Re: FireFox 2.0.0.16 update
(Warning: Here I go again with a long post -- Sorry)
The key is how much software and hardware protection do you need? (BTW, I
do know and like grc and the shields up test but thanks anyway.) A few well
placed pieces of software followed by hardware protections such as a router
that has default password and settings changed are good as well as safe
browsing, not opening email attachments, reading email in plain text, etc.
Fortunately, 98 Second Edition does not have the larger surface area of XP,
as many services as XP and is much harder to break into then 98 Second
Edition. The key lies in the safety compared to security debate that Chris
Quirke, MVP subscribes to and I agree with him. The reason IT Professionals
who work for large companies do not necessarily like 98SE is that it likes to
be separate from the rest of the network. An IT Professional will not wield
nearly the control of the network from a single computer if a few 98SE
machines are thrown in there for good safety measures. I for one like to be
physically at a machine to manage it and remember that 98SE machines were
meant for consumers, their game playing, and meant mainly to be stand-a-lone
computers and not for businesses although apparently 98SE was popular with
business at one point.
I feel a 98SE machine would be a good gateway machine for a company or at
least have a few 98SE machines in a company that if someone managed to hack
through the XP Professional network then the separate 98SE network would not
be infiltrated. I saw this in flying colors after my home pc was hacked last
year because of weak network security protocols on the APS network which I
connected to from home. My huge mistake was not researching and figuring out
that by attaching to the APS Intranet via VPN access with permission from the
head computer guy that I was making my home computer as weak as the APS
intranet when I connected and so my pc was hacked after the APS network was
hacked and my identity stolen. The pc installers of XP Professional used the
default settings on the computers thinking that would be safe enough and you
know it really should be but it is not of course.
Anyway, I learned my lesson and will never ask for intranet access again to
a workplace unless it is required for my job. It was not required that I
have access to the Intranet from my home computer. I now realize the
stupidity of my previous decision and have learned my lesson.
Finally, I want to give great credit to Chris Quirke, MVP for all his great
help and expertise and also especially to Robear for his help and expertise.
Gary S. Terhune and PCR and there are too many to mention that have helped me
thorugh my inexperience and now slowly but surely in understanding more about
computers and I will learn about networking slowly but surely but in the
meantime I have my hands full with learning Ubuntu Linux and learning more
about Windows Vista.
"pixturesk@gmail.com" wrote:
> On Jul 18, 8:04 am, Dan <D...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> > MEB, this could be another defining moment for Windows 98/SE users because
> > you remember how Microsoft support for 98/SE and ME ended on July 11, 2006
> > and now if Mozilla Firefox support ends then users like me who use Mozilla
> > Firefox in 98 Second Edition will have to examine their options. It may
> > indeed become that 98 is no longer safe to use on the Internet and/or will
> > users risk switching to Opera or another web browser that has not had nearly
> > as much testing as Mozilla Firefox.
> >
> > Finally, users must realize that Internet Explorer has not been updated for
> > 98/SE since July 11, 2006 so it is not safe or secure to use that browser for
> > anything other than Windows Updates in my opinion. Sure, you can always try
> > and decompile and use Internet Explorer patches for Windows 2000 but you take
> > the risk of breaking Internet Explorer for Windows 98 Second Edition and the
> > process is indeed time consuming and then you must track exactly what you did
> > for any error messages that may pop up and also you risk *.dll problems.
> >
> > "MEB" wrote:
> > > Depends upon the programmers... if 98 programmers continue, then so will the
> > > product..
> >
> > > --
> > > MEB
> > > http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com
> > > --
> > > _________
> >
> > > "Dan" <D...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > >news:FF316DF8-6A6D-4C2E-9939-D41C2DA589C1@microsoft.com...
> > > | So, do you think Firefox 2.0.x support will indeed end in December 2008,
> > > MEB,
> > > | or do you think Mozilla will cave to remaining 98 users and other legacy
> > > who
> > > | still want support.
> > > |
> > > | "MEB" wrote:
> > > |
> > > | > Fixed in Firefox 2.0.0.16
> > > | > MFSA 2008-35 Command-line URLs launch multiple tabs when Firefox not
> > > running
> > > | > MFSA 2008-34 Remote code execution by overflowing CSS reference counter
> > > | >
> > > | > Not as massively crucial as the 15 update, but it does fix some other
> > > | > critical issues. If using, download the update via your HELP > Check for
> > > | > updates
> > > | > Issued on 07-15-08
> > > | >
> > > | > --
> > > | > MEB
> > > | > http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com
> > > | > --
> > > | > _________
>
>
> > > | >
>
> > > | >
> > > | >
> > > | >
> > > | >
>
> I think defining moment might be a bit strong. Just as I occasionally
> continue to use IE6, I will continue, without hesitation, to use
> Firefox 2.0.0.16 or whatever updates follow. Even as a non-techie,
> with my current combination of Avast, Super AntiSpyware Free, Spyware
> Blaster, Sygate Personal Firewall (the most important component),
> CCleaner, HiJack This, I feel that my computer is very safe. I
> recently ran the Shields Up tests at GRC.com which check both the File
> Sharing and Common Ports on my computer. I somehow get a perfect score
> on the Common Ports tests, with all the ports being "stealth". On the
> other test I get a result that, to a hacker, my computer does not even
> exist on the internet, it refuses to reply to any hacker intrusion, it
> will neither request nor reply to any request for information. Check
> this site out. With this result I have no fear of continuing to use
> Firefox.
>
> 