Virus And Trojans Just my outlook on these...

[Moolkye 0]

Ok so I hear a lot of people who, when they buy their first computer, say, "What about viruses?"I have been in the tech feild for 15 years. And honestly I do not think that Viruses are that big of a threat. Honestly, I mean there are some they can do some damage, but they are not as widespread as the media makes them out to be. Yes, they HAVE, but it does not happen that often.Viruses are distributed in 1 of two ways. Email, which is very popular, and through installations of programs.To protect yourself from an email virus:1) Do not open any email if you do not know who it is from2) Even if it does have the name of someone you know, look at the title or subject of the message. If is says "Re:" on it, than it is a forwarded email. Do yourself a favor and delete them right away. Forwarded email are so dang annoying.3) Do not open any email that says you are a winner, you aren't. It's a scam.4) Don't open any emails offering you great deals on stuff, unless you signed up tp get emails for that stuff. Pharmacy emails are a huge spam these days, and Viagra really isn't worth it.5) Use common sense. Whether you are new to emailing or not, use your head. You can NOT get something for nothing. And you would never open your house door to a stranger and just let them in because they said they know someone you do or had a great deal for ya. treat them like Jehhovah Winesses.To protect yourself from Viruses through installation of Applications:1) If you download pirated software, beware you will get a virus every now and then. If not you are the lucky. These guys do this because they think it's funny.2) Download software either directly from the firm that makes it, or from a trusted downlaod site. like Downlaod.com, Tucows.com, Fileforum.com, etc. these guys have reputations to uphold, and they scan all incoming applications to their sites. Now granted they may have spyware in the application or adware, but that is from the manufacturer of the website, not the trusted site that is distributing it for them. 3) Don't install stupid game software just so you can get a free version of solitaire on your work computer when you aren't supposed to be playing anyway. Not only could is have spyware, but then you are just casuing havoc for your IT guys by sayin, "I don't know how that got there!" Duh I'm an idiot who made a mistake and don't want to admit it.4) Be resposible. Don't install stuff just to install it. If you don't need it, don't install it. this does 2 things. Keeps you from getting Viruses spyware and other crap, and it keeps your computer neat and clean and running properly.These are my safe guarding tips. If you have anymore, just add them on.

[Saint_Michael 3]

I like to make a little correction there are 4 ways to install a virus, you mention 2 the other 2 our websites and Hacking as well. Both follow the stuff you mention. Also a nice liitle quote to remember if its to go to be true then its a virus.

[Moolkye 0]

Here Here!!Websites and their activeX plugins and such. Cookies, yada yada yada. Hate them. Always protect yourself from popups. Use Firefox! Out of 100 web pages Firefox will prevent popups from 90% of them automatically.Hackers.... ewwww hackers. Luckily most hackers will only attack website because they know the sites address, or company networks, becaus eof the same reason. Individual computers thought are rarely at risk. thouh it does happen, it is rare. Enable Windows Firewall or get one of the many firewalls on the market.

[AlanDS 0]

 

Here Here!!

Websites and their activeX plugins and such. Cookies, yada yada yada. Hate them. Always protect yourself from popups. Use Firefox! Out of 100 web pages Firefox will prevent popups from 90% of them automatically.

 

 

Just try opening GMail without Cookies.

 

It says "Your browser's cookie functionality is turned off. Please turn it on."

 

Many major sites need cookies.

 

Especially if you are in a business website, cookies are the one which help you through the way.

 

But what are the problems of Cookies? What threat do they cause?

[Moolkye 0]

Well cookies can pose a threat if your computer is every stolen or lost. They store passwords and what not. So it can be a threat in that manner. I have heard rumors of malicious java scripting that can steal info from your cokkies, but I highly doubt it.

[Lyon2 0]

I don't want to get into this area because i'll take the risk of saying things that's better not saying here so, i just want to say this, there are more ways for you to get infected with a virus, trojan horse, worm or anyother malicious code.Virus is not everything, usually people name every bad thing by virus, and the differences between the above described are big.Virus is a litle program wich has the ability of spreading, multiply in two, the two in four, and so on.There are malicious code that you can insert in a html file, for example, "javascript bombs" made in javascript, obviously, that can make damage on your computer, but those are not virus.You can also insert virus in html pages on the internet, so, you can catch a virus by simply visiting a website.Also you can catch trojan horses in html pages on the internet, they install the servers on your hard drive, and when you know it, your drive is beeing formated, or someone has access to your entire hard drive thrue a backdoor.Now, with worms, things get more serious, you just need to dial-up to your isp server to get internet access to catch a worm, they spread very quickly and smothly, like a snake, like an invisible thing, you don't even know what the hell happened.Today, virus, trojans and specially worms are very sofisticated, more then the antivirus and firewalls, there are even anti-antivirus wich disable any antivirus and also any firewall on your system giving almost full access to the entruser/attacker/cracker.Another thing are exploits, a smart hacker, if want to attack a computer, he just trys to get the computer servers versions, then he goes to a website to download exploits for that versions and run them, and in minutes they have admin accounts out of the blue, with just 2 or 3 mouse clicks, that's as simply as this.Just to finish, today, antivirus only protect you between 60 to 70% from the new virus, worms and trojans, and if you use windows operative systems, man, you are doomed!

[matto 0]

All you have to do is get a decent spyware and a decent anti virus program. AdAware will suffice, and is free. I forgot some of the good free anti viruses, but I know there are some decent free ones out there.

[angel86 0]

i am a viruz

Notice from saint-michael:

spam.

[Moolkye 0]

AVG is a great free virus scanner. I have been using that for 2 years now. Awesome app. Auto updates, great deep scans if'n you want em. Just an all around nice app

[icemarle 0]

Heh, I remember my non-tech savvy relatives being cautious about viruses. They acutally think that if you don't use a CD for too long, they'd acquire viruses. I could almost laugh thinking about it... Also, one of my classmates asked me for a virus scan installer. They don't even have internet access! They still probably think that those innocent diskettes THEY JUST BOUGHT and put the word files they made contain viruses... It's a bit hard trying to explain to them. I keep telling them it's not big of deal. They just have to watch where they go.

[Moolkye 0]

It's funny how much fear mongering will affect people. I guess they think it's like a regular air bourne virus. But I have to admit, fear does sell a product. I mean if they get a virus just one time they will be crying about it forever.

[T100 0]

I you get all the basic things done and have a good browsing habit, there is no reason why you should be afraid of virus. I think the laymen are so afraid of viruses because they are influenced by the media, thinking that viruses are horrible thing. This fear when complicated with the complexity of computers, make them over react to viruses. There are some people who even cannot tell wether the computer is misbehaving becuase of hardware problems or viruses. To these people, their fear for viruses and trojans are undestandable.

[Moolkye 0]

I agree. A lot of peopel will think they have a virus or trojan just because their machine is running slow. When in fact they installed some free software like a free solitaire or webshots (that a good one), having themes installed that show pretty flowers everytime you read an email, or my favorite, the animated smile faces, stuff like that. Crap that just slows down your computer big time.

[brandice 0]

Right. Another thing that slows down your computer are programs that load in at start up that you don't really need to have running. I ran across a good reference site for this at http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/

[arnz 0]

As for emails, I dont really bother with the chain letter types that much (usually delete or end in my junk box).. ie 'Pass this to 10 people and something wonderful would happen' or something else similar to those words.AVG would have to be one of the best free anti-virus checkers around, It also does your email when it either arrives or you're trying to send a email. Furthermore AD-aware SE personal is a good cookie and spyware, malware, etc checker as well.