[Ofsrdc] Windows 98

[Tim Roberts]

I'm sure there are still a number of you in the square dance community
who are limping along quite happily with older computers running Windows
98.  Windows 98 (2nd edition) was the best of the Microsoft systems that
started with Windows 3.0, and there has really been no incentive for the
typical home user to move beyond it.

That changed recently.  In July, Microsoft officially terminated support
for Windows 98.  The key concern for you is that Microsoft will no
longer issue any updates to Windows 98, even to correct critical
security problems.  New security vulnerabilities are appearing every
week; leaving a system unprotected is a dangerous thing to do.

If you use nothing other than AOL to connect to the Internet, it may not
be a problem.  AOL installs its own set of software that has its own set
of protections.  But if you run Outlook Express or Internet Explorer on
a regular basis, that is cause for concern.

Further, Symantec no longer supports Windows 98 either.  Thus, the only
way to get up-to-date virus protection is to go to one of the
lesser-known alternative products, like AVG, Avast, or F-Prot.

If you still have a computer running Windows 98, my advice to you is to
start budgeting for a replacement.  Any computer you buy today will run
Windows XP, which is still early in its life cycle.  In some cases, it
is possible to upgrade your old computer to Windows XP, but Windows XP
needs more memory than Windows 98; it might actually be cheaper to
replace the whole computer.

Just one more thing for you to worry about as you go about your day...

-- 
Tim Roberts, timr at probo.com
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.

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