Windows 7 users will begin to see a interactive full-screen warning that their OS is no longer supported

[candle_86]

I keep backups of all my machines, full images of the entire boot drive.

If one gets trashed, I'll reload the backup.

I have 1 xp machine and 2 win7 machines on the net right now; I have never had issues.

I use file sharing, and am remoted into the XP machine right now, while it's transferring VHS tapes for me.

The Win 98 machines are not on a net facing network, but mostly because the don't like the Win7 machines, so it's easier to have them on a different net.

Ironically you 98 boxes are safer on the net than your XP box. I keep a 98se vm with TeamViewer 5 installed just to mess with the tech support scammers, their tools don't work on it. I'm not saying it's secure but unless your a business your simply safe on the web, modern websites don't load correctly on firefox2 or ie6, and the drive by stuff targets xp/Vista/7/8/10.

 

[delshay]

I will switch win 7 update to manual & sit back & watch what other users do. I will be using win 7 for at lease three years.

 

[R-T-B]

if your air gap is done correctly it is, disable removable media

"If done correctly" wasn't stated.

How so?

As noted above, bios defaults allow usb removables.

 

[lexluthermiester]

As noted above, bios defaults allow usb removables.

That's not an airgap, that's physical presence. Unless you have a problem with people walking through your front door, your system is safe.
(not laughing at, just because of what was said)

 

[R-T-B]

Unless you have a problem with people walking through your front door, your system is safe.

You don't even need that, just mail them the usb media and socially engineer an employee to insert it.

This is how the Iranian Centrifuge attacks were done by us. That network was airgapped.

 

[lexluthermiester]

You don't even need that, just mail them the usb media and socially engineer an employee to insert it.

This is how the Iranian Centrifuge attacks were done by us. That network was airgapped.

True, but that's an extreme exception rather than the rule. Generally, home users will not have to worry about something of that nature, like, ever.

 

[candle_86]

True, but that's an exception rather than the rule. Generally, home users will not have to worry about something of that nature, like, ever.

Correct, I mention removeable media because transfering files with media constitutes a sneaker net which is still a type of network. I know the year i spent supporting a company working a government contract if data was needed on the secure systems it was printed out and manually entered by hand so as to avoid any issues with a hidden bug, they could write data to removable media but where unable to read it after it was disconnected, I didn't support those systems but an engineer i assisted mentioned that setup to me, seemed rather secure.

 

[R-T-B]

True, but that's an exception rather than the rule. Generally, home users will not have to worry about something of that nature, like, ever.

No, but exceptions must be noted. I know, I'm being rather neurotic sounding but that's how us security types are. Knowledge is power and all that.

Fact is absolute security is a myth for nearly all scenarios. The idea is to make the goods harder to attain than they are worth.

 

[lexluthermiester]

No, but exceptions must be noted.

See edit. Such exceptions are so infinitesimally rare as to be effectively irrelevant.

The idea is to make the goods harder to attain than they are worth.

Or to make them worthless to anyone but the owner..

 

[R-T-B]

I work security for a living. Nothing is irrelevant.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I work security for a living. Nothing is irrelevant.

Again, see edit..

 

[R-T-B]

Again, see edit..

I did. Again, I am aproaching this from my perspective.

 

[freeagent]

That’s too bad. I haven’t run 7 for over a year, but it would be nice to have the choice if I wanted to go back. Now my choice is 8.1? Ugh. I did take the free upgrade to 10 when they offered it way back when.. just found out not long ago that I was smart enough to tie it to my account. Well honestly that sucks. I have many fond memories of 7, I’m a little sad to see it retired. I’ll have to grab an iso for old times sake, and not use it on the internet I guess lol.

 

[micropage7]

In office that still run old hardware, it could be annoying when their pc runs well and no need to move to 10 since there's no guarantee that there's drivers for their old hardware in win 10

Oh maybe we gonna have a patch to block the big annoying welcome screen then somewhere in internet

 

[Bill_Bright]

I work security for a living. Nothing is irrelevant.

As did I for 45+ years. And I agree that nothing is irrelevant. Every possible scenario should always be taken into consideration.

But that's why any good security policy relies on good "risk assessments". That information is then used to determine what is an "acceptable level of risk" and how that risk may or may not allow one to do their job or live their every day lives.

It IS entirely possible a drunk driver (or someone with a medical emergency) may hop the curb, drive across 3 yards, through a retaining wall, a hedge, and a chain link fence and land on my front porch. Does that mean I should always exit my house via the back door? No. But I should always look both ways before crossing the street.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I did. Again, I am aproaching this from my perspective.

I understand that. However, one must be realistic about practical risks. Bill hit the nail...

 

[R-T-B]

I understand that. However, one must be realistic about practical risks. Bill hit the nail...

Of course. As I said earlier, your use case matters greatly. If you must be HIPPA compliant it is completely different than a home user. Also, Iranian Centrefuges or rogue nationstates probably need an entirely different echelon of security... lol.

 

[Melvis]

There is a few steps that you should do when you see this message come up:

1. Tick the box
2. Raise your hand to the screen
3. Raise your middle finger
4. Say F@ck You
5. Press the red X
6. Continue as normal

 

[lexluthermiester]

There is a few steps that you should do when you see this message come up:

1. Tick the box
2. Raise your hand to the screen
3. Raise your middle finger
4. Say F@ck You
5. Press the red X
6. Continue as normal

Never have we been more in agreement then we are with what you said. Bravo!