you can't get rid of what
insecurities it has. As for sites that you visit... That's why we recommend
the protections we recommend. I seriously question whether using other
browsers really gains you much if anything in security. I certainly haven't
had any breeches, and I test places I REALLY don't recommend other people go
to with no adverse effects whatsoever.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"who where" <not@bigpond.net> wrote in message
news:sn5lc39hallvbhi2qgsjpvorvbfibog7k7@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:06:22 -0300, "Rosivaldo Fernandes Alves"
> <rfa@jfse.gov.br> wrote:
>
>>I have an old computer with Win98 installed and a new computer with WinXP
>>installed? How can I safely put both to work together in a home network?
>>I'm
>>afraid of allowing the Win98 to access the internet, since it doesn't have
>>automatic update from Microsoft, so it may have security holes that will
>>never be closed. How can I solve these questions?
>
> Apart from the good oil from Gary and Brian (as usual), the biggest single
> security risk to Win98 is Internet Exploder. Piss it off and use Firefox
> or
> Opera.

 

[Ingeborg]

Gary S. Terhune wrote:

> IE is built into Windows. Can't get rid of it, so you can't get rid of
> what insecurities it has.

Fortunately it is possible:
<http://www.litepc.com/ieradicator.html>

> As for sites that you visit... That's why we
> recommend the protections we recommend. I seriously question whether
> using other browsers really gains you much if anything in security. I
> certainly haven't had any breeches, and I test places I REALLY don't
> recommend other people go to with no adverse effects whatsoever.

Big part of the insecurity of IE is that it's target for all types of
'clever' toolbars and other junk, which are only a mouseclick away. And
people DO click. The problem is, when IE gives up under this load, Explorer
often gives up too, resulting in an empty desktop or something like that.
The only way I have found to repair such a system, is starting it with an
alternate shell, and using IeRadicator to cleanup the system.

Maybe Opera and Firefox can have the same problems (I never saw it, but it
is possible that it is caused by the fact teenagers seem to be IE only),
but *if* they give up, you can just reinstall them.

 

[98 Guy]

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

> One thing: DO NOT use any Norton or McAfee products.

That statement is a bit strong.

I've found that NAV (Norton Anti-Virus) version 2002 and the set of
Norton Utilities (which comes either separately or as part of NSW 2002
- Norton System Works) to be a good addition to a basic win-98 system.

When you install NAV it starts a 1-year countdown to expiring it's
LiveUpdate virus definition feature, at which point you would normally
buy another 1-year subscription, but instead what I've done is simply
un-install and re-install the product to reset the expiry countdown.
I've found that NAV 2002 on a win-98 system does not "bog" the system
down or consume much in the way of system resources. This is contrary
to the latter versions of NAV (2003, 2004, etc) which became resource
hogs and difficult to completely un-install and established NAV as a
product to avoid.

And just FYI, the definition updates that are downloaded periodically
will also include updates to the scan engine, so it's not like the
NAV-2002 scan engine is inferior because you're always using an
updated engine.

Also, the corporate version (I forget what it's called, Symantec
Anti-virus or Symantec Corporate something-or-other) is also
compatible with Win-98 (version 8 or 9 is at least) and also seems to
NOT be a resource hog. The advantage of that version is that it does
not expire itself.

> Otherwise, set up the way I describe, and with proper user
> behavior, you should be just as safe as any other Windows
> system

As history has showed, Win-98 was inherently more secure than all
other versions of Windows, especially when compared to XP (possibly
win-3.x was even more secure than win-98, but naturally it was less
capable too).

I've posted the Secunia lists of known vulnerabilities for the various
OS's in the past.

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

IERadicator, if it truly eradicates IE, is going to break a lot of apps that
depend on IE for their interface. Or does that thing somehow differentiate
between them? Anyway, what you are describing as security risks aren't what
are usually known as such. And even in that case, a bit of user smarts will
keep that crap from being installed. Ever heard of "Custom" installation? I
INSIST that all my users use custom installs and that they pay attention,
and guess what.. No unwanted toolbars, no unwanted BHOs, just a nice, lean
IE. Of course, my users really ARE interested in security.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"Ingeborg" <a@b.invalid> wrote in message
news:Xns99937623564E0abinvalid@194.109.133.133...
> Gary S. Terhune wrote:
>
>> IE is built into Windows. Can't get rid of it, so you can't get rid of
>> what insecurities it has.
>
> Fortunately it is possible:
> <http://www.litepc.com/ieradicator.html>
>
>> As for sites that you visit... That's why we
>> recommend the protections we recommend. I seriously question whether
>> using other browsers really gains you much if anything in security. I
>> certainly haven't had any breeches, and I test places I REALLY don't
>> recommend other people go to with no adverse effects whatsoever.
>
> Big part of the insecurity of IE is that it's target for all types of
> 'clever' toolbars and other junk, which are only a mouseclick away. And
> people DO click. The problem is, when IE gives up under this load,
> Explorer
> often gives up too, resulting in an empty desktop or something like that.
> The only way I have found to repair such a system, is starting it with an
> alternate shell, and using IeRadicator to cleanup the system.
>
> Maybe Opera and Firefox can have the same problems (I never saw it, but it
> is possible that it is caused by the fact teenagers seem to be IE only),
> but *if* they give up, you can just reinstall them.
>

