... the routers integral firewall ...
This is your most potent defense against worms and port probers. Make sure that you have the latest firmware on your router, though. Firewalls on routers aren't invincible. Periodically, there are holes found -- and hackers *will* find you if you don't apply the firmware patch. Same deal with software firewalls. Stay up to date -- or you're toast.
Regarding Spybot, etc: The newest forms of malware are getting very, very smart about the kinds of damage that they do. Many of them are actively hiding from and altering programs such as Spybot, Ad-Aware, ZoneAlarm, Norton, etc so that they don't get reported. So, while you may think that you're safe, you may not be. It's a constant arms race between malware producers and spyware detectors. Your best bet is to simply use caution when you use your computer. Don't download and run software from an unverified source; if you must, run it with a lower privilege (not Admin). Don't install ActiveX controls. Don't use HTML mail. Turn off scripting. Don't visit malware-oriented websites (ie. p0rn, war3S, hacx0rz, etc).
One very easy (and most often overlooked) thing that people can do is to download a new HOSTS file (see
Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File and (
Skallas' Ad Blocking Hosts file). The nice thing about this approach is that it works on practically EVERY operating system in use (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, etc). This makes it easy to redirect known bad sites to 127.0.0.1 (your own machine). So your browser, when it sees references to IMO bogus sites like doubleclick.net, won't even hit the network at all. It will ignore those entries. Depending on the content of HOSTS, this has the added advantage of blocking a lot of ad traffic -- which makes your browsing experience more pleasant (heh heh).
you talking about treating the symptoms, ive never needed the bogus hosts file, i make sure the systems dont get the parasites...
and as far as norton being used, the stated os was 98 first edition, nav2k4 doesnt run correctly on first edition... thats a fact published by norton. go run kaspersky, choose the extended def files.. do a full scan, im sure it will find something. kaspersky has 10x the virus defs that norton does and kaspersky will run the newer versions on the older windows 98.
i commonly hear this when i call a customer to tell them they are totaly infested with viruses.....
"But i have norton 2002 and ive been paying for the subscription" yes, you got new defs for an old program, they release new versions to be able to detect new types of threats....
i run studio on my system, i write small custom automation scripts and apps for administration.. works fine with sp2 the new WMI stuff is great.
theres a workaround for the sql problem... check technet
and you dont have to shell out 100$, there are used copies of windows 2000 on ebay for 10$ at least 2k is still a supported os plus you get NT security, not 9x windows over a shell.
sorry, my soapbox got steped on on this one... i guess i should shut up.. fools keep our company in business. i should see sp2 as a bad thing since it cuts down on 90% of problems