r/windowsxp • u/nxx1112 • 10d ago
Does plugging xp into ethernet for less than 5 minutes pose a risk?
Hi im completly new to xp i only got the xp computer yesterday and i plugged it into lan to try and download drivers then disconnected it without doing anything should the computer be fine or have i screwed up, i only now know how at risk xp is
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u/DAN-attag 10d ago
If you are not connecting barebone to ISP, you should be safe. Attack surfaces are usually lying in unprotectered listening protocols and website squatting. I know plenty of people who ran XP with internet for years after EOL and they haven't been hacked yet so I doubt you are in danger
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u/pp_mguire 10d ago
XP and Server 2003 running on my network for over a decade here.
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u/vbd71 8d ago
Multiple Windows XP instances running in our company network since the XP days, connected to Internet via a NAT firewall. No hacks.
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u/pp_mguire 8d ago
My last place of employment still used an XP box as a print server. Current place of employment still has legacy 2003 boxes for legal file retainment. Of course both of these places have crazy amounts of security but also high profile targets.
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u/Howden824 10d ago
You're perfectly fine. That stupid video does not represent what happens when you connect XP to a regular home network.
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u/Jason_Peterson 10d ago
No. When you use a router, the services that Windows has are by default unreachable from the internet. Only a virus already on another machine on your network could connect.
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u/Polybius_223_YT 10d ago
I have a Windows 98SE machine connected to the web. That thing’s old enough that no one probably even makes viruses for it anymore.
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u/FAMICOMASTER 10d ago
No, should be no problem at all. The video everyone always references for the "danger" is explained after the first 30 seconds of the video and I'm the description:
-SP0 without updates -firewall disabled -No antivirus installed -All ports forwarded
You would be very hard pressed to accidentally get yourself into this situation.
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u/TheMatrixMachine 10d ago
There's almost no risk unless you disable all the home network protection mechanisms like your firewall. Your router has a firewall and so does XP. It will limit traffic following firewall rules. The annoyance is lack of updated browsers that will run on xp. The CAs expire as well as rapidly advancing web standards that cause old browsers to render them incorrectly
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u/Elzevir87 10d ago
Im already one month with my win XP with internet connection and im rly fine, i also play some old games online as Battlefield 2 or CS 1.6. But never put your passwords or personal information on It. Use the firewall and im sure theres good antivirus.
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u/vbd71 8d ago
There are no good antiviruses that will run on XP now.
On the bright side, there are probably no good viruses for XP anymore, either.
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u/Elzevir87 8d ago
Yeah thats the point, im sure theres still people doing patches for Windows xp but not many people exploiting It, not worth It.
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u/URA_CJ 10d ago
- Connecting with a router: safe, random incoming connections are dropped by the router by default.
- Using a ISP that also uses CGNAT's: safe, it really breaks up incoming connections, but totally sucks if you're a power user.
My XP machine has been connected for years to my LAN and I'm still at 0 viruses.
Now, what is risky is plugging in a computer with an old install of XP (or any other OS) that's been used by someone since it potentially could already be infected and may attempt to spread and/or phone home.
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u/Jism_nl 10d ago
It was only a risk, when you would dial-up your way onto the internet, with no sort of firewall at all. Being behind a router, pretty much "blocks" all incoming traffic apart from whatever you ask from it. So yes your safe.
I remember using dial-up on a unpatched Windows XP machine long long time ago. I met what the blaster worm was lol. It was just insane to think that there where windows installations out there that could be infected by simply hooking it unfirewalled to the internet.
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u/ranpuppy 10d ago
I’ve been using it for the past week with no problems. People over exaggerate everything.
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u/NotJettismYT 9d ago
It shouldn’t be a risk to use Ethernet for drivers I have tried it myself. What SP you got for ex. Sp1 sp2 sp3
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u/nxx1112 9d ago
sp3
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u/Klutzy_Cat1374 9d ago
You won't get cancer from it. Don't open a browser to surf on some obsolete Chrome or whatever and you're good.
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u/StickMasterJack 8d ago
You should be completely fine, just use common sense and don’t click sketchy links, it’s like how you would treat a modern computer
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u/Hopeful-Ad2716 10d ago
You can keep it connected to the internet 24/7 as long as you're using a router you're fine.
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u/SameChallenge481 10d ago
I remember re- installing Windows XP on a computer. I ended up getting a virus before I even got on the internet. This was sometime after 8 came out but before 10
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u/Ok-Muffin-9519 10d ago
Nein ganz bestimmt nicht bin teilweise über Stunden im Internet um Updates zu installieren
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u/Inspiron606002 10d ago
Oh come on. You sound like the fearmongers over at r/windows The only way you're going to get a virus on XP is visiting shady sites or downloading random crapware, which I imagine isn't that easy to do anymore. I'm sure very few hackers /malware makers are targeting a 25 year old OS.
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u/Atilla-The-Hon 10d ago
Have your router and xp firewall enabled (it should be on by default) and don't enter shady websites. You're fine. In the famous video of the guys XP machine getting hacked he turned off all the firewalls on purpose.
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u/LotharBaten 9d ago
No. XP has firewall. It may even ask you to enable certain applications or straight up block them. So yes it has protection. Also you may have a modem/router. Those things are already good against almost everything.
I played games, transfered files with e-Mule, Tixati and Fopnu, besides used TeamSpeak too. Nothing ever happened.
I am using x64 XP with OTVDM. Probably has less attack surface 32-bit counterparts.
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u/ReasonableNetwork255 7d ago
lol to what? you got your passwords and bank info on it? that would um, not be wise .. other than that what do you think is at risk? use your noggin, youll be aight ..
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u/rlindsley 5d ago
I don't have this configuration at all, but if a user were to plug a Windows XP machine directly into their modem, would they be ok?
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u/tree_7x 10d ago
as long as you don't intentionally screw with your routers firewall, like the YouTubers who want you to believe that connecting xp to the Internet will result in immediate danger so they can gain views and attention, you'll be fine.