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How Long is Too Long to Update?

Posted by Cliff on from the tick-tock-tick-tick dept.

StWaldo asks: "I'm sure everyone knows the story about the life expectancy of an fresh, un-updated PC, once it's connected to the internet. What about a PC which just hasn't been updated in a while? I've been deployed in Iraq for the last 9 months, and haven't been able to hook up my laptop to the internet to get updates (I do HAVE access, just can't hook up a personal laptop, gov't only). Before I deployed, I would update my software (system, anti-virus, firewall, anti-spyware, etc) regularly, but as I get closer to coming back to the States and my broadband connection, I'm beginning to wonder what the life expectancy of my PC will be. What's the lifecycle of a security exploit, hack, virus, etc - between discovery/release, propagation, and extinction (or a state approaching extinction)?"

14 of 415 comments (clear)

  1. make sure your firewall is running by e_AltF4 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    don't start any applications
    make sure your firewall is running
    do your updates

    bingo

  2. Hardware firewall by Kaa · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Spend $50 to buy a hardware firewall and the life expectancy of your laptop will skyrocket :-)

    --

    Kaa
    Kaa's Law: In any sufficiently large group of people most are idiots.
  3. Lifetimes... by rewt66 · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Not updated in nine months? That's the same as never updated. You have to treat it as if the machine has never been online before.

    The machine will have a lot shorter lifetime than an American soldier in Iraq...

    We look forward to having you back, by the way! While there are those here on /. who opposed the war, politically, I think we all wished you (and all the other soldiers there) nothing but the best. Our thanks for a difficult job.

    1. Re:Lifetimes... by meringuoid · · Score: 2, Insightful
      We look forward to having you back, by the way!

      I fully agree. We look forward to having you all back.

      --
      Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
    2. Re:Lifetimes... by thatguywhoiam · · Score: 2, Insightful
      We look forward to having you back, by the way! While there are those here on /. who opposed the war, politically, I think we all wished you (and all the other soldiers there) nothing but the best.

      Those two things are not mutually exclusive; I oppose the war(s), and I wish all the American troops nothing but the best. Honestly.

      --
      If Jesus wants me it knows where to find me.
    3. Re:Lifetimes... by the+arbiter · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I'm about as left-wing, liberal and Democrat as it is possible to be. Read my posting history, it shows.

      I just have to say this: You're a dick. Straight up. You think this soldier ordered the war? You think he made the policy decisions that led to Iraq's destruction? No. He's just some guy making about $10 an hour, trying not to get killed, all for the dubious reward of trying to save ungrateful shitheads like yourself. So go fuck yourself with the largest pointy object that you can find.

      Bash Bush and the decision makers all you like...I'll be right in there with you. Bash a soldier and I'll tell you what a worthless piece of crap you are. Bash one in range of my hearing and you won't do it again.

      You'll notice I sign my name. "Anonymous Coward" fits you like a glove.

      --
      Boycott everything - they're all trying to fuck you one way or another
    4. Re:Lifetimes... by mnmn · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I on the other hand have trouble wishing that soldier the 'best'. I DO hope he gets back to his family in one piece though.

      See, I'm not American, so theres none of the 'my country right or wrong' thing. Its more like 'right, not wrong' for me.

      I admire the courage of the American soldiers going into a difficult place and for the job they do. I also happen to admire the courage of the Iraqi soldiers (the ones under Saddam) going to war against a far stronger enemy in the same thinking of 'my country right or wrong'. Now I cannot wish both of them the best, since wishing one the best is like wishing the other the worst.

      I'm not Middle Eastern either BTW, not that it should matter.

      So I dont wish you the best, and I dont support the war at all. Even more, I think your leadership is morally in a worse position than the Saddam leadership was during their last years.

      However, I know youre there for 'good', have good intentions, and will not profit anywhere near from all this as others will. Youre there offering your life for 'freedom'. I'm not. For that alone you have my respect. And for being a human alone, you have my wish that you'll get home safe and alive.

