Yeah, but the original poster made it clear that the box was running Windows XP Service Pack 2, so both your comments are largely irrelevant. :)
--Rohit Patnaik yersinia wrote: > On Tue, Sep 22, 2009 at 9:11 PM, Abhijeet Jain > <abhijeet.ecsta...@gmail.com <mailto:abhijeet.ecsta...@gmail.com>> wrote: > > Myth No. 2- Using Firefox does not make you safe! In fact, IE 7/8 > is the safest browser when used with Windows Vista because it runs > on lower privileges. > > Not on Linux(Fedora) with Selinux Enabled, better if you run with the > guest_u selinux usr. > > > On Tue, Sep 22, 2009 at 1:57 PM, Kos <kpo.mail.l...@gmail.com > <mailto:kpo.mail.l...@gmail.com>> wrote: > > Ancompuger behind a router/firewall does not make it safe. > Vulnerabilities and exploits are not limited to a network > level, which > is generally what a firewall is used for. Vulnerabilities sent > via any > protocol used (http, imap, pop, other protocols that may be in > use) > are not suddenly secure. > > An example, there are PDFs that will trigger adobe to run, > whcih can > be exploited easily. > Someone can send your father an email with a malicious > attatchment, > and a firewall isn't going to preven him from clicking and > running it. > Anti-virus is a good start, but will only go so far. > There are phishing sites too. > The ways to get owned are countless, regardless of a firewall > or not. > > You should keep the system maintained and up to date (run system > updates and applications undated regularly). > > So no, a firewall will not prevent a computer from being > compromised. > > Other opinions? > > Kos > > On Sep 22, 2009, at 11:29 AM, Steven Anders > <anders...@gmail.com <mailto:anders...@gmail.com>> wrote: > > > I received great responses and am very grateful to the help from > > community of this list. Thank you. > > > > > > I have a dumb question: Is a Windows box behind a router safe ? > > > > It is my father's PC and the Windows OS was not updated > regularly. > > The Windows box was connected through wire (RJ45) to the > router. The > > router is then connected to the DSL modem. > > The Windows Box has SP2 installed and the default Windows > firewall > > enabled - and I think was last updated from Windows Update on in > > 2008. It has AVG anti virus. > > The PC was never moved anywhere and is always behind the > router. The > > router has default settings, which I believe has no ports open. > > > > He never installed any applications or downloads anything > off the > > net - mainly it is used for emails and general web browsing > (using > > Firefox, not IE). I informed him to use Firefox, since IE has so > > many security issues. > > > > > > My questions are: > > > > 1. There are many exploits and vulnerabilities of Windows, > but I > > was wondering if outdated Windows box behind router generally > > safe ? Since, the Windows box was not updated with the latest > > updates. > > > > I have always thought that having a computer behind the router > > (since router has firewall) is generally safe, but I would > love to > > hear insights or thoughts. > > > > > > 2. If a Windows box is behind a router, could a botnet be > installed > > to it ? Assuming, the end user does not install/download any > > applications from the Internet and always use Firefox. > > > > > > Thank you all in advance. > > steve > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. > > Charter: http://lists.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html > > Hosted and sponsored by Secunia - http://secunia.com/ > > _______________________________________________ > Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. > Charter: http://lists.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html > Hosted and sponsored by Secunia - http://secunia.com/ > > > > > -- > 1q4!7EEf71!u > > _______________________________________________ > Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. > Charter: http://lists.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html > Hosted and sponsored by Secunia - http://secunia.com/ > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. > Charter: http://lists.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html > Hosted and sponsored by Secunia - http://secunia.com/ _______________________________________________ Full-Disclosure - We believe in it. Charter: http://lists.grok.org.uk/full-disclosure-charter.html Hosted and sponsored by Secunia - http://secunia.com/