Any real consequences of taking a WFW 3.11 system online?

[bbhaag]

So like the tittle says what are the chances of me being compromised when taking a Windows for Workgroups 3.11 system online? I kinda figure if I play it safe and only visit sites I trust and don't do anything stupid like dl some random file I should be ok.

What do you guys think?

 

[Mushkins]

I... honestly think it might be safer than I would expect. If only by virtue of the fact that it can't even run 90% of the software most modern exploits are designed to take advantage of.

That being said, it still woudn't be *safe*.

 

[mikeymikec]

I think you're being somewhat optimistic that you'll be able to visit any sites on it. IIRC a whole load of crap had to be installed for that version of Windows to be able to handle even an ancient 32-bit web browser, that's just aside from the wonderful winsock stuff (again IIRC), and the likely age of the hardware.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Familiarize yourself with Blaster, Sasser, Teardrop, Land, and other such things...

 

[mikeymikec]

Familiarize yourself with Blaster, Sasser, Teardrop, Land, and other such things...

I don't think Win9x was even vulnerable to the ones you listed let alone Win311.

 

[Mushkins]

I don't think Win9x was even vulnerable to the ones you listed let alone Win311.

Is anyone even actively distributing these worms anymore? Seems like a total waste of time from a cybercrime perspective.

Honestly, I'm half tempted to set this up in a VM and see just what I catch in a day of browsing.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Is anyone even actively distributing these worms anymore?

I thought that, being a worm, that they were largely autonomous, and still wandering around out there.

 

[PliotronX]

Hell, I've been messing with a VM of WinME It's mostly in case I ever get a call from "Veendows Supporth" again so they can remote on and not know what to do.

 

[mikeymikec]

I thought that, being a worm, that they were largely autonomous, and still wandering around out there.

They've still got to exploit a flaw in the host. If Win9x is different enough from NTx to be immune to the ills of early NTx's era, it's reasonable to assume that Win311 is even more different.

 

[bbhaag]

Well I guess I better let you guys know how it went. Indeed like mikeymikec suggested it is a pain in the ass to get WFW 3.11 online. Thankfully the TCP/IP protocol and IE 5.01 are both available and run smoothly under 3.11 also automatic DHCP discovery was a big help. Screw packet drivers though.

Going to sites like Google and the Anandtech forums were fairly uneventful. While they loaded slow they were still 90% functional. Obviously sites like youtube and windows.com were out of the question. Most either refused to load or told me to update my browser.

Using mIRC to join some server/chans and Outlook to read Usenet groups was also fun. This more than anything was very nostalgic.

Overall it was a cool experience and I plan on experimenting more.

SYSTEM SPECS:
Am486DX2-66
S3 Trio64V 2mb video ram
68mb system ram
3Com Etherlink III network card
Sound Blaster 16
540mb Quantum HDD

 

[mikeymikec]

800x600? How many colours, did you play it safe with 256 or did you let rip with high colour?

 

[shortylickens]

It wont work. It cant handle a browser thats capable of rendering or even downloading most web content these days.

If you insist on using old hardware with a free operating system, get Linux. It works and its secure.

 

[mikeymikec]

It helps to read the thread first

 

[Mushkins]

I thought that, being a worm, that they were largely autonomous, and still wandering around out there.

The thing is, it's just like a regular old biological virus. It needs to continue to spread to new hosts to survive. If all the vulnerable hosts cease to exist, the worm cant continue to spread and it dies out.

I would think the majority of Sasser/Blaster vulnerable systems that *were* in the wild have long since been retired and are no longer connected to the public internet.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

that is awesome!!

I wouldn't put it online myself, since I don't even remember how to diagnose viruses, etc. on that ver. of windows.

Hell, I've been messing with a VM of WinME It's mostly in case I ever get a call from "Veendows Supporth" again so they can remote on and not know what to do.

 

[bbhaag]

800x600? How many colours, did you play it safe with 256 or did you let rip with high colour?

Yes 800x600 is the resolution I run. I tried 32k color with small font but the little 486-66 was really choppy when scrolling so I had to turn it down to 256 color with small font. That made it a lot smoother.

 

[Kaido]

Any real consequences of taking a WFW 3.11 system online?

Eh, are you French?

https://news.vice.com/article/windows-31-is-still-alive-and-it-just-killed-a-french-airport