# Anti-virus safeguard: Microsoft patches

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-safeguard-microsoft-patches/252351>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 26, 2004, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-safeguard-microsoft-patches/252351 "2004-06-26T20:39:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-safeguard-microsoft-patches/252351/1 "2004-06-26T20:39:12Z")

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I have AOL as my Internet service; my computer uses Windows 98 Plus. I saw something in the paper this morning about a virus that is spread through websites. Are there things I would need to know befofre I download a patch or try other ways to track down a virus, if my computer should become infected? Thanks very much.

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**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-safeguard-microsoft-patches/252351/2 "2004-06-26T22:37:21Z")

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Installing the latest security patches is a good idea. Go to [microsoft.com](http://microsoft.com) and click “Automatically scan for critical Windows Updates” and follow the directions.

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**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2004, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-safeguard-microsoft-patches/252351/3 "2004-06-26T22:49:04Z")

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Keeping your computer updated is important these days. However at this time I don’t not beleive there is a patch for that particular exploit of IE. You could use a different browser. I am quit happy with firefox except when I log onto etrade.

cnn article  
[http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/internet/06/25/internet.attack/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/internet/06/25/internet.attack/index.html)

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**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2004, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-virus-safeguard-microsoft-patches/252351/4 "2004-06-27T02:22:44Z")

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If you’re on dialup, here’s a great option - you can order up a free copy of the Microsoft Updates on CD: [http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/cd/order.asp](http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/cd/order.asp)

This will get you current as of March or so. (I think they’ve updated the discs, but not the web page.) Once you get the disc and run it, you’ll still need to get online with Windows Update to get the latest updates.