Im with stupid

Hail, how are you gentlemen ?

I really dont know much... i know the basic, i think i can survive... what i am going to do now is reinstall my windows 98 se, as always i will choose 0 additional components in the setup, i wont update the applications that come with the os like windows media player, im not going to install microsoft office, and i will only download the critical\security updates. I really want to avoid contact with microsoft at most.

But the difrence now is that i am not going to install norton internet security:

Anti-virus: Well i know what i cant open... i know wich files are dangerous... i think i can survive, i dont really download any warez, only issos, ant those dont have virus... else, i dont think i will have any problem about ,exe files and about the others... i just remove them

Firewall: well... the thing is that i made many only tests with the firewall turned off and they all said i was secure.

Why do i want to do this ? you may think this reason sucks, but it means much to me, i dont like norton... too many files, too many files, too many files! i like to have control and this thing even sometimes gives me problems with cookies and websites, etc... ... please understand i REALLY dont want norton.
As i said i think i dont play with security, all my cofigurations are set not to save passwords or cookies, what i fear is access to my computer because i have 2 cable connections for my 2 computers each one with one connection, and they are networked to each other by ethernet cards, so each computer = 2 card, and each of them have the drives shared with full access (c:\ d:\)... the thing is that all the tests said i was safe

I want your comments... and can you tell me more sites do test ? any help would be welcome, thanks.

Farewell

Thing,

Sorry but i still don't understand what you want. Have you had problems before? Do you want to have a computer with "cero" security? You have many more anti-virii instead of Norton, like AVG for example. What's your point?

You seem schizophrenic with your PC now... ;)

DKRR

I know, sorry for my way of talking hehe...

What i really wanted to say is: I want to make sure my computer is safe, but i dont want to have norton because it messes too much with the system.

What i really want is to know if i am safe, as i said, all the internet security tests said my computer was safe with the firewall turned off!

I know i could use other security applications... but i want to avoid this, sorry. If you could link me to other security tests, i really want to be safe and have no firewall installed.

Thing, in your original post you said...

"...I really want to avoid contact with microsoft at most. ..."

I've been a linux fan for a few months now, give it a try, you'll like it!!

"... please understand i REALLY dont want norton. ..."
neither do i, that's why i use AVG, it's free, easy, up-to-date, you can't beat it...

If you're connected by a cable modem, then firewalls are a good thing. Dare i say they are necessary??? Yes, i will dare. They are necessary. Zone alarm is free, easy, and up-to-date (sound familiar??) It gives me no problems with cookies, websites, etc...

happy trails...

nothing makes me feel more 'in control' of my computer than a well set up firewall and AV software. i like to be totally aware of whats happening in my environment (too much life in the city i guess).

check your computer every once in a while with adaware. when you find spyware and adware that you didn't request or authorize know that a trojan or virus could get in the same way.If your surfing 'security' type sites there's a high chance that this could happen. Ever been redirected to a porn site or click on a link in google and find yourself some place you really didn't want to be?

You can minimize the risk by disableing java scripts, java applettes, active-X controls and removing active scripting from your system but your still putting your box in jepardy by not having safeguards in place.

Thanks...

About the linux i will just quote something: "Windows = doing things with problems, linux = cant even do thing"
But i know linux is good, when you understand it. Im going to install it on my workstation.

I did all the internet security tests from webpages that i could find with the firewall turned off, so is there any problem ?

In the past i got a classic problem with windows xp wich is give access to everyone in the internet by sharing things with full access, something like that.

Maybe i could survive with no firewall... i just want to know if anyone\anything can test my security for real!

I really don't understand you, since you don't like windows and you feel that it is useless, why you are still using it? If you don' like Norton, then don't use it.

You can go to the following link to test your security, just register with your email address and you can go for no risk test.

https://secure1.securityspace.com/sm....html?logout=1

you should get antivirus being connected to cable as welll as a firewall... just cause you know what files are safe there are plenty of worms and the like which require no effort on your part to spread and consume you...

Two "freebies" to consider that won't "mess" with your system...

www.grisoft.com is the home of AVG (mentioned above). AVG is one of the finest free antivirus programs available...and unlike Nortons, updates are free.

www.agnitum.com is the home of Outpost firewall, yet another free product that performs very well.

If you want to go online without anti-virii or firewall products, thats your business. IMO, however, thats the equivilent of being addicted to prostitutes and allegic to condoms.....the results of which should be obvious.

As for your want of testing tools, head over to www.dslreports.com . They have a decent set of security testing tools amongst other things.

Try using Zone Alarm as a firewall. And use a simple but powerfull antivirus like R.A.V. or F-PROT.

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Firewall: well... the thing is that i made many only tests with the firewall turned off and they all said i was secure.

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Did you consider that those test maybe were performed on you ISP's firewall/proxy? Some ISP's hide their network to the outside world (internet). It seems that al traffic comes from one computer (their proxy). But actually, this proxy translates (masks) the IP-addresses of their users PC's to the proxy's IP.
Most security scanning sites show the IP-address of the computer that is scanned. Maybe you should check if the IP is that of your computer. If it is not, then another computer was scanned. So the results of the test relate to the computer with the mentioned IP. This means that the security testresult says nothing about the secureness of your computer.

To the outside world (internet) your PC seems secure (because of the firewall/proxy), but inside your ISP's network you're possibly vulnerable to the attacks of other users on your ISP's network.

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and each of them have the drives shared with full access (c:\ d:\)...

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It doesn't seem a good idea to me to share your drives on your ISP's network. You mentioned you have your PC's connected with a second NIC, I suggest you only enable file-sharing on this NIC and not on the one that's connected to the internet.

