Opinions on virus risk, please

Lolly

discombobulated
L
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Jun 22, 2009
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I've been using linux to access the internet and I got to the stage where I didn't bother putting windows back on (I was dual-booting for a while) last time I reinstalled.

I've put Windows 7 on my other computers and they've put out an update for it which you can only download from windows (it checks your computer to see that your windows isn't pirated). There'll probably be more because things are a bit glitchy with a new operating system and I'll want them. So, I've had to reinstall XP to be able to get these updates.

I'll have the "KB" number (from browsing in linux). All I need is to put that kb number in google search to get the Microsoft link, go to Microsoft and download. That's all I'll be doing on windows.

Is there any risk of catching a virus just doing this? Do you think that I need to bother with an anti-virus/internet security program? Oh, I should add that I'm behind a router so my computer is invisible to the internet.

Thanks.
 
I'm not entirely sure I follow you, but if I understand it, you're using Linux to download the update for a Windows OS. As long as the computer is already infected I don't see this as being particularly dangerous. Nothing to back this up though.
 
You're not going to get malware just from visiting Google and Microsoft. . And honestly, it would be much simpler if you just set your Windows 7 computers to auto-download and install updates (assuming it is physically possible for them to connect to the Internet). You are not going to get malware from doing that either.
 
As long as you're using NAT (where your PC has a different IP address from the DSL/cable bridge/modem), then you should be safe unless you actually do something to open yourself up: Download from a questionable site, run a program of unknown origin, click a link or run a program from a questionable e-mail, etc.

In other words, the only way downloading from Microsoft is going to cause you virus trouble is if your Windows install is already compromised.

Of course, installing a free antivirus program (I use "Avast!" and feel pretty comfortable with it) that doesn't reduce PC performance is so easy that it makes sense to do it anyway.
 
dtugg said:
You're not going to get malware just from visiting Google and Microsoft.
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Well, that was what I was thinking, but thought I'd ask those who know more about computers than I do.

dtugg said:
And honestly, it would be much simpler if you just set your Windows 7 computers to auto-download and install updates (assuming it is physically possible for them to connect to the Internet).
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My newer computers with Windows 7 don't connect to the internet, my internet computer is completely separate.
 
Babbylonian said:
As long as you're using NAT (where your PC has a different IP address from the DSL/cable bridge/modem), ...

Of course, installing a free antivirus program (I use "Avast!" and feel pretty comfortable with it) that doesn't reduce PC performance is so easy that it makes sense to do it anyway.
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Yes, thanks. Yes, I think my computer has its own IP address. I put AVG on the computer once but I found it quite annoying. I might have a look at Avast, thanks for the suggestion.
 
Lolly said:
I put AVG on the computer once but I found it quite annoying. I might have a look at Avast, thanks for the suggestion.
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With Avast, you just need to go into its settings and turn off all of its sound effects - they're the only thing I've found [incredibly] annoying about it. :)
 
Lolly said:
Well, that was what I was thinking, but thought I'd ask those who know more about computers than I do.

My newer computers with Windows 7 don't connect to the internet, my internet computer is completely separate.
Click to expand...

You might be able to use the ISO (Install Stand Alone) products from MS, I know they package them for Windows XP, they probably do for Windows 7 as well.
 
Babbylonian said:
With Avast, you just need to go into its settings and turn off all of its sound effects - they're the only thing I've found [incredibly] annoying about it. :)
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Noted, thanks.
dtugg said:
I would go with Microsoft Security Essentials for free av software.
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Thanks for the suggestion.
Dancing David said:
You might be able to use the ISO (Install Stand Alone) products from MS, I know they package them for Windows XP, they probably do for Windows 7 as well.
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I've never heard of that, what exactly is it?
 
It is a package of updates that MS makes for IT people who have to update large amounts of machines. But it can be annoying to use.
(And ISO is a disk image of a software package. I mis-spoke earlier, the tech used the jargon but I did not know its meaning.)

