*gets on Windows Update soapbox*

[sarea]

Okay. I feel I need to share this, given how many people I know have been affected by the latest virus. I was not affected, on any of my machines, because I'm always up to date with my security patches. And the reason why that is, is this nifty little tool called Windows Update. If installed, it exists in the background of your machine, and when Microsoft releases a critical security patch, it automatically downloads it, and depending on your preference, will either prompt you to install it, or will do so automatically. I know that it's been around at least since Windows 2000, and I've never understood why people didn't install it/use it, as it's extremely helpful in keeping my machines patched for all security fixes, long before any virus can create havoc (it's not the be-all, end-all, of course; you should always be careful when dealing with unknown executables). Microsoft is very good about releasing patches to prevent (or solve) security concerns when they find them, but obviously, people have to download them for them to do any good.

I'm not sure how to install the Windows Update tool if you don't already have it on your machine (there should be a way to activiate it -- I can get to it by clicking Start-->All Programs-->Windows Update), but you can also always manually find patches by going to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ -- it will scan your machine and list all of the critical security patches that you should download. (It will also list other patches that are not critical in nature, and you can decide whether or not you want to install those.) I'd recommend that everyone go there now to make sure that you don't have any other security holes in your machine(s), and then find a way to download the Windows Update tool.

Then, as long as you don't execute random files that you get in email or off the Web, you can enjoy a nice, virus-free computing experience. : )

Comments

[seldon.livejournal.com]

OMG where is your icon from? It looks like Draco and Ginny to me.

*LOL!* They are Jonny Quest and Jessie Bannon from "The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest", the only other couple I've (actively) shipped. Your standard boring "they are best friends now, but they easily could be so much more" stuff :P

I have to say that Windows XP is the most stable operating system I've ever used.

I agree. I was shocked when I installed it into my workstation and could work three days without rebooting =P Seriously though, it is much more stable than any other Windows. It still crashes around me every now and then (XP is very memory greedy and I run a thousand services on my workstation at once), but it has more to do with my profession than with the code itself. Let's hope MS keeps its good record with their next OS. And they fix the memory greed issue - my office can't buy us RAM every time a new Windows is out :p

Is there nonfat peanut butter? There has to be. That's not a huge improvement, but peanut butter w/ the celery sticks would at least feel a little more indulgent.

I actually found a cookbook recipe to extract the fat out of the peanut butter a couple of days ago... but I'm not sure I'm allowed to eat peanuts. It's one of the things I have to check with my doctor. Now, I must confess that I had never thought about mixing peanut butter and celery before - cream cheese, yes, but peanut butter? Yet for some reason the idea sounds attractive... I'll have to try it soon and report back ;)

[sarea-okelani.livejournal.com]

Peanut butter and celery sticks is like, the healthy snacky food that all (American) moms feed their kids (as a substitute for cookies and such). I still love it. Ohhh, I forgot about the nuts thing, but I guess I was thinking walnuts. Still, a nut is a nut and you should definitely be cautious. How cool -- fat extraction from peanut butter?? You'll have to tell me how that goes, if you do it. Am fascinated by the idea.