 

[Dan]

I also find that Norton(Symantec) and McAfee products due tend to have too
many system hooks into the os especially the newer products have become way
too bloated. Sorry, 98 Guy --- I have to agree with Gary on this issue.

"98 Guy" wrote:

> "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:
>
> > One thing: DO NOT use any Norton or McAfee products.
>
> That statement is a bit strong.
>
> I've found that NAV (Norton Anti-Virus) version 2002 and the set of
> Norton Utilities (which comes either separately or as part of NSW 2002
> - Norton System Works) to be a good addition to a basic win-98 system.
>
> When you install NAV it starts a 1-year countdown to expiring it's
> LiveUpdate virus definition feature, at which point you would normally
> buy another 1-year subscription, but instead what I've done is simply
> un-install and re-install the product to reset the expiry countdown.
> I've found that NAV 2002 on a win-98 system does not "bog" the system
> down or consume much in the way of system resources. This is contrary
> to the latter versions of NAV (2003, 2004, etc) which became resource
> hogs and difficult to completely un-install and established NAV as a
> product to avoid.
>
> And just FYI, the definition updates that are downloaded periodically
> will also include updates to the scan engine, so it's not like the
> NAV-2002 scan engine is inferior because you're always using an
> updated engine.
>
> Also, the corporate version (I forget what it's called, Symantec
> Anti-virus or Symantec Corporate something-or-other) is also
> compatible with Win-98 (version 8 or 9 is at least) and also seems to
> NOT be a resource hog. The advantage of that version is that it does
> not expire itself.
>
> > Otherwise, set up the way I describe, and with proper user
> > behavior, you should be just as safe as any other Windows
> > system
>
> As history has showed, Win-98 was inherently more secure than all
> other versions of Windows, especially when compared to XP (possibly
> win-3.x was even more secure than win-98, but naturally it was less
> capable too).
>
> I've posted the Secunia lists of known vulnerabilities for the various
> OS's in the past.
>

 

[Dan]

There are some nice features in Mozilla Firefox that I like. For example,
Mozilla Firefox allows 256 bit AES encryption compared to the more limited
128 bit RC4 encryption in Internet Explorer 6 and 7.

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

> IE is built into Windows. Can't get rid of it, so you can't get rid of what
> insecurities it has. As for sites that you visit... That's why we recommend
> the protections we recommend. I seriously question whether using other
> browsers really gains you much if anything in security. I certainly haven't
> had any breeches, and I test places I REALLY don't recommend other people go
> to with no adverse effects whatsoever.
>
> --
> Gary S. Terhune
> MS-MVP Shell/User
> www.grystmill.com
>
> "who where" <not@bigpond.net> wrote in message
> news:sn5lc39hallvbhi2qgsjpvorvbfibog7k7@4ax.com...
> > On Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:06:22 -0300, "Rosivaldo Fernandes Alves"
> > <rfa@jfse.gov.br> wrote:
> >
> >>I have an old computer with Win98 installed and a new computer with WinXP
> >>installed? How can I safely put both to work together in a home network?
> >>I'm
> >>afraid of allowing the Win98 to access the internet, since it doesn't have
> >>automatic update from Microsoft, so it may have security holes that will
> >>never be closed. How can I solve these questions?
> >
> > Apart from the good oil from Gary and Brian (as usual), the biggest single
> > security risk to Win98 is Internet Exploder. Piss it off and use Firefox
> > or
> > Opera.
>
>
>

 

[98 Guy]

Dan wrote:

> I also find that Norton(Symantec) and McAfee products due tend
> to have too many system hooks into the os especially the newer
> products have become way too bloated. Sorry, 98 Guy --- I have
> to agree with Gary on this issue.

Obviously you did not read much of what I wrote.

First, we are talking about win-98 here, not the NT-based OS's that
have more places for more hooks.

Second, I described how older versions of NAV (such as NAV 2002) are
not bloated or resource-intensive when compared to their newer
versions, yet are just as capable.