With the setup you have described you are anything but safe. No firewall+no antivirus=BIG risk. Now personaly i dont use any nortons software. and i have have a fire wal and av program. If you are realy agains having a software firewall maybe you should consider using a hardware firewall. Maybe even a router with built in firewall and save yourself the cost of the extra internet connection. and refusing to update is the WORST thing you could do running a windows box. they dont release all those patches for the fun of it, you know?and definately diasble the sharing of your drives on the network that is connected to the internet.

Certainly listen to the many good posts your post has recieved.. this comment caught my eye..

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I really want to avoid contact with microsoft at most.

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Now 75% of my personal network (when all my machines are here) run one version or another of windoze.. 1 machine runs RH 7 (about to be upgraded to 8), lycoris, and mandrake 9.. I spend over 95% of my time in windaz.. BUT If you realy want as little as possable to do with Microsoft.. and you are the only user of the machine.. either Mandrake 9.1 or RH 8.. and you are in complete control.. I am not joking.. it is horses for courses.. and you just maybe a *nix kind of person..

Cheers

edit: you can tell i don't run a speel chequer

"It doesn't seem a good idea to me to share your drives on your ISP's network. You mentioned you have your PC's connected with a second NIC, I suggest you only enable file-sharing on this NIC and not on the one that's connected to the internet." ???????

Many thanks for your replays.

I think i already said how many computers are connected... i know and maybe in the future i will chose a router, that thing will reduce me one internet connection and also make the network, not only internet, will be nice :) but i still have to think about it and most important understand it, i will wait because i also want to upgrade to adsl i think, for example... what about the ip addresses ? will each computer have their own ip address ? wont it mess up and give problems two computers with the same internet connection ?

(other reason why i like to have to connections is because i do lots of downloads and things... two connections make even games easy to play online, playing online with the same connection is impossible, it sucks here at portugal, i got the best speed www.netvisao.pt offers (518 kbs) and my max download is around 50kbs, but the main reason really is to avoid problems and make things simple)

I really dont know much, i mean for you geeks this thing is just basic, hehe.
But for me one thing i know... i have total control over my computer, i know what software is installed, what each file is doing, etc... the reason why i didnt (and maybe still dont) want to have a firewall was because it didnt only make access to some sites strange, i had to turn it off, it also... you know... there are things that it blocks and it shouldnt, i dont like when there is something making things impossible to go right, i hate that!
The thing that i could do is to learn more... understand the equipment and the system, then i would be abble to do things right, my knowlgment (something like that, this word sucks) is still only what_to_do_to_avoid_problems.

Correction: i did all the microsoft windows security and internet explorer upgrades. All my software is up to date, and i check all the options everything that i can chose everything that i can set up i see! but of course i can set things wrong. I always do a clean of all temp files, and what i do most is go to c:\ and see ALL my folders one by one and remove all files that i can. And also the thing that you can most notice in my system, i must have one of the most organized computers in the world! there is no way to explain lets just say that there are no files wich are installed under c:\Thing this means c:\ = program files, windows, Thing. Under c:\Thing you find Applications, Games... there is where all software goes c:\applications\[application_name] and thats all, did you understand :) omfg this thing makes me proud :P sorry i just have a paranoia as everyone, and this is mine :)

I even use windows 98 se because i didnt like the windows xp making lots of files in strange places and that idea of services and things running and things that my computer does without me having control. (windows 98 is also the best to remember the good old dos time)

Now i think you have a idea how i master my windows, and this is the main reason why im affraid of choosing other OS... i will have to learn everything again, etc. But still i want to use for example linux to understand what is behind a website, how systems work, this is good for someone who spends all his life in front of a computer (i dont study computers and i SUCK at numbers\mat)

Well now i think you understand why i didnt like firewalls especialy norton because it makes LOTS of files everywhere, so please, you know im paranoid :P so if you tell me about a good sofware please... tell me that it wont do much more than out files in my applications folder and run at sartup

Many thanks again for the newbie frendly talk.

Configurations:

Network (control panel)
-client for microsoft networks
-f5d500, pci card network pci card «|{network}|»
-Micronet sp2500r fast ethernet adapter «|{internet}|»
-Tcp/ip f5d500, pci card network pci card
-Tcp/ip Micronet sp2500r fast ethernet adapter
-File and pronter sharing for microsoft networks

Primary network logon
-Windows logon

Access control
Share-level access control


Printer and files shared, options from the 2 shares c:\ and d:\

Access type: full

No password

Farewell

I violated two of the internet bbs rules:

1º Never make long posts
2º Dont make personal posts

Hehe

But anyway, i removed the shares from my drive... and i got scared because i got a message saying that two users were connected.

if all u want is asecure computer u dont need 2 put any anti virus ...
u can download any firewall , i prefer 2 u 2 download zonealarm , its pretty goood :)

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Originally posted here by Magic-Guy
if all u want is asecure computer u dont need 2 put any anti virus ...

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No anti-virus????

What planet are you from man? With advice like that I'd venture to say your home is Uranus.....

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Originally posted here by Thing
Maybe i could survive with no firewall... i just want to know if anyone\anything can test my security for real!

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Give this site a shot.

Sygate Online Security

You'll regret having no firewall nor AV software...

Ouroboros

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Originally posted here by Magic-Guy
if all u want is asecure computer u dont need 2 put any anti virus ...
u can download any firewall , i prefer 2 u 2 download zonealarm , its pretty goood :)

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As Saturday Night Live's very own Brian Fellow's says...."That's crazy!"


Running no antivirus software and no firewall is rather stupid....