The issue may also be that Windows 7 has not reached this point. Try starting here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/323166

(As a sidebar, one of the huge issues is that MS does not want to make this easy, that is why they have all the Genuine Windows things. People get unlicensed software and MS does not want them to be able to update it. They want only people with legal software to be able to update.)
 
Dancing David said:
And ISO is a disk image of a software package.
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Oh, right. I noticed an .iso of all of the monthly updates when I was perusing Microsoft's site the other day.
Dancing David said:
Try starting here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/323166
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That looks interesting, thanks.

Dancing David said:
(As a sidebar, one of the huge issues is that MS does not want to make this easy, that is why they have all the Genuine Windows things. People get unlicensed software and MS does not want them to be able to update it. They want only people with legal software to be able to update.)
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Oh, for sure. I've got proper licences for all of my windows computers and my internet computer passes all of the validation stuff so there are no problems getting the updates. I just made the decision not to go near the internet with my "good" computers and to use linux for the internet, so that I don't have to fiddle-faddle with all of that anti-virus stuff and microsoft "hoop-jumping". It's very peaceful. :D

Have you heard the latest? Windows has a new update for Windows 7 which installs a program that "phones home" to Microsoft every 90 days and will cripple your computer if it suddenly decides you're a pirate.
 
I expect it'll be like all of the other things they've brought in. A lot of kerfuffle to start with, then everybody just accepts it.
 
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Lolly said:
Have you heard the latest? Windows has a new update for Windows 7 which installs a program that "phones home" to Microsoft every 90 days and will cripple your computer if it suddenly decides you're a pirate.
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Color me skeptical, mostly because this is the exact same thing that people were saying about XP when it first came out, and the same as was said about Vista when it came out. Unsurprisingly, when neither Windows releases did so it was very rare to hear any of those spreading the rumors admitting they were wrong. I'm of the opinion that this is going to be a standard rumor that gets floated about any new Microsoft operating system.

Alternately, what you heard could have been a gross misunderstanding of Microsoft's announcement that they will be releasing a new phone OS in the effort to try to gain back some market share that Apple, RiM, and Google have robbed from them over the past few years.
 
That update is optional and it won't cripple your computer if you're a pirate. Personally, I don't think it makes much sense since pirates will just skip the update.
 
Actually, reading the announcement that was linked, what seems to be coming is nothing of the sort. In fact, it's an elective download that basically works like a boot-time antivirus scanner to block exploits that try to start as Windows starts. For further proof that the claim is false, it says right on the page linked that "customer will see no reduced functionality in their copy of Windows" with this program (which is optional anyway).

Again, this is a completely bunk rumor. The link you gave damns itself with its own proof.

And before anyone backpedals: WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) does not "phone home" or cripple the computer arbitrarily. WGA basically performs a hash-check on the system that is created at the install time, based on the hardware configuration only. The hash-check is validated against a non-static database of hashes, and if it fails the check there is a nag screen telling the user that the version of Windows that they're using is not showing as 'Genuine' and instructs the user to call the activation line or to put a valid key code in. For false positives, which are rare anyway, all one has to do is call the number and follow the automated operator instructions for entering their product key, after which a valid code for getting rid of the WGA nag screen is provided. There are literally tons of documentation on how WGA works and what it does, and despite the histrionics it's neither arbitrary nor crippling to a computer.
 
I think losing the desktop wallpaper is "reduced functionality", even if not a seriously inconvenient one.

Obviously my use of the term "cripple" was a gross overstatement and I take it back, I should have used a different word. I didn't spend much time on the post, I was just chatting and thought what I'd read might be interesting.
 
GreNME said:
For false positives, which are rare anyway, all one has to do is call the number and follow the automated operator instructions for entering their product key, after which a valid code for getting rid of the WGA nag screen is provided. There are literally tons of documentation on how WGA works and what it does, and despite the histrionics it's neither arbitrary nor crippling to a computer.
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You're forgetting that it costs the person time. Microsoft is using our resources to protect their business model. I won't install something like that until they're willing to pay for my computer time, and my personal time if I get a false positive.
 
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