Dan, please. ANY update is optional. It is up to me if I want to install it on my machine or not. Yes, I think it's good to install these updates in general, and I have installed all of them except KB891711. But on the other hand, there are upsides and downsides. In the case of KB891711, the inconvenience and trouble that is likely to be caused by this patch is far greater than the risk of a hacker exploiting your machine. Keep in mind that there have been several updates this year considered "important" for Windows 98 that have not been released publicly. As Gary Terhune pointed out, the difference between "important" and "critical" is actually not so significant in terms of the security threat. So yeah, your machine probably *is* vulnerable to something. But that's life, you can't be 100% secure all the time. I don't see the point in making such a big fuss about not having this one patch installed.

And FYI, since September 2004, my computer has been running WITHOUT anti-virus protection, anti-spyware, etc. So yesterday I decided I would run a SpyBot check just for the hell of it, and guess what - nothing found other than a couple of IE cookies. My point: The most important thing is being aware of what you're doing with your computer and on the Internet.

Frankly, I don't know what your letter to Bill Gates was, but what I do know is that MS should be ashamed for releasing a patch in this manner, without informing the users of the potential caveats, and apparently without testing in dial-up systems, etc.



"Dan" wrote in message ...
According to PC Today, April issue it is a critical update that has as of now
not been exploited by hackers. Guys and Gals you need this critical update
because I am guessing within 3 weeks someone will find a way to compromise
all 98SE and associated 9x machines that need the patch and have not been
updated. My best guess is that the time for the hackers will be a maximum of
3 weeks and it may be even faster so if your machine is connected to the
Internet do whatever it takes to keep "KB891711.EXE" running because I am
sure down the line Microsoft will be able to do a better fix but this is a
temporary solution, hopefully to allow users to be safe while on-line. If
programs are not responding then discover why. People you need this CRITICAL
PATCH and it is not optional. If Windows will not run with the patch because
of BSOD then disconnect from the Internet -- remove Ethernet cable, USB cable
or phone cable until the problem is resolved because if you do not do this
and have exited this CRITICAL PATCH then you are just asking for your system
to be hacked and no it will not be by me or my friends although I know a lot
about security on computers and weak access points and could probably do it
without too much trouble if I wanted to but my heart is with keeping the
U.S.A and its Allies and businesses and finally consumers to try and get one
small leg up on the PEOPLE who hack machines for a hobby, the terriorists and
finally the script kiddies. Let me know how I and others can help you with
your computer problems. Have a nice day!

"98 Guy" wrote in message ...
:
: If you don't know what I'm talking about, look he
:
: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sec.../MS05-002.mspx
:
: If you're running Win 98, and have recently (within the past week)
: gone to Windows Updates and updated your computer, you almost
: certainly now have the file "KB891711.EXE" running in the background.
: It is set to run automatically at startup. First time any such update
: or security patch has been configured to operate (instead of simply
: replacing an existing file).
:
: Even though Micro$loth sez that MS05-002 (KB891711.EXE) is critical
: for Win-98, I've read where some (many) people are simply deactivating
: it (via msconfig).
:
: Does anyone really know the truth regarding Win-98 and KB891711.EXE?
:
: Is there anything special about it (like running it in safe mode to
: properly install it) ?
:
: Is it really needed? (for win-98) ?
:
: Is Win-98 really vulnerable to MS05-002 ???