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Windows 98 - How to make secure and safer?

L

Lepard

Senior member
Im working on a customer's computer later on in the day and I was just wondering what steps should I take for making it more secure as well as safer and less prone to crashing.

The computer is a HP Pavilion 8533Z, so installing XP or 2000 is out of the question. Especially since the customer doesn't want to "upgrade", with so little RAM available on the system.

I figure I would just install all the updates from Windows Updates. Then Spybot and AVG. Would this be sufficient?
 
You could also add the free-for-personal-use version of ZoneAlarm, or another firewall. SpywareBlaster from http://www.javacoolsoftware.com and IE-SPYAD from http://www.spywarewarrior.com/uiuc/resource.htm are a couple more that might help. The free-for-personal-use AntiVir seems to come out stronger than AVG in comparison tests so consider that too, and make sure to go through all the option panels and fully configure it to use heuristics and all the optional detections.
 
I do not know what the specs. are for your computer but I don't think I would recommend putting win98 on there under any circumstances.

Are they a home user ? If they are just doing basically internet & e-mail and mainstream functions have you considered putting them on Ubuntu/Linux Dapper Drake ?

Would probably be a much better O/S for the class of computer that it sounds like you are talking about than Win98, if they are willing to do a little learning !!!

 
unplug it from any network.

baring that, delete the IE link, install firefox. Make sure that it's behind a big firewall. Delete the outlook link and install thunderbird.
 
I'm guessing the customer's PC has a 98 COA on the side, so that's how it came to have 98 installed to begin with. The customer doesn't want the cost of getting an Upgrade operating system, nor is Linux a viable solution as they need it to keep working the way it currently is.

I think mechBgon's advice is best in this instance. 🙂
 
Stick with the Win98 SE and your plan for spybot and avg. Convince him to use a different browser than IE and warn him to stay away from AOL. If they exist in your area, he might look at the used $200 system stores. He can get a slow XP machine complete with monitor and printer for the money.
 
Originally posted by: spyordie007
Did you explain that for the cost of probably an hour of your time he could get a new enough PC to run XP?
Click to expand...

The perfect solution!! That way you can get rid of such a POS OS like Windows 98 or Windows ME.
 
Originally posted by: Link19
Originally posted by: spyordie007
Did you explain that for the cost of probably an hour of your time he could get a new enough PC to run XP?
Click to expand...

The perfect solution!! That way you can get rid of such a POS OS like Windows 98 or Windows ME.
Click to expand...

Well well well, look who crawled out from under her rock
 
Originally posted by: Link19
Originally posted by: spyordie007
Did you explain that for the cost of probably an hour of your time he could get a new enough PC to run XP?
Click to expand...

The perfect solution!! That way you can get rid of such a POS OS like Windows 98 or Windows ME.
Click to expand...

:roll:
 
Originally posted by: Stumps
Originally posted by: Link19
Originally posted by: spyordie007
Did you explain that for the cost of probably an hour of your time he could get a new enough PC to run XP?
Click to expand...

The perfect solution!! That way you can get rid of such a POS OS like Windows 98 or Windows ME.
Click to expand...

Well well well, look who crawled out from under her rock
Click to expand...

STOP saying HER!! I AM A MAN, NOT a woman!!!!!:| :| :| :|
 
Originally posted by: Link19
Originally posted by: Stumps
Originally posted by: Link19
Originally posted by: spyordie007
Did you explain that for the cost of probably an hour of your time he could get a new enough PC to run XP?
Click to expand...

The perfect solution!! That way you can get rid of such a POS OS like Windows 98 or Windows ME.
Click to expand...

Well well well, look who crawled out from under her rock
Click to expand...

STOP saying HER!! I AM A MAN, NOT a woman!!!!!:| :| :| :|
Click to expand...
No, it's a fact: you are a pseudo man on top of a native girly architecture.

And like you say, you can't argue facts!
 
Originally posted by: Link19
Repetative and incessant bullshit and ranting about Win9x
Click to expand...
Get the fvck out of the thread.
You know how any mention of Win9x gets your PMT going full bore, so why bother?
You are boring and a very sad little girl.