      There have been wars in history where I've wished one side the absolute best, and have demonized the other side so much I didnt care if they lost a generation of men. Perhaps the world is becoming a better place since noone can support one side in a war so absolutely to reduce the other side to cannon fodder.

      I wish you good health and spirit, wish your family happiness, and wisdom in your voting.

      --
      "Give orange me give eat orange me eat orange give me eat orange give me you." -Nim Chimpsky
  4. Paranoid? by ScrewMaster · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Call it "anxiety" or "concern". It's not paranoia if they really are out to get you.

    --
    The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  5. Re:redundanty by krgallagher · · Score: 4, Insightful
    "My family runs two Windows PCs behind solid firewall without any virus protection software at all. They don't swap files over IM, they don't click nonsense (they've learned the hard way), they don't use gnutella, etc. For a year now they've been without a single issue or zombie infection, even with using IE instead of Firefox."

    I do not doubt you. I have only gotten a virus when I mistakenly clicked on a link sent by a co-worker. The minute I did it I realized it was a mistake, but we are all thoughtless sometime. What I want to know is this: Without a virus scanner, how do you know they are not infected?

    --

    Insert Generic Sig Here:

  6. It's all about the Service Packs. by itomato · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Quick checklist:

    * Does it have SP2? - If no, get it and forget it.

    * Is there constant hard disk activity? - If yes, reinstall.

    * Do you visit online gambling/porn sites? - If yes, reinstall periodically (evidence? what evidence?)

    * Does it take longer for you to be able to do something productive with the 'Start' button than it did to boot? - If yes, reinstall.

    After reinstalling, install AVG antivirus, Google up some Windows hardening/protection techniques (msconfig, services to disable, etc) **INSTALL NO SHAREWARE OR THIRD PARTY "WINDOWS FIXING" UTILITIES**, enable Windows firewall, and set Windows Update to perform weekly updates with no intervention.

    If things get weird after that, you have nobody but yourself to blame. After having resurrected Windows installations dating back to 95/3.11, I can say that the only sure-fire fix is a fdisk/reinstall.

    It's Windows - it *will* break in an inaccesssible or unrecoverable fashion.

    Make your time, and don't get taken in by supposedly friendly utilities, banners, offers, websites, emails, etc. This advice is applicable everywhere - life included.

  7. LiveCD Linux by yog · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Even better--download and burn a live CD of Knoppix or similar single disk Linux OS, boot to it, and use the hard disk for data storage only. You will never look back.

    Linux has a great firewall built in, separate accounts to keep system files safe, and tons of free software on board. In this day and age, you can boot up a modern distro and have basically everything you need--browser, word processor, spreadsheet, email client, games, music, video.

    And there are no viruses in the Linux world (that one hears about, at least).

    Dump your dangerous OS and you will never look back.

    --
    it's = "it is"; its = possessive. E.g., it's flapping its wings.
  8. Deeply Wrong by NickFortune · · Score: 2, Insightful
    What you do is:
    sudo su -
    emerge sync
    emerge -avuD world
    I thought everyone knew that ;)
    --
    Don't let THEM immanentize the Eschaton!
  9. Re:Who Cares About Your Computer? by kimvette · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I would like to apologise for the anonymous idiot who has no appreciation for your bravery and dedication to preserving the anonymous idiot's inalienable constitutional right to be an anonymous idiot.

    --
    The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
  10. Re:Who Cares About Your Computer? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful
    ...dedication to preserving the anonymous idiot's inalienable constitutional right to be an anonymous idiot.

    I suppose you believe in unicorns too? I mean how far up your butt did you have to reach to pull out the belief that people would be unable to post anonymously on slashdot if the the USA hadn't invaded Iraq? Are you really so mind bogglingly stupid that you believe that?

    If you are that stupid. I'd like to see you string together a credible scenario based on solid observable facts in which a decision by the Bush administration to not invade Iraq would have resulted in people losing the ability to post anonymously on slashdot.