Relatives computers ...

[muert0]

I think this kinda goes along with the topic of this thread. There is a new worm out that overwrites itself in your norton or mcaffe folder. So you might wanna warn any of your family members of freinds who aren't educated in keeping their computers clean.
http://www.enterpriseitplanet.com/security/news/article.php/3368431
http://vil.nai.com/vil/content/v_126242.htm
I think the second link may be a little more detailed.

[Grok]

Well, I finally got her computer reformatted, reinstalled XP Pro SP1, fully patched (took two days on AOL -- explains why so many AOLers with dialup don't patch).  Something freaky with AOL dies when I try to enable the XP firewall, so I left it off, not feeling like figuring out the ports needed.  Before I left, I created a login for myself, added it to administrators and remote users group, and enabled terminal services.

Windows is such a catch-22.  It is so easy for people to use, and with that comes ease for people to exploit it.  But is that the case?  Must it be the case?  Does there really have to be a relationship between ease of use and ease of exploit?  That subject needs its own thread.

[muert0]

Is it bad to post tutorials from other forums here? I know a good one for setting up a secure windows box. And couldn't you burn the patches at home and take them to their house.

[iago]

Windows doesn't make it easy to just download all their patches, either, I have yet to find the page to do it.

One thing I like, though, is how when you install OpenBSD, you are left with 0 port open.  If you want to run any server, you have to specfically open the port.  You don't _need_ a firewall, because nothing is listening.  Windows, on the other hand, comes with 135, 137, and 445 open, which is the dumbest thing they ever did.  People should have to explicitly open ports if they want to get exploited.

[muert0]

Over half of the people using computers don't even know what a port is. And if they made it more complicated they wouldn't sell any computers. And besides when some malicious little kid destroys someones HD they have to go buy another one.

[Adron]

One thing I like, though, is how when you install OpenBSD, you are left with 0 port open.  If you want to run any server, you have to specfically open the port.  You don't _need_ a firewall, because nothing is listening.  Windows, on the other hand, comes with 135, 137, and 445 open, which is the dumbest thing they ever did.  People should have to explicitly open ports if they want to get exploited.

Not truly. It makes a lot of sense to keep file sharing services on if you're on a simple LAN, sharing things. Windows ran on LAN's before the Internet was ever close to what it is now. You might call it the dumbest thing they ever did not to close them once the Internet got common, but opening them in the first place wasn't so bad.

[iago]

One thing I like, though, is how when you install OpenBSD, you are left with 0 port open.  If you want to run any server, you have to specfically open the port.  You don't _need_ a firewall, because nothing is listening.  Windows, on the other hand, comes with 135, 137, and 445 open, which is the dumbest thing they ever did.  People should have to explicitly open ports if they want to get exploited.

Not truly. It makes a lot of sense to keep file sharing services on if you're on a simple LAN, sharing things. Windows ran on LAN's before the Internet was ever close to what it is now. You might call it the dumbest thing they ever did not to close them once the Internet got common, but opening them in the first place wasn't so bad.

Ok, I agree.  But by the time windows xp was released, they should have made the default settings tighter for sure.

[iago]

Over half of the people using computers don't even know what a port is. And if they made it more complicated they wouldn't sell any computers. And besides when some malicious little kid destroys someones HD they have to go buy another one.

Microsoft doesn't sell HDs.  Besides, they don't have to know what a port is, but they should at least have to press a button to enable those features which has a big warning saying, "This might be dangerous!".

[Jensen]

Hmm this is the wierd thing i upgraded both of the cmputer in my house from 98 -> xp (big change) and on one (mine) the firewall was on by default and not on the other one so i had to turn it on and disable messenger...

also this comp at my work was like that from the profesionals, except i found 64 (how ironic) spy/adware programs on it when i got hired and sience then they reinstalled xp on it once so i ended up repatching/cleaning it for them just so i could stand using it

I should charge them for my services and see how fast i get fired lol

[muert0]

You don't think Bill Gates has any money invested in any of the major companies that make and sell hard drives. Or contracts with all the companies that sell Windows bundled with computers? I see him getting a peice of just about any computer hardware or software sold. But, maybe I'm off by a little bit.

[Hazard]

I just scanned my sister's computer with Ad-Aware and it found 587 files...

[Grok]

I just scanned my sister's computer with Ad-Aware and it found 587 files...

Your sister rules.  But it's bad form to talk about sisters and not post pics.

[Hazard]

She's 13... and a fucking moron.

[Grok]

She's 13... and a fucking moron.

Mitosis might be her hero!

[Hostile]

She's 13... and a fucking moron.

Theres no telling how low Grok will go, should post the pic anyways.