Re: Wired and wireless and security

paul wrote:
"louise" <louise@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:Kx7Qf.9822$X.6862@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I have a version of Win XP Pro on my laptop that cannot be updated (illegal version or something - bought computer from ebay). As a result, I can only use WEP since I cannot update to the newer standards.

I have my desktop connected to the same router - wired.

File and printer sharing is turned off.

Am I correct that I am risking intrusion on the wireless laptop but the wired desktop remains "safe"?

TIA

Louise

What did you buy it with pirated software for! If that wasn't stated I would get on to the seller.
You can change the serial number and update it if you have a search around for "wga crack" for starters. Then you need a serial number changer.
If you have not ticked the bit about not allowing the laptop to be used as a gateway then it will allow people in. The wired one is secure if you're using a firewall and should be OK if all the latest security patches are in place. The laptop is probably wide open to those that know, but to casual hacker types it would only be those with a tiny bit of intelligence that knew what to do.


Shortly after I bought it (this is now about 3 yrs ago), I discovered that the seller misrepresented it because it was supposedly still under warranty but was, in fact, a refurb and therefore out of warranty. It's a Thinkpad.

I had already given positive feedback, it did/does work flawlessly. I emailed the seller and got no response. I went back to Ebay and added to my comments saying it had been mis-represented.

The seller had told me it came from IBM with Windows 2000 but it had XP Pro and without thinking, I said great!

At that time I didn't upgrade Windows on a regular basis, finding the upgrades often broke more than they fixed.

Later, I was able to successfully upgrade to SP1 and never thought about it. It wasn't until I went to upgrade to SP2, that MS came back saying it wasn't a registered version, or a legal version, or something like that. Then I began to realize....but not until then.

I'm completely ignorant about serial number cracking etc.

Could you please tell me where is the "bit" to check about not allowing the laptop to be used as a gateway. I can easily do that :-)

TIA

Louise
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