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Do I NEED to update?

D

dj4005

Member
I am about to resurrect an old XP-class machine SOLELY for the purpose of recording several radio programs from Internet radio stations. I'll be re-installing XP fresh, Sony Sound Forge, the Connector software for Windows Home Serve and probably Firefox - and absolutely NOTHING else. It will be head-less, being administered by another PC via Remote Desktop Connection.

While not in use, the machine will be powered down.

My question is - do I really the clutter of 13 years of Windows updates?

Your input is eagerly anticipated...
 
If you trust that the Internet radio stations' sites will not encounter infections, all devices and software work upon initial install (stably and reliably), and there is zero incentive to ever do any web browsing other initial travels to the Internet radio sites, you can "get by" with an XP fresh install.

There is a risk though in using an internet connected XP computer. Keep the firewall up on that machine - save for your needed ports, Administrator accounts locked down, and have your intended use discipline.

My opinion anyways.
 
I'd do it right, and spend the time to update. Get everything right for your setup, then image the naked, but fully installed drive. Future recoveries will then be trivial.
 
Depending on how "old" the old system is, and how powerful the newer system is, you could also do a virtual machine and give it a couple cores. VM's are very easy to back up, and may actually run better. I will echo the security consensus. I would probably install SP3 and be done with it.
 
I remember back in the days as soon as you would get on the internet you would get a virus and that was fixed via a Windows Update. I wouldnt risk even getting on Google without all the updates
 
Carson Dyle said:
That vulnerability is going to be primarily the responsibility of the browser, much more so than the OS.
Click to expand...

That audio stream utilizes the OS, OS Audio stack, drivers and hardware in addition to "the browser." Plenty of attack vectors in that chain with the browser only being one of them. That one I linked to was an OS issue that a browser could exploit (and any app that used WMF).
 
WMF was exploitable as long as the user opened the malformed picture file. It could have been an email attachment, for example.



I think it's irresponsible to not patch any internet connected XP machine. It could end up in a botnet without you knowing and then you might be the one sending me spam.



Definitely patch XP. Its not just a recommendation it's a duty, unfortunately.
 
Install a firewall, preferably Comodo's. Go through the options and enable ARP cache blocking, etc, Use the NoScript add-on for Firefox, install a good anti-virus. If your like me and use DD-WRT you can block ActiveX in the router. Patches? We don't need no sticking patches. I would at least install SP3. Good to go.

I have a server running on a Thin client with XPe with SP3 and just a firewall. Am I scared of a virus or hack? Nope.
 
Save yourself the headache of getting your information stolen. Even if your only logging onto a single site, if you use similar passwords to your e-mail or accidentally login to another site outside of the radio you could get your information stolen.
 
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