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Stop Christmas-Gift PCs From Feeding Worms

Posted by timothy on from the cognitive-dissonance dept.

An Anonymous Reader writes "If you recently set up a new PC with Windows XP, or if you had the pleasure to do a 'reinstall from scratch,' you probably found that many XP systems as they are shipped today are not patched against common issues like Blaster. Given that these worms are still going strong, it doesn't take long for a new system to be infected. In particular, if you have to connect it to the Internet to download all the patches. Well, help is in sight. The SANS Institute released a paper entitled Windows XP: Surviving the First Day." (Read on below.) Update: 12/24 17:59 GMT by T : Thanks for reader Bill Curnow for the updated link. Update: 12/24 19:15 GMT by T : Besides the workaround suggested below, Roblimo has a good suggestion on avoiding the first-day-of-Windows altogether.

"With many screen shots, it will walk you through the procedure to enable the XP firewall and downloading the patches without getting infected while doing so. This could be the (free) stocking stuffer that may save Christmas for your folks ;-). Given that its probably to late now to start downloading your favorite Linux distro."

But if you do have the time and bandwidth, and you're stuck on Windows, a nice live-CD distro like Knoppix or Mepis means you can download patches without racing the worms, and install your patches while offline. (And if you have time to download 50MB, you have time to grab Damn Small Linux.)

8 of 416 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Bad link. by Frymaster · · Score: 4, Funny
    xp.homepc.org not found.

    it's been clobbered by blaster.

    --

    2 1337 4 u!

  2. The title should have been.. by Poilobo · · Score: 5, Funny

    Our Server: Surviving the Slashdotting

    --
    Sig (appended to the end of comments you post, 120 chars)
  3. Re:Easy Alternative by qualico · · Score: 4, Funny

    Click Start > Network and Dial up connections Right click on your internet connection, choose "DISABLE" Voila! The proper config for any Windows Box!

  4. wormies worry me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I had just plugged my joystick into the USB port when it started wildly moving in my hand! Worms infected it I swear!

    1. Re:wormies worry me by mustangsal66 · · Score: 3, Funny

      If your 'Joy' stick fits in a USB port, you have bigger problems then the blaster worm.

      --
      Why worry? Each of us is wearing an unlicensed "nucular" accelerator on his back.
      Sig changed for readability by G.W.
    2. Re:wormies worry me by NanoGator · · Score: 5, Funny

      "If your 'Joy' stick fits in a USB port, you have bigger problems then the blaster worm."

      The nice thing about flaming somebody over the internet is that you don't have to have a big dick to tell somebody they have a small one.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    3. Re:wormies worry me by Iffy+Bonzoolie · · Score: 3, Funny

      Dude, they were talking about USB Joysticks... you are coming out of left field with this Penis talk. What's up with that?

      -If

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      Run a pencil-and-paper RPG campaign with your far-off friends: Gametable!
  5. The basis for a TV reality show by jhines · · Score: 4, Funny

    Steve B and Bill G install a new Windows PC, without any help, or special privileges, or special help lines.

    Now, that is what I call a reality show.