April 23, 2006

Because of events of the last couple of years, people, in record numbers, have been frightened into installing Windows Updates, and many people are experiencing numerous problems with these updates.  It's time to stop scaring people into blindly installing WinUpdates in a mad rush, and start teaching "Common Sense Computing" practices, because there is no such thing as Safe or "Trustworthy Computing!"

WinUpdates aren't all that critical, if you have a good firewall, updated AV, and use your common sense.  WinUpdates are like playing Russian Roulette, eventually someone pulls the trigger, and finds that the chamber ain't empty.
 

The "Common Sense Computing" Countdown
 

3   Use an Internet Firewall

Erect a firewall between your computer [or home network,] and your internet connection.  And also having a software firewall installed on your computer would be even better!

2   Use Up-to-Date Antivirus Software

Keep your AV up-to-date!  Keep your AV up-to-date!  Keep your AV up-to-date!  Keep your AV up-to-date!  Keep your AV up-to-date!  Keep your AV up-to-date!  Keep your AV up-to-date!  Keep your AV up-to-date!  Keep your AV up-to-date!  Keep your AV up-to-date!  Keep your AV up-to-date!

 

1   Use Your Common Sense

Avoid, or at the very least, limit high risk activities, like file-sharing, porn sites, opening up email attachments from friends and family, unless you're expecting them in advance, reading before you click on any pop-up box . . . . The list goes on & on.
 

After you have launched yourself on the path of "Common Sense Computing," then you can start to consider how you are going to go about updating your Windows Software on a regular basis, but not en masse, so it will be easier to figure out what update actually screwed up, when it happens to you.  Subscribe to MS's Security Bulletins, and start reading one or more of MS's Community Newsgroups, so that you can hear about any problems that can & have happened with MS updates, before you install them.  MS has also started providing information about security issues that are not yet resolved, and you check them out from time to time, and they are know as MS Security Advisories.

If you are far behind in your updates, Pre-SP2, then have a plan before you start installing WinUpdates.  Don't do the Express install of SP2 from Windows or the new Microsoft Update or by turning on Automatic Update, do the administrator install.  It's a very large download, so if you don't have broadband, ask a friend that does, that if you gave them a blank CD, would they burn you a copy of SP2?  People helped out strangers during the Blackout in the Northeastern US & Southeastern Canada, so friends should try and help out their friends though this computing disaster!  Or you can order a free SP2 CD from MS and wait for it to be delivered.

Direct-Download for Windows XP Service Pack 2 Network Installation for the English Version of Window XP ONLY!

Even after successfully installing SP2, try to stay away from Automatic, Windows, and Microsoft Update for catching up with the post-SP2 Updates.  Why?  Because all these Updaters do is add another layer of bullshit on top the patching process, than can and will go wrong, and now with Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) Validation, that adds a second layer of useless and unnecessary bullshit that can screw up the patching process.  Staying away from Windows and Microsoft Update is easy, just don't go there, but with SP2, Automatic Update may be turned on by default, so you may need to manually turn it off.

To manually turn off Automatic Update, go to the Control Panel, open up Automatic Updates, and select Turn off Automatic Updates.  Simple, isn't it? 

For more detailed instructions on How To Turn Off Automatic Update And The Windows Security Center Automatic Update Notifications, Click Here.

You may be tempted into selecting Notify me but do not automatically download or install them.  Nothing wrong with that except for the System Tray nags and the Security Bulletins usually beat Automatic Update in notifying about new security updates. 

Now you are ready to finish updating Windows XP SP2!

For those that aren't too effin' lazy to figure out what patches they need to install after SP2 has been successfully installed, these two links below will get you started.

Security Bulletin Search

Windows Update Catalog

For those that ARE too effin' lazy to figure out what updates they need after successfully installing SP2:

Post-SP2 Critical Updates for WindowsXP for the English Version of Window XP ONLY!

Starting to see a theme building here?  Somebody always has problems with any patch, no matter how well written it is or not, and especially at times of very heavy traffic on Windows, Microsoft and Automatic Update sites, doing direct-downloads just makes common sense.  Whenever possible don't trust Microsoft's technological means to patch your OS.  Instead use your Common Sense, and do the direct downloads, and install one patch at a time.

Before beginning the manual installation patching process, disconnect from the internet, create a restore point, and turn off your AV's real-time scanning.  By doing these things, not only will you stand a better chance of a good patch installation, but you'll have set yourself up to be able to recover from any unforeseen problems.

There is not now nor will there ever be any such thing as Safe or "Trustworthy Computing," so you shouldn't rely on any one company or technology to protect your computing environment.  It's the virtual Wild West out there, and the only thing you can trust is your own common sense, with maybe a little help from your friends.

One last thing.  There has been a lot of FUD going around about turning on MS's Automatic Updates, but the "Common Sense Computing" practice would be to keep it turned off, or just turned on as a notification tool only.  Don't be a volunteer MicroGuinea-Pig!  Let the MicroMorons, that have faith in MS's Automatic Updates, be the volunteer Beta-Testers for YOU!