Can I make Windows 2000 secure for general use?

[bupkus]

I know it's old, but my niece needs a pc and I have this old Athlon XP 1600+ and Windows 2000 installation cd that hasn't been used for a while. I'm downloading OpenOffice as I write this and I have some anti-virus and firewall software(I buy extras when they're free after rebate).
This rig only has 256mb of ddr with an ASUS mobo with an nforce1 chipset, so even if I did buy XP the 256mb of ddr might just drag it down.

Can I make this secure for her?

 

[Slowlearner]

Of course you can, with a router and good AV, add another 256 mb RAM and the system should be fine for office apps, email websurfing etc without any problems.

 

[coupland]

Agree with slowlearner. Don't forget that a tonne of enterprises still haven't upgraded from W2K to W2K3, so a lot of companies are running their most critical software on W2K. Can it be made secure? Not if your criteria are more strict than a global bank with a million customers. Otherwise you should be okay...

 

[bupkus]

Originally posted by: Slowlearner
Of course you can, with a router and good AV, add another 256 mb RAM and the system should be fine for office apps, email websurfing etc without any problems.

I have a router, but my niece doesn't. Would some firewall software suffice?
I have Computer Associates, Norton Systemworks, and can download a free version of ZoneAlarm.

 

[nweaver]

tbh, if she just surfs the web, does email, etc I would (flamesuit on) install Xubuntu...then you don't have to worry about installing AV/Anti Spyware/etc. I WOULD make sure SSH is secured, but that is it.

 

[postmortemIA]

As long as IE6 is well hidden, yes. Trick that I do (for parents, novices, and such) is to put Firefox shortcut everywhere, named "Internet Explorer" and with IE icon.

 

[gwag]

Originally posted by: postmortemIA
As long as IE6 is well hidden, yes. Trick that I do (for parents, novices, and such) is to put Firefox shortcut everywhere, named "Internet Explorer" and with IE icon.

right on the money!!!

 

[Canterwood]

Originally posted by: postmortemIA
As long as IE6 is well hidden, yes. Trick that I do (for parents, novices, and such) is to put Firefox shortcut everywhere, named "Internet Explorer" and with IE icon.

I just hide all IE references and change the firefox shortcut text to INTERNET. 😀
Seems to work.

To the OP, a software firewall is a must if you don't have a router, some anti virus (make sure it updates), the latest security patches for windows, and don't let her run as an admin.
Power user will be more than enough for her needs at home.

256mb is enough for Win2k running those apps, but ram is relatively cheap so you could add more if you wanted.

 

[spikespiegal]

a software firewall is a must if you don't have a router

No, it's not.

If the system is fully patched, you avoid using IE as much as possible, and the user doesn't have local admin right then a software firewall accomplishes nothing. Actually, not having local admin rights trumps all other security concerns because then nothing bad can be install anyways.

Give the kid admin rights and I don't care what security software you install. It's meaningless.

Unless this guy's niece plans on running an SQL and SMTP server, then there's no need for a software firewall.

 

[PingSpike]

They still release security updates for it, so its not XP has much on it besides the built in firewall and naggy security center.

 

[mithrandir2001]

I installed Windows 2000 on the PC I am using in June 2001 (that's right, 5+ years on the same install). Very fortunately I haven't had problems with intruders, viruses, spyware, etc. That's not so much the OS as it is my fastidiousness. XP may be "more secure" but an idiot user can and will screw it up.

My corporate PC is running Win2K as well. The LAN group said my next PC (coming very shortly) will have 2003 server.