I use Windows XP. How vulnerable am I?

Ricochet J

Ricochet J

Ricochet J

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Joined
29 Jun 2004
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I have an old machine with Windows XP. All I use it for is to surf the internet and occasional e-mails and internet banking.

My defenses are a hardware firewall and Microsoft Security Essentials.

Am I vulnerable?

I'm considering switching to Open SUSE Linux. Or am I over reacting?
 
I wouldn't use XP on the internet at all now. It's a huge target for hackers - and you're using online banking on it too..
 
I see the recent scaremongering by microsoft seems to have worked, XP isn't as vulnerable as you would think just yet.
But if it concerns you that much and are not bothered in upgrading your hardware, I would recommend Lubuntu.
 
Still got XP on my netbook, but it's basically only used by the kids as a Youtube machine, and me if I want to quickly look something up and can't be bothered to fire up my PC. I'd not use it for anything banking/online purchasing.
 
If your using something other than IE and have some kind of natural firewall (decent router NAT, hardware firewall etc.) or software firewall and scan any downloads, etc. then your reasonably safe unless you do something daft.

XP fully exposed to the internet or doing something silly like running random attachments or installing random toolbars, etc. is where most malware comes from.
 
KIA said:
Very vulnerable if you're using IE.
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Ricochet J said:
I have an old machine with Windows XP. All I use it for is to surf the internet and occasional e-mails and internet banking.

My defenses are a hardware firewall and Microsoft Security Essentials.

Am I vulnerable?

I'm considering switching to Open SUSE Linux. Or am I over reacting?
Click to expand...


There is no reason not to use a Linux distro,it'll do the things you want above just fine and give you far better protection plus security updates etc all for free.

I'll say no brainer this one,so go with a Linux distro of your choice.

Sooner XP is dead the better its time is up.


I would not recommend XP on anybody's PC even with common sense,far better alternatives from Microsoft and Linux out there.
 
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I'd say you aren't really in any immediate danger. As said if your behind a firewall (such as a Router) and use an up to date browser, an antivirus and a bit of common sense, you should have no issues.
 
Personally I wouldn't be using XP full stop. It's an outdated, unsupported and thus vulnerable operating system. It sounds like time to upgrade or switch!
 
KIA said:
XP SP0 without a firewall was a blast. :D
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Seen a clean install of XP with no service packs, etc. compromised within 5 minutes of being exposed to the internet before (i.e. fully open to both inbound and outgoing connections) :S just from being picked up by automated port scanning.
 
Rroff said:
Seen a clean install of XP with no service packs, etc. compromised within 5 minutes of being exposed to the internet before (i.e. fully open to both inbound and outgoing connections) :S just from being picked up by automated port scanning.
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Scary thought that,I remember using XP in the early days before any service packs etc ignorance is bliss :p .
 
Elevon said:
Scary thought that,I remember using XP in the early days before any service packs etc ignorance is bliss :p .
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If your behind a firewall of some kind (even just basic NAT) that stops listening connections being routed to the internet then your relatively safe - but an original install with no firewall and no updates, etc. is extremely vulnerable.
 
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