Protect old Windows PCs

Over 50 million PCs worldwide are still running Windows 98, even though Microsoft stopped supporting it in July 2006.

Windows 98 still runs without Microsoft’s bug fixes, though, so why should you worry?

If Windows 98, 98SE or ME is doing what you want or if you’re running software that doesn’t work on XP or Vista, should you change?

It might be time to make a few changes because your Windows 98, SE or ME computer may be doing several things you don’t want. You’ve no doubt read about networks of ‘zombie’ PCs, working to distribute unsolicited email or spyware to millions of unsuspecting internet users.

Recent figures estimate that between 100 and 150 million of the total 600 million computers connected to the internet are already part of these botnets. The criminals recruiting PCs to botnets take advantage of the easiest targets first. In reverse order, that’s Windows Vista, XP, ME, 98SE, 98 and 95.

Microsoft stops providing updates for operating systems after about seven years. Updates are anything from new features to revisions and improvements. The majority are patches, which repair security failures. These problems are often revealed by virus attacks or new spam attacks, where a vulnerability in the operating system has been used to get adverts or programs onto a number of PCs. Once the patch is in place, the miscreants have to look to other ways of compromising your security.

With updates unavailable, any new vulnerabilities that are discovered will stay unpatched. PCs running Windows 98, SE and ME will potentially be more at risk and, over time, that risk will increase. The good news is that you can take steps to reduce that risk.

Low-cost protection
To protect your PC, install anti-virus software, anti-spyware tools and a firewall. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune, as you can get all the essentials for free.

Grisoft offers a version of AVG Anti-virus that is free for personal use. This gives you basic cover against viruses and daily updates of new signatures.

Grisoft also provides a free anti-spyware program, but unfortunately it only works with versions of Windows from 2000 on. For free anti-spyware cover, go here and download a copy of Spyware Terminator. Although there are other free anti-spyware programs, such as Ad-Aware and Spybot Search and Destroy, Spyware Terminator scans continuously for malware, rather than running on demand, as the other two do.

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