To the OP. like others have said, use another browser instead of IE, use a firewall, AV etc, and he should be ok.

There was an unofficial service pack for Win98 on the web which contained many fixes and tweaks, but use at your own risk.
 
This is a thread involving an HP, why is the focus not on slamming HPs?! D@mnit Link19, your mere existence has ruined another thread!
 
Originally posted by: Lepard
Im working on a customer's computer later on in the day and I was just wondering what steps should I take for making it more secure as well as safer and less prone to crashing.

The computer is a HP Pavilion 8533Z, so installing XP or 2000 is out of the question. Especially since the customer doesn't want to "upgrade", with so little RAM available on the system.

I figure I would just install all the updates from Windows Updates. Then Spybot and AVG. Would this be sufficient?
Click to expand...


Windows 98 is prone to crashing? I did not know that. I've had my custom built Windows 98 computer since 98 and never experienced it crashing. Seems like everbody is blaming Windows for everthing that befalls them. It is like the SUV. Instead of putting the blame on the driver invoved in an accident, the SUV is blamed instead.

 
supah fresh install_

all the updates that has ever been out_

make sure it's the SE version_

find a software security suite that will support 98 even if Microsoft stopped its support_

always monitor traffic_fire walls and network security _

never ever download trash like free music or use malicious software like limewire or kazaa_

make sure no one fools around with the OS environment, it's so fragile, I mean we're talking Windows 98, an OS that was once superior to Windows 95 but is now in the unsupported list of Microsoft_

always try to make subfolders for a good reason, your HD will only support the 1's/0's upto the point where if it gets lossed in the sectors cause immediate instability; thus delete unuseful files and never install anything unnecessary_use 3rd party software to monitor uninstallation if you can_always use defragging when you get the chance at appropriate intervals

watch the boot sequences, the slower it gets you know there is a problem; system shut down times_watch those timings; a good indication of what's going on with your software and perhaps hardware as well

update firmware and hardware support that will offer Windows 98 support, make sure that it is compatible

last but not least on my list, never ever get comfortable with 98, because there are security breaches that even novice hackers know about, they will break your security shells and eat at you like cookies from the cookie jar, you'll be panicking if you aren't ready for this kinda stuff_ the 98 software layers are not as complex as WinXP or even ME, but ME is still kinda of wacky if you'd ask me
 
Thanks everyone for the help.

I couldn't sway him away from IE, apparently some websites he visits need IE, or so he said. However, I did update the system extensively. As well as added ZoneAlarm's Firewall, AVG Free, Spybot Search and Destroy, Spywareblaster and others.
 
Originally posted by: Lepard
Thanks everyone for the help.

I couldn't sway him away from IE, apparently some websites he visits need IE, or so he said. However, I did update the system extensively. As well as added ZoneAlarm's Firewall, AVG Free, Spybot Search and Destroy, Spywareblaster and others.
Click to expand...

Get him Firefox and get him to use the IE tab in Firefox when he really needs it. Firefox is very critical for a Windows 98 computer, or an IE alternative in general.
 
Originally posted by: Brazen
Originally posted by: Link19
Originally posted by: Stumps
Originally posted by: Link19
Originally posted by: spyordie007
Did you explain that for the cost of probably an hour of your time he could get a new enough PC to run XP?
Click to expand...

The perfect solution!! That way you can get rid of such a POS OS like Windows 98 or Windows ME.
Click to expand...

Well well well, look who crawled out from under her rock
Click to expand...

STOP saying HER!! I AM A MAN, NOT a woman!!!!!:| :| :| :|
Click to expand...
No, it's a fact: you are a pseudo man on top of a native girly architecture.

And like you say, you can't argue facts!
Click to expand...

BAW HAHAHAHAHA PWNED

It's funny cause it's true....don't make me bitch slap you
 
I actually have less problems with my Win98 rigs than I do with my XP rigs as far as spyware/adware/viruses go, all I use on my Win98 rig is good ole Norton Internet Sercurity 2003...it seems to do the job fine...however the same software is absolutly hopeless on my XP rigs, and I'm forced to used a combination of software on them.

But then again I'm not in the habit of visiting sites that could put my PC's at risk of infection.
 
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