Computer Question: Security, Windows XP vs Windows 7 Ultimate

July 5, 2011

[Yosemitest]

I'm thinking about buying an IMac, and due to my military friends and other reasons,
I might want a copy of Windows XP or Windows 7 on it with Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac
to go between the Windows Operating System and the Snow Leopard or OS X Lion .

I realize that the Apple/Mac Operating System has very few security problems, and that I'd be inviting all those security problems into my MAC by running windows in it.


QUESTION: Is Windows 7 Ultimate worth the extra cost to buy a full version copy, over Windows XP SP3 full version?
I'm experienced with Windows XP, but I'm NOT experienced with Windows 7.

Also, if I'm going to run Windows XP or Windows 7 in an IMac, what firewall/security system should I buy?

Sincerely, Yosemitest

[jongaltsr]

I tried Win 7.
I then reinstalled XP and won’t go back unless they come up with something better and so far they haven’t

[Traianus]

What about UBUNTU or KUBUNTU (KDE desktop version)?

[Berlin_Freeper]

Anonymous announces successful breach of Apple's security

[Yosemitest]

I've heard that from alot of my military friends, and with my basic knowledge of XP, I'm really leaning towards buying the XP SP3 full version for about $60.00.
I just wanted to know if the Windows 7 Ultimate had a more secure operating system, that was less susceptible to MBR Rootkits, malware, viruses, and other nasty problems.

[Yosemitest]

I don't know much about Kubuntu, and I have a lot of Windows XP and Office files to move over to an IMac.
What's the security like under UBUNTU or KUBUNTU?
Since it's an open system, isn't it very acceptable to all sorts of malware?

[boop]

My thought was that Windows 7 should be more secure, because it has the latest anti-malware programs. I’m not sure how true that is. My Windows XP has been the victim of several attacks, even with malwarebytes and avast. I thought that hackers would leave older systems alone, but that hasn’t been the case in my experience. Maybe I should go back to Windows 95. What hacker would care enough to go after a really old OS?

[Yosemitest]

I found the article you listed, but it took a while.
Here's a direct link to Anonymous announces successful breach of Apple's security.
Security is one of my primary concerns, and I find Apple much more secure than Windows.
But my primary question is:

Is Windows 7 Ultimate more secure than Windows XP SP3?
Is it worth the cost difference for a full version?

Also, what security firewall and malware program would you buy for this setup?

[Slings and Arrows]

As long as we’re on the topic of Windows 7: SP1 - Yea or nay?

Thanks,
SA&

[4rcane]

windows 7 is better than windows xp in so many ways. If its an option between the two, go with win7

[4rcane]

also, doesn’t windows 7 uliminate includes a copy of winxp with it? Some sort of winxp emulator

[Yosemitest]

If I read Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac correctly, if you get a problem on the windows side that you can't get out with malware removal,

you simply delete the Windows program and reload from backup,
or you just switch to the IMac Snow Leopard side and continue working.

A virus that locks up Windows, won't lock up the IMac side of the computer.

[Yosemitest]

Yea or nay?"

I'm confused.
Windows 7 Ultimate over Windows XP Sp3 (full versions) would be about $150.00.
I don't have any experience with Windows 7.
But most of my friends don't like it.
I'm asking about the security, because I don't know which is better.

[Yosemitest]

"... doesn’t windows 7 uliminate includes a copy of winxp with it"

I don't know.

[Slings and Arrows]

The question was directed at the other folks who read the thread: I have Win7 Home, and was wondering whether or not to install SP1.

Hope this clears things up.

[Yosemitest]

Okay, thanks.

[jongaltsr]

Windows 7 fails just about every functional test I could give it.
I got more spam and viruses with it than I ever got with XP (I use Norton 360) and windows 7 leaked like a sieve.

[4rcane]

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/04/25/1135211/Windows-7-To-Include-Windows-XP-Mode
Here

It could be the Professional version that has it, not sure, but I know one version has it

[Yosemitest]

Thanks.
There was an interesting comment from "localroger" April 25, 2009, 10:18am, down at the bottom of your link.

I know a few people who are really well connected in Fortune 500 IT circles,
and they tell me to a man that *NOBODY* is planning to move to Vista or 7
(by which they mean *NOBODY* running a very large corporate IT enterprise).
They tend to have corporate security models including stations locked down in various ways that work,
deployment models that work, drive reimaging procedures that work, standard desktops and toolsets that work,
and legacy code that works, much of which DOESN'T work in Vista or 7.
This is the reason you can still get an XP box --
MS keeps raising the bar for it, but corporate just keeps paying the freight.
So this is MS next move, to try to slide these guys into 7 by letting them virtualize their XP model.

The problem is
that while this will solve some of the IT guys' problems (legacy apps, desktops, maybe security model)
it will not solve what is probably the most important problem to some of them, deployment and drive reimaging.
Also depending on how easy it is to break out of the emulation sandbox, they may not be happy with the security model either.
When you are talking about pretty much rebuilding a network with 100,000 machines,
paying an extra couple of hundred in blackmail per box for MS to let you keep using what you know works
makes a lot more sense than jumping off into the void.
MS may overcome some of the corporate reluctance with this ploy, particularly at smaller companies,
but I don't think it's going to crack the egg they need to crack.

I think this is pretty good insight on some of the problems with Windows 7.

[FreedomPoster]

Why would you go with a 10 year old operating system that MS would like to drop support on?

Win7 works fine, has been solid for me, and MS will be very diligent about patching it for security as needed. Install the MS Security Essentials and you should be good to go unless you are really, really foolish in your web surfing/spam email opening habits.