Vista32 vs XP: which has better security?

[Ken B.]

Hi all,

Was wondering if anyone cares to comment about whether Vista32 is inherently more generally secure than XP? Or is XP still just as good (or maybe better somehow)?

Also, any comments regarding Vista64 and general security?

-Ken

[ppe1700]

you forgot windows7... dont leave that out - there are already people using it. :D

when you say security, what is it you mean exactly.

[thideras]

"General security". As said by the previous poster, please clarify.

Basically, the computer is only secure as the person using it. That being said, I run no anti-virus/anti-malware programs because I know what I visit, what I download and who uses my computer (no one). I am also behind some very nice Cisco firewalls right now (at school) and a hardware firewall when at home (Smoothwall).

[Ken B.]

I'm not really well versed on security threats that come from bad or exploited code within the windows OS itself, so I couldn't give you more specifics. I guess I was just wondering if it would behoove me to move up to Vista now, since Windows 7 is on the horizon. I don't want to be 2 operating systems behind, and I don't want to be ignorant of how Vista works. But I was hoping that within the os code itself, that perhaps somehow Vista is more inherently resistant to spyware, virii, and such. Not through add ons like a firewall or spyware app, but more like within the code of the OS alone, and not through third party or add-on apps.

Am I making any sense here?

[thideras]

I have so many computers come to me that are infected, xp or Vista. If they implemented something to prevent spyware/virus, they sure didn't tell these people! Haha!

[Enablingwolf]

I have so many computers come to me that are infected, WITH xp or Vista. If they implemented something to prevent spyware/virus, they sure didn't tell these people! Haha!

FTFY :D

Unless they start shipping Windows with a totally new kernel. They are going to be close enough where thiddy is saying some good stuff.
NT ver.
W2K = 5.0
XP = 5.1
Vista = 6.0

There is a few security enhancements NT 6.0 has over the five series kernels. Not so amazing where it is immune from threats. (http://www.zynamics.com/files/ms08001.swf) It is mostly how it avoids overflows and such. The "You sure" prompts are supposed to stop or slow malware.

On a side note. Would it be nerdy neat if the W7 shipped with a NT 7.0 kernel?

[Ken B.]

Isn't Win7 supposed to be based on Vista? Or no?

[ppe1700]

what machine do you have? specs?
you could do what i do, and have vista as a host machine, and have an XP virtual machine as well.
that way, all you need installed on the vista machine is things like a media player, a cd/dvd burning software and thats it for me.

on the xp machine i have the torrent app. the .rar app, boinc, video converters, and EVERYTHING else im unsure of.
like, the other day i wanted to do something that i didnt know if it was going to work or ruin the machine. so i copied and pasted windows xp to make a backup, then i did it and i have the backup still just in case.
its amazing what you can do with a virtual machine.

my specs are only poor too. i have an opteron 170 clocked to 2.6ghz (to keep the main cpu fan off to make quiet), ram is 1:1 at 260mhz (can too go higher but o well) 2 hard disks (apparently virtual machines run their optimum when they are on a different disk to the host OS.
obviously i have an antivirus and firewall, but if anything were to happen to my xp pc (like crash or whatever) it can be back up again within a minute.

there is also the added benefit of working remotely on that xp machine. if i need to restart or do other things that RDP dont have control over then i can RDP to the vista host and view the XP through that.
i also have server 2003 running virtually on the vista pc.. ITS NIICE!! (said like borat ;) )

[VinnyTAMU]

With XP or VISTA here are my recommendations:


Antivirus software
Use of FireFox w/noscript
Use of built in Firewall at a minimum
Keep windows patched and up-to-date. Also make sure JRE and flash are up-to-date as well.