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How To Avoid Viruses At Windows Install Time?

Posted by timothy on from the good-luck-with-all-that dept.

reallocate writes "Can a home user install and update Windows without being attacked by a virus or worm? I'm a Linux user; have been since 1995. Recently, I needed to install Windows XP Pro on a home desktop machine with a Roadrunner cable connection. I tried twice. Both times, the machine was attacked and rendered unusable before I was able to pull down the first update from Windows Update." Read on for more details of what went wrong and when.

Here's a synopsis of my install method:

  1. Put the Windows XP CD in the drive;
  2. Disconnect the cable modem from the network card;
  3. Reboot and install Windows;
  4. The box remains off the net during the entire install: no registering, no setting up an ISP, no activation, no network configuration, no nothing. (BTW, the only networking component that I install is tcp/ip. All the other MS stuff never gets on the machine.)
  5. Reboot; Windows runs and all is well;
  6. Install the current version of Norton Internet Security Professional from a shrinkwrapped CD (firewall, anti-virus, etc.);
  7. Configure the Roadrunner net connection and reboot to pick up a DHCP lease;
  8. Launch the Norton update facility (per Norton's recommendation, the built-in XP firewall is turned off);
  9. Complete the Norton update and reboot;
  10. Launch Windows Update;
  11. Start to pull down Service Pack One; per Microsoft's instructions, all firewalls are turned off.

That's as far I got. During the first attempt, I acquired a virus or worm before I could finish the Norton update (machine powered down). On the second attempt, I got as far as Windows Update and SP1(continual rebooting).

So...how would you do it?"

26 of 833 comments (clear)

  1. If you can stand waiting... by foidulus · · Score: 5, Informative

    You can get a cd from microsoft(more info here that would have a lot of the updates you are looking for. You could also download it from your linux machine, and then do the whole installation offline.

    1. Re:If you can stand waiting... by XaviorPenguin · · Score: 5, Informative

      There is another way. If you go to Autopatcher.com, you can download all of Service Pack 1 and pre-Service Pack 2 updates with all critical and recommended updates. It is a hefty download (300MB +) but it is worth it. It comes with:
      -Direct X 9.0b + Updates
      -XP Powertoys
      -SP1 Critical and Recommended Updates
      -Pre SP2 Critical and Recommended Updates
      - + More

      I use it and it is updated every month. Get it while you can!

      --
      Friends help you move...
      REAL Friends help you move dead bodies... ^_^
    2. Re:If you can stand waiting... by LoneIguana · · Score: 5, Informative

      You can access the windows update catalog here: http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/catalog/en/d efault.asp There you can get secruity updates for all versions of windows. You actually download them to your computer rather then installing them. You could download them on another computer burn them to a CD, then install before connecting to the internet. The only problem is you need a computer with IE. Maybe get a friend to burn it for you?

    3. Re:If you can stand waiting... by TPS+Report · · Score: 5, Informative

      You can (with just a few mouse clicks) automatically create an up-to-date ISO of Windows XP/2000/2003 with XPCreate. It's a really nice utility.

      --
      I was told that I could listen to the radio at a reasonable volume from nine to eleven...
    4. Re:If you can stand waiting... by zoloto · · Score: 5, Informative

      DUDE THIS ROCKS!
      Actually, what you can do is use Wine or WinEX and install Internet Explorer 5.5 from an old 5.5 installation CD on Linux,... download then burn to CD and you'll be great. I did that just now and i have to say thank you for the link.

      It seems that any useful links, MS hides behind a rediculous naming scheme for some odd reason.

      Thank you again, if I had MOD points, I'd certianly give them to you.

    5. Re:If you can stand waiting... by BollocksToThis · · Score: 5, Informative

      The only problem is you need a computer with IE.

      If you go to the Microsoft download center, you can download every patch with (almost?) any browser. I downloaded service pack 1 and every patch after that using nothing but Opera.

      It was less convenient than using WindowsUpdate/IE, but it would still have worked on a linux machine. The best part is, when friends give me their computers to reinstall XP, I don't need to spend four hours downloading patches from scratch.

      --
      This sig is part of your complete breakfast.
    6. Re:If you can stand waiting... by Condor7 · · Score: 5, Informative



      Autopatcher.com also has a Lite version and an UltraLite version.

      The UltraLite version contains only Critical and Recommended updates, along with IE and Outlook patches, and weighs in at 89MB.

    7. Re:If you can stand waiting... by jonfelder · · Score: 4, Informative

      Sure. But *CAN* you do this?

      Absolutely. Just install the hotfixes that pertain to kernel vulnerabilities.

      But it's the *RIGHT* thing to do from a security point of view. If you're file-server is running X & Gnome & KDE & Wine & Kazaa, you're *BEGGING* for trouble.

      While you can't avoid installing the gui and what not in windows, you can turn off almost all of the running services. Technically, not that I'd advise it, you could avoid running IE, Outlook Express, etc...and forgo patching them in a server environment. Just don't run any apps either.

      The hard part about microsoft is that it's really hard to do that, since (as the article pointed out) the default install has everything with all the holes pre-installed and running.

      So does a default install of many distros...ones as old as XP even more so.

      I'm not a Microsoft advocate, I dislike Microsoft products for multiple reasons, but the size of the patches isn't one of them. All I'm saying is that when comparing a default (normal size) linux distro install to a default windows one, the amount of patches you need to install are similar.

  2. SP1 From CD by The+Snowman · · Score: 4, Informative

    When I install Windows it is behind a NAT firewall which helps (no open ports from the outside). The first thing I do is install SP1 from CD, next I update from Windows Update.

