Re: sp2..... WHY?

From: Phil (itchy&scratchy_at_homer.doh.no.spam)
Date: 10/14/04 

Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2004 12:00:41 -0400

"SP2.MICKY.TAKE" <SP2.MICKY.TAKE@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:E48AA0F9-8626-41E4-A813-B2E873A88D34@microsoft.com
> I say why, because after all of the hype about security etc. I was
> worried sick about all sorts of people trying to hack into my
> machine, I could'nt even sleep at night.

Paraniod? Believe me no hacker want sto get into joe schmos computer,
there's nothing in it for them. Hackers usually hack computers that have
worth while info on them. Usually the home user only has to worry about
there computer getting a trojan or virus and either sending the virus out
without them knowing or turning their computer into a "zombie" to do ddos
attacks and such. Most of "hacker activity" on a home machine is dealing
with trojans and viruses, not actually getting in your machine and stealing
stuff.

>I had to install sp2, only
> having to uninstall it as I could only boot into safe mode and
> restore would not function. I downloaded this product that was
> supposed to make my computer more secure, better to use, allow me to
> rest easy, enrich my online experience. Instead, I wound up with a
> machine that didn't work at all. Complete security, even I could not
> get into it. I would have gladly paid some hacker heaps of money to
> access my machine. I can now almost hear the roar from the experts
> "How dare you criticise the mighty MS "Look in the help pages"
> "Don't post your whinings here dear boy". Well I did look at the help
> pages, and why can't I post here about my whinging, free speech for
> some maybe?

You surely can post what you did and what happened, no prob. But just know
that sp2 messing up a system is not the norm. Something had to be "wrong"
with your setup before the install of sp2. Or some setting or program you
have is conflicting with sp2. There is a cause, you just have to find what
it is. Don't just blame sp2, as it works fine.

>Lets take a reality check here, many computer users are
> like me. One lonely desktop at home with one internet connection, it
> has a firewall and quality virus software to boot. So why do I need
> sp2?

SP2 is more than what you have read about. It updates over 5 million lines
of code. It's not just security, it's an os overhaul.

>it seems like having heart bypass surgery to cure the common
> cold. I have managed so far without my computer being raided by
> hackers.

Because as I said, hackers have no interest in you or your machine.

>Giving service pack 2 away free on the front of computer
> mags is like leaving sharp objects around in front of the children.

What makes you say that. Sharp objects can hurt your child, sp2 cannot. Can
sp2 make a computer not run correctly? Sure, but that the nature of software
and computers these days. Some people will have probs, there's just too many
variables for software coders to deal with. I think ms did a dam good job
with sp2.

> Can I suggest putting something more useful on the front of the mags,
> like a blank recordable CD (better still a DVD).

What good would a blank cd-r be? They cost like 50 cents. Spend 10 dollars
and get a 20 or 30 of them. I wouldn't even want a free blank cd-r as my
cereal prize. I'll take the plactic dinosaur over one blank cd-r anyday.

>If the industry were
> to do this, then I won't lay awake all night worring about if I have
> the latest update, I can get on with my life and the computer can get
> on with it's work.

If you lay awake at night worrying about hackers then you don't need to get
on with your life, you need to get a life. Your computer being hacked,
attacked, or spywared is a non-issue if you have sp2, anti-virus, a outbound
and inbound blocking firewall, run anti-spyware software and use common
sense. There are more important things to worry about.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Just venting (totally OT)
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  • Re: Just venting (totally OT)
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    (uk.people.support.depression)
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    ... attributed to the SP2 ... Good hardware firewall and software firewall ... Use Mozilla Firefox or Mozilla instead of IE ... >100% safe from hackers, worms and bugs. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsupdate)
  • Re: is XP SP2 RC2 advisable for the average FCKGW user?
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