Windows 98SE -Where has the love gone?

As you all know Windows 98 people are being cast adrift next month.
I have just been contacted by Zonelabs/'Zonealarm', who I used for many years, and they are withdrawing there updates cover and suggest I change to XP.
I do not want to.
What can I do?

Henry.

 

98 is losing support, so it will be getting bigger and bigger holes in it's security. If you want to keep using it, expect that the security of your system could be compromised at any time.
You can try securing yourself...avoid those areas that that will expose you to attack.

Compromised at any time...don't do internet banking, don't expect to use your credit card or passwords securely, don't expect that your data will still be there when you next start the computer. In other words, don't be surpised if the worst happens.

I will continue to use it for the moment, but without support, you're on your own.

Matt

 

HenryV asked -- "Where has the love gone? "

Let me add CARING to that.

They are many of such as myself that still have and use 98SE. Are we getting shovedout into the cold ??

I do have one machine with XP Pro and outside of one or two programs ( not made for 98 ) it does not do a bit more or better than 98SE. And maybe even the things it does do better may not really be because of the OS. I think that HARDWARE plays a bigger part.

Just like a truck. The bigger the engine ( cpu/ram ) storage ( HD ) the more load it will carry.

I myself can not afford to upgrade the other two machines to make them suitable for XP. Also they do not need XP. They get very little actual Internet use but do get quite a bit of LAN use for games. My wife, grandkids and I have had many hours of just pure FUN playing games. ( I do win once in awhile LOL )

BillyBob

PS.
I was going to stay out of here but changed my mind.

BB

 

Another voice from the peanut gallery ...

My oh my ...

Seems to me all this sounds a bit like throwing the baby out with the bath water....It struck me as a bit odd, that 30 days before support was set to expire, Microsoft suddenly finds an unfixable flaw ...maybe I am just overly suspicious??

Anyway, in the nuts bolts of Internet usage, an open port is just that, an open port which can be closed....128 bit encryption is the same, XP or Win98...runing sysinternals process explorer is not all that difficult to see who is running what with which Dll's and executables...Zonealarm is really good, but it ain't the only game in town...and while XP is really nice, I've never seen anythng that required constant patching of patches Like that OS....

In the grand scheme of things, the VA left a laptop laying around with very info I was so zealously safe guarding ...

AT the end of the day, I figure, I've got a good workhorse here with 98 se and I'll use it till it proves it's unworthiness ...

Cheers
Jake

 

Windows 98SE - Where has the love gone?

Good man Jake,
You mention there are others apart from Zonealarms. Who are you going to use? I have had some fantastic advice and am going to hold out, at least,
until Vista arrives!
See you at the Alamo!

Henry.

 

From the peanut gallery ...

Henry
Have not really had time to evaluate other offerings out there, but you can find a fairly comprehensive list here ....

http://www.xtort.net/privacy/firewall.php

For me, the criterion is simple, lightweight, fast and reliable (passes the firewall test at Steve Gibson's website).

BTW, Vista just got downgraded again with Microsoft abandoning development of the new File System ...read it here..

http://www.betanews.com/article/Microsoft_Axes_WinFS_Cancels_Beta_2/1151208143

Arie ...

I was misinformed abiout the timetable and stand corrected ..However, I must confess to lingering doubts (ie...maybe we can scare some into buying an upgrade??)

Cheers
Jake