XPost: alt.windows7.general   
   From: hayesstw@telkomsa.net   
      
   On Tue, 06 Dec 2016 20:57:18 +0100, Sjouke Burry   
    wrote:   
      
   >On 06.12.16 19:51, NY wrote:   
   >> If someone has a PC that is running XP, and is of a spec (eg slow CPU, less   
   >> than 1 GB RAM) that doesn't lend itself to being upgraded, what precautions   
   >> should they take against being hacked/virused?   
   >>   
   >> I'm assuming that their main reason for having the PC is to access emails   
   >> and web sites, so "disconnect it from the internet" is not really a viable   
   >> option :-)   
   >>   
   >> Should they use the "best" anti-virus and firewall that they can afford (eg   
   >> paid-for versions of McAfee, Norton etc) or is even that too risky?   
   >>   
   >> I want to know what best to advise customers who still have XP PCs - whether   
   >> they continue but take care with opening links in emails etc and use a good   
   >> AV, or whether to advise them to replace the PC ASAP.   
   >>   
   >> I realise that XP didn't suddenly become any less secure the day after MS   
   >> withdrew support, but since that date presumably various backdoors have been   
   >> found which make XP less secure than it used to be.   
   >>   
   >Common sense and avast.   
   >Kept my xp clean for the last 15 years.   
      
   Ditto.   
      
   I also use Pegasus Mail, which doesn't open most lazy html messages   
   (which is what most spammers and malware distributors use), and so   
   simply delete most of the spam/scam/malware messages unread.   
      
   Just warn users not to open attachments or click on links sent by   
   people they don't know, and even from people they do know if there   
   isn't a clear and convincing explanation of why they have sent it ("I   
   found this site and it's really cool" is not a clear and convincing   
   explanation, and usually is a sign that the sender's e-mail has been   
   hacked).   
      
   And that applies whatever OS they are using.   
      
      
   --   
   Steve Hayes   
   http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm   
   http://khanya.wordpress.com   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)