Do I need to Update Windows???

Hi Guys!

I am using Win XP SP2 with a third party Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware and a firewall installed. After all these 3rd party softwares, do I still need to update Windows XP so as to keep it safe, or will these 3rd party softwares do the needful to keep my computer safe.

Thank you.

go4saket said:
Do I still need to update Windows XP so as to keep it safe, or will these 3rd party softwares do the needful to keep my computer safe.

Yes you do. Search the forum to find methods so that you can do offline installations of most of the updates.

I do know the procedure to update. All I wanted to know is weather or not it is necessary...

windows updates is not only about security its also contains patches to improve overall performance...its better to update and keep minimum 3rd party security softwares.

Got the point that I should update, but keeping minimum 3rd party softwares is what doesnt satisfy me. Do you really think Windows have security features strong enough to eliminate all these 3rd party softwares.

go4saket said:
Do you really think Windows have security features strong enough to eliminate all these 3rd party softwares.

well it doesn't but u must still keep ur OS up2d8, cause ur existing OS will have vulenerabilities that may not b addresed by 3p sw and MS on findin abt them will post upd8s

MS also oftens finds ways to improve performance of ur OS, and posts upd8, which does not comes under the functions of 3p anti-sw

windows do have security considering it keep restriction to minimum for easy user interaction...which is good for many,
only thing i use is a firewall.....and on demand scanner...to keep a chk on my friends usb drives....

cyberboy_kerala said:
windows do have security considering it keep restriction to minimum for easy user interaction...which is good for many,
only thing i use is a firewall.....and on demand scanner...to keep a chk on my friends usb drives....

i don't know abt any "other" 3rd party security software than these!

yes, sourav its always better to update windows wid the latest updates. don't reply on built it firewall of XP. its a one way firewal.

You should definately update windows.3rd party software can't fix all the loopholes found in os.This is where updates come handy.I also suggest u keep all ur anti softwares updated. Best solution for ur query is that u switch to Linux.No viruses,no prob

^^^ Viruses on Windows is overhyped.

Overhyped???I think underhyped.

Anyways always keep your windows updated as it not only removes loopholes malicious programs can use(or have already used) but also improves overall performance.

You should also keep your antivirus and spyware updated and using a good third party firewall is highly recommended.

@go4saket

You should update brother... Bug fix / Security threats are really gets plug by these updates...

infra_red_dude said:
i don't know abt any "other" 3rd party security software than these!

dont know more than this?

real time av scanner

Adware/Spyware/Scumware Remover

rootkits detectors

Trojan Scanner

cyberboy_kerala said:
dont know more than this?
real time av scanner
Adware/Spyware/Scumware Remover
rootkits detectors
Trojan Scanner

wudn't ur realtime scanner haf options for these? or is it only an AV scanner? u hafnt mentioned.

cyberboy_kerala said:
dont know more than this?
real time av scanner
Adware/Spyware/Scumware Remover
rootkits detectors
Trojan Scanner

Encrypters. File encrypters. In corporate type of environment, it is important.

Even Event and Activity loggers can be security softs.

Maybe even file integrity checkers.

DONT UPDATE UR WINDOWS IF IT IS PIRATED i had suffered a lot because

of this cos through Update they will install a hidden software on ur sys that

will give all ur personal info to microsoft ppl nd a msg will come on ur windows

that u may be victim of piracy

Note :i m not promoting piracy just bringing out the fact of so called UPDATE

saurabh kakkar said:
DONT UPDATE UR WINDOWS IF IT IS PIRATED i had suffered a lot because

of this cos through Update they will install a hidden software on ur sys that

will give all ur personal info to microsoft ppl nd a msg will come on ur windows

that u may be victim of piracy

Note :i m not promoting piracy just bringing out the fact of so called UPDATE

Updates sent via automatic updates dont perform OS validity test

d updates themselves dont install any hidden software

wat u r takin about is d Validation process needed for some downloads where u will b required to downloadl and install a plugin to verify d genuineness of ur copy

AFAIK downloading DirectX Redistributable or Windows Media Player need dis validation step

well if u download d validation plugin and it is proved dat u usin pirated stuff den probably d message appears,

otherwise d stuff sen thru Automatic updates contain absolutely no trojans

Updates sent via automatic updates dont perform OS validity test

d updates themselves dont install any hidden software

I am not sure though, what I see right now, as if u dont validate windows and have Auto Update on, the 1st thing would install before installing any update is Windows Validation activex / tools...

once again I am not sure... !!! its just personal exp i saw in few previous clean installatio of XP... !!!

sir i myself nd many of my friends have sufferd this problem nd I also have

verified this act of MICROSOFT in various sites that Y i m telling

choto cheeta is in invi mode

Choto Cheeta said:
I am not sure though, what I see right now, as if u dont validate windows and have Auto Update on, the 1st thing would install before installing any update is Windows Validation activex / tools...

once again I am not sure... !!! its just personal exp i saw in few previous clean installatio of XP... !!!

actually wat i siad was also from my personal exp

wen i do a clean install of Win Server 2003, i usually install DX quite late

but b4 dat, wen i connect to d Net, MS sends me a host of stuff to upd8, thru auto upd8

i do d updating needed 4 d OS

den l8r wen I go 2 download d latest DX redistri, i am made 2 undergo d validation step (it is needed only once), and once my OS is validated i am able to download d setup files

next time tho MS skips d step (wen i click on d validation button i am directly taken to d download page)

so based on these i concluded dat updates sent thru auto update does not perform validation

One thing to note here, Right now updater 5 is not supported any more, so even u just use autoupdate, by default Microsoft will install updater version 6, now which is under windows genuine advantage... !!!!

*update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

So theoritically to install v6 updater, one must have genuine Windows, so before autoupdate checks the system for update, it would check whether its Genuine or not, so its kind of Force full installation of v6 updater there after the Genuine Advantage tool too..

once again, I dont have any offcial info on it yet

are bhai logon i am telling u that many of my friends have sufferd from this

nd in my case i detected the WGA hidden software with Spybot - Search & Destroy

which

detected WGA nd i was shocked with behaviour of MICROSOFT

btw cheeta Y r u in invi mode ?

saurabh kakkar said:
are bhai logon i am telling u that many of my friends have sufferd from this

nd in my case i detected the WGA hidden software with

Thats what I see too, what I am trying to do is, find the reason, and one I did see which I have just mentioned... !!!

me said:
One thing to note here, Right now updater 5 is not supported any more, so even u just use autoupdate, by default Microsoft will install updater version 6, now which is under windows genuine advantage... !!!!

*update.microsoft.com/microsof....aspx?ln=en-us

So theoritically to install v6 updater, one must have genuine Windows, so before autoupdate checks the system for update, it would check whether its Genuine or not, so its kind of Force full installation of v6 updater there after the Genuine Advantage tool too..

once again, I dont have any offcial info on it yet

btw cheeta Y r u in invi mode ?

nothing special !!!

Ok what about not activating the auto update feature and updating via the Update packs (Auto patcher)that comes along with all these computer magazines...

^^^

Auto Patcher only comes with Recomended and Critical updates... where as there are many update patches which are developed for certain system devices, there are many Drivers too, so Microsoft online update checks those too and installs them where those are needed, this is not available with Auto Patcher or such...

Choto, u might find this tutorial helpful

always BEST to keep it updated. but if u r unable to do do so, for whatever reasons, use (and now preserve) the latest autopatcher to install the (critical) updates atleast. along with these and ur 3rd party freeware av+fw+as, yr xp/sp2, should be safe enough.