Hi everyone
First, I must say that in the past week or two, the great members here have helped me to finally make some headway getting rid of a chronic internet connectivity problem I have been having. I have learned a lot about how to help myself in the process. I am no techie.
Now that my computer is (hopefully) stabilized), I am determined to do everything I can to prevent these things from happening again. A lot of people have told me that it is crucial for me to keep WIN 2000 Pro and all other Microsoft products updated by going to the website and checking for fixes that are posted there.
The problem for me is - I am not sure I TRUST Microsoft! For example, one of the things they put on my machine was loadqm.exe, something that slowed my machine badly and seems to be little more than spyware, from what I can gather from my web searches.
I went to the MSFT site and there are a ton of fixes I could potentially download, starting with SP4 for my WIN 2000 Pro, and also including fixes for IE.
Now for example - I have started using Mozilla exclusively. But when I got the the MSFT site, and entered my OS, it gave me the list of fixes, some of which depended upon which version of IE I was using. I had to open IE to find out, something I haven't done in a while. I got the version number and immediately shut IE down.
Then... my Sygate firewall started to go off, saying the IE was trying to access the 'Net. I said no, don't let it. A few seconds later, IE requested internet access AGAIN. Once again I said no. Then..... it requested access about 7 more times in succession! Each time I said no. Finally it stopped.
Now, even I know that IE does not request internet access when there is a fix available for it - it has never done so in the past - or am I wrong about this? Why was IE asking me to allow it to access the 'Net after I closed it down?
I guess that in the end this is a philosophical question, but any guidance would be appreciated - do I just go ahead and start installing all the fixes that the MSFT site shows I should have? WIN 2000 fixes only? Am I being paranoid?
Is there a reliable source of objective information about the patches and fixes issued by MSFT - some place I can go to figure out for myself whether I want to install one or not?
What is the approach by those of you who are unsure about whather you should throw your computer open to Bill, Steve and the rest?
Thanks for any advice. Nik
First, I must say that in the past week or two, the great members here have helped me to finally make some headway getting rid of a chronic internet connectivity problem I have been having. I have learned a lot about how to help myself in the process. I am no techie.
Now that my computer is (hopefully) stabilized), I am determined to do everything I can to prevent these things from happening again. A lot of people have told me that it is crucial for me to keep WIN 2000 Pro and all other Microsoft products updated by going to the website and checking for fixes that are posted there.
The problem for me is - I am not sure I TRUST Microsoft! For example, one of the things they put on my machine was loadqm.exe, something that slowed my machine badly and seems to be little more than spyware, from what I can gather from my web searches.
I went to the MSFT site and there are a ton of fixes I could potentially download, starting with SP4 for my WIN 2000 Pro, and also including fixes for IE.
Now for example - I have started using Mozilla exclusively. But when I got the the MSFT site, and entered my OS, it gave me the list of fixes, some of which depended upon which version of IE I was using. I had to open IE to find out, something I haven't done in a while. I got the version number and immediately shut IE down.
Then... my Sygate firewall started to go off, saying the IE was trying to access the 'Net. I said no, don't let it. A few seconds later, IE requested internet access AGAIN. Once again I said no. Then..... it requested access about 7 more times in succession! Each time I said no. Finally it stopped.
Now, even I know that IE does not request internet access when there is a fix available for it - it has never done so in the past - or am I wrong about this? Why was IE asking me to allow it to access the 'Net after I closed it down?
I guess that in the end this is a philosophical question, but any guidance would be appreciated - do I just go ahead and start installing all the fixes that the MSFT site shows I should have? WIN 2000 fixes only? Am I being paranoid?
Is there a reliable source of objective information about the patches and fixes issued by MSFT - some place I can go to figure out for myself whether I want to install one or not?
What is the approach by those of you who are unsure about whather you should throw your computer open to Bill, Steve and the rest?
Thanks for any advice. Nik