noclue119 said:
I've had XP on my laptop with SP 1 for 3 years now. 0 spyware 0 virus. I refuse to upgrade to SP2 because of the firewall.
You can turn off the firewall. There are tons of security fixes so even if you couldn't turn off the firewall you should upgrade anyway.
Here's my tips:
1) You absolutely need a firewall of some kind. It can be a Linksys firewall/router connected to your cable connection or a software based firewall such as the one that comes with SP2, but you must have something.
2) You absolutely need antivirus software that updates itself daily.
3) You should also have spyware software that updates itself.
4) You should set Windows XP to download and install updates automatically.
5) You should always click "no" or close any box that asks you a question from a browser. If you have to install something, go to the website (e.g. go to macromedia.com to download the flash plugin)
6) You should never open mail from people you don't know unless you are expecting something. Most email programs have filters or rules. The first filter you setup should take all mail from people not listed in your contacts and put it in a junk folder.
7) Never keep unencrypted personal information on your computer. Don't keep an excel spreadsheet with your bank account numbers and balances on your hard drive unless the file is encrypted.
8) Backup important documents regularly. Put them on CDR/CDRWs, Zip disks, flash drives, floppy, whatever. Always have a spare copy around. If the files are very important, place them in a safe or safety deposit box in case of fire.