 

[Rosivaldo Fernandes Alves]

Thanks Gary and everyone who's trying to contribute to my issue.

I have some additional questions:
1. Should I go to Windows Update and download manually every update
available and stick to them (since there will be no more)?
2. My two computers are connected via a "cross" UTP cable. I'd prefer not
have to buy any additional hardware. May I rely on my Windows XP
Professional as a gateway to internet (sorry, it is still a dial-up
connection) with a good (not the built-in) firewall?
3. By the way, should I have another firewall in the Windows 98 or the XP's
will suffice?
4. I prefer to use classical file sharing in Windows XP. How can I make the
two systems to share and access resources to and from each other?
5. Last, but not least: how can I get 0.5% of Gates fortune?

Thanks a lot for any help.

Rosivaldo.

"Gary S. Terhune" <none> escreveu na mensagem
news:uX8dY354HHA.5844@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> No Windows 98 doesn't have automatic Updates. You go to Windows Updates
> and get what's there. Note that there will be no more Updates for Windows
> 98, not any, so Automatic Updates, even if it existed, would do no good.
>
> Scan your 98 system for viruses (use several on-demand and/or online
> scanners, but only one background "resident" scanner -- I use Avast!) scan
> it for Spyware (I use AdAware, Spybot Search & Destroy and Spyware
> Blaster), institute standard security for IE and make sure Outlook
> Express's security setting is set to Restricted Zone. Also, if you don't
> already have one, you want to get a software firewall. If your internet
> connection (I presume it's broadband) isn't protected by a router with NAT
> routing, you should set that up.
>
> One thing: DO NOT use any Norton or McAfee products. Stick with the simple
> stuff, like Avast for antivirus and maybe ZoneAlarm for firewall (though I
> think there are maybe better free ones out there.) Otherwise, set up the
> way I describe, and with proper user behavior, you should be just as safe
> as any other Windows system
>
> --
> Gary S. Terhune
> MS-MVP Shell/User
> www.grystmill.com

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

"Rosivaldo Fernandes Alves" <rfa@jfse.gov.br> wrote in message
news:uYOytNS5HHA.4164@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Thanks Gary and everyone who's trying to contribute to my issue.
>
> I have some additional questions:
> 1. Should I go to Windows Update and download manually every update
> available and stick to them (since there will be no more)?

That or you can email me and I'll send you a set. I already have done the
hard part. All you have to do is send me $3 top cover costs. Email me at
updates_at_grystmill.com (replace _a_ with @)

> 2. My two computers are connected via a "cross" UTP cable. I'd prefer not
> have to buy any additional hardware. May I rely on my Windows XP
> Professional as a gateway to internet (sorry, it is still a dial-up
> connection) with a good (not the built-in) firewall?

If it works, sure.

> 3. By the way, should I have another firewall in the Windows 98 or the
> XP's will suffice?

Dunno for sure, but I should think the XP firewal will suffice. Still, it
wouldn't hurt to give 98 its own firewall.

> 4. I prefer to use classical file sharing in Windows XP. How can I make
> the two systems to share and access resources to and from each other?

You share the folders yuo want to share. To make things less iffy, you
should create an account on the XP machine that matches your 98 account,
username and password the same.

> 5. Last, but not least: how can I get 0.5% of Gates fortune?

That's asking an awful lot. Would make you a multi-multi-millionaire. Even
if I knew, think I'd tell YOU?

> Thanks a lot for any help.

You're welcome!

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> escreveu na mensagem
> news:uX8dY354HHA.5844@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> No Windows 98 doesn't have automatic Updates. You go to Windows Updates
>> and get what's there. Note that there will be no more Updates for Windows
>> 98, not any, so Automatic Updates, even if it existed, would do no good.
>>
>> Scan your 98 system for viruses (use several on-demand and/or online
>> scanners, but only one background "resident" scanner -- I use Avast!)
>> scan it for Spyware (I use AdAware, Spybot Search & Destroy and Spyware
>> Blaster), institute standard security for IE and make sure Outlook
>> Express's security setting is set to Restricted Zone. Also, if you don't
>> already have one, you want to get a software firewall. If your internet
>> connection (I presume it's broadband) isn't protected by a router with
>> NAT routing, you should set that up.
>>
>> One thing: DO NOT use any Norton or McAfee products. Stick with the
>> simple stuff, like Avast for antivirus and maybe ZoneAlarm for firewall
>> (though I think there are maybe better free ones out there.) Otherwise,
>> set up the way I describe, and with proper user behavior, you should be
>> just as safe as any other Windows system
>>
>> --
>> Gary S. Terhune
>> MS-MVP Shell/User
>> www.grystmill.com
>
>