    I recommend downloading SP1 and burning it in Linux, then using that CD to patch up the Windows box before connecting it to the network.

    --
    24 beers in a case, 24 hours in a day. Coincidence? I think not!
  3. Easy by daveschroeder · · Score: 5, Informative

    Do the installation behind a personal NAT/firewall device.

    (Or, read all the posts about how you can put together some huge, convoluted update CD that's never completely up-to-date instead of just spending $35 on a little hardware firewall.)

    1. Re:Easy by Josh_Borke · · Score: 5, Informative

      or install zonealarm. and don't turn off the firewall. I've never had to turn off my firewall when doing any windows update.

      I would update windows before updating the firewall, that way you don't have to worry so much about being shutdown while the firewall is down.

      my .02

  4. Its easy... by CyberBill · · Score: 4, Informative

    Leave the software firewall turned on if you can, if not, get a cheap Linksys Cable/DSL router, it will block all of those viruses.

    I have to reinstall most of my family's computers when I go home, I made all of them have routers. :P

    -Bill

    --
    -Bill
  5. Firewall by jpaz · · Score: 5, Informative

    Keep the firewalling on, no matter what Microsoft says. I've never had an instance where having a firewall turned on kept windowsupdate from working properly.

    1. Re:Firewall by orin · · Score: 4, Informative

      This is absolutely correct. You can even use the simple Internet Connection Firewall that is built into Windows XP

  6. Easy by Masami+Eiri · · Score: 5, Informative

    We do this all the time where I work.
    Use another machine to burn a copy of the latest service pack, and the Sasser worm fix, and whatever other updates you want to include.
    After installing, install the updates from the CD, then check windows update for anything else.

  7. Probabl redundant at this point, but... by __aavhli5779 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Yes, a firewall and/or NAT is all you really need. Evidently Norton Internet Security did not live up to its promise, which comes as little surprise to me, I must admit.

    I've had success installing Windows XP and upgrading it with only Microsoft's Internet Connection Firewall enabled.

  8. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 4, Informative

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  9. Download the Service pack before install by borwells · · Score: 4, Informative

    Download the SP1 Network install before beginning your XP installation. Stick it on a CD or a Samba share and install it prior to connecting to the Internet.

    --
    "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
  10. External firewall? by pilkul · · Score: 5, Informative
    You say you're a Linux user; why not plug one of your Linux boxes to the 'net, use it as NAT-routing firewall using iptables, and download the updates from behind the firewall? It's always worked for me. Or if you only have one machine, you can buy a cheap NAT router for 50$ nowadays.

    This solution seems so obvious to me that I wonder why you even bothered to ask. With your apparent technical knowledge, surely you must've thought of this. I'm inclined to think this question was just a veiled way to start an article bashing Microsoft about all the worms affecting their system.

  11. Re:Simple, Get an external Router. by yamla · · Score: 4, Informative

    You don't believe you can get infected in 20 minutes? The record at the undergraduate department of Computing Science at the University of Alberta is SIX SECONDS from plugging in an installed, unprotected Windows XP system until the time it is infected.

    It is highly unlikely that you could run an unprotected XP system with no firewall and no patches, hooked up via a cable modem or ADSL, for even ten minutes before getting infected.

    --

    Oceania has always been at war with Eastasia.
  12. Found at isc.incidents.org: by BandwidthHog · · Score: 5, Informative

    Windows XP: Surviving the First Day

    --

    Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
  13. but if you can't.... by Mydron · · Score: 5, Informative
    There are a few guides out there explaining what to do. Most of them involve shutting off windows services (such as file sharing and the windows network client) and using the firewall included with Windows XP before connecting to the internet.

    Here is a fairly comprehensive guide, aptly named: Windows XP: Surviving the First Day

    1. Re:but if you can't.... by dknj · · Score: 5, Informative

      This is a pretty poor Ask Slashdot article, IMHO. Here is how I do it within an hour and have nothing to worry about:

      1. Unplug network cable
      2. Install Windows XP
      3. Upon first boot turn on the Windows Firewall and reconnect network cable
      4. http://www.windowsupdate.com
      5. Wait for patches to download, then remove network cable and reboot after patches have installed
      6. Return to http://www.windowsupdate.com and download the remaining patches
      7. Reboot (no need to unplug network cable this time) and install a Virus Scanner/Firewall Suite.

      This takes an hour and isn't rocket science.

      -dk

    2. Re:but if you can't.... by dknj · · Score: 4, Informative

      Except the firewall will block incoming connections. Don't go to other sites which will exploit old IE bugs and install spyware/viruses/etc, go straight to windows update after installing windows. That will patch up to SP1.. there is a known bug with the firewall that will leave the machine vulnerable for a few seconds (enough to get infected) during the boot before SP1 finishes (or it may be another patch that fixes it.. i don't remember), this is why you remove the network cable before you boot the second time. After you patch it completely, you can install your firewall suite and virus scanners (as i stated).

      I used to do this on a daily basis, before I switched to a fully automated ris build, and never had an infected machine.

      -dk

  14. OP: The 100% best answer by Glonoinha · · Score: 5, Informative

    Go to Best Buy and get a Linksys BEFSR41 router / firewall device.
    Plug your computer into the LAN side.
    Clone the MAC address of your computer.
    Change the password on the router to something other than 'admin'.
    Plug in your cablemodem into the WAN side.
    Enjoy your new worm/virus/trojan free existance.

    How many times do we need to spell it out??

    --
    Glonoinha the MebiByte Slayer
  15. This is exactly how to do it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    1. Pull machine off net
    2. Install box
    3. Configure TCP/IP and enable windows firewall
    4. Plug in network cable
    5. Windows update
    6. Repeat windows update

    Job done.