Renzatic on 4/10/2011 at 22:21
Quote Posted by Al_B
Not just through adverts. It seems that (
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/240609/mysqlcom_hacked_to_serve_malware.html) mysql.com was hacked a week ago to install visitor's computers with malware through a variety of techniques. It's certainly not a website I would normally be wary of visiting and it's a good example of why it's equally important to keep all components up to date if you use them (flash / java / acrobat reader plugin etc.).
Any random site in general can attempt to load you down with viruses, and you can never predict when and where it'll happen. Just for example, I've been hitting up TPB at least three times a week for my usual barrage of TV shows for at least a couple of years now. Haven't had a single problem out of them yet. My virus scanner never pops up any warnings, and Antimalware hasn't detected any potential problems in all that time.
But there was one time I set my virus scanner off like it was announcing DEFCON 1, and Antimalware even found a threat that managed to slip on by even though the scanner blocked 6 of them from getting in beforehand. Wanna know what it was over? Was it a set of torrents from some random site? Quadruple amputee midget porn? Cat on dog action (so hot)? Nope. Nothing nearly so weird or questionable.
...I was looking for pictures of arched trellises. I hit up one little site on Google, and BAM! Viruses a plenty. First time I'd seen anything like it in YEARS. And over the most inane of subject matters. Nothing illegal. Nothing weird. Just damn arched trellises.
So it's always a good idea to keep a virus scanner running. Maybe even run adblock and flashblock just in case, considering Javascripts and flash vulns are the most likely openings a virus will use to get into your system.
They're not so common you have to be overly paranoid about what you do and where you go, but they're common enough that having a few security features in place is a bit of a dirty necessity, even if you do think it's ultimately a waste of time.
Vernon on 5/10/2011 at 02:35
Quote Posted by ffox
I'm doubtful - link please.
It is called Microsoft Spynet. Has two modes, and is opt-out.
Renzatic on 5/10/2011 at 03:18
Oh, I've seen that. If you have a program running, and MSE doesn't have much info on it, then the scanner will ask if you want to send information to them so they can update their database or some such nonsense.
It's not exactly a sinister thing.
Yakoob on 5/10/2011 at 07:23
All the usual "HERp DERP lost_soul GTFO" he does have a good point.
Whenever I needed to do some "dangerous" browsing into areas of net ladden with potential spyware or viruses, I'd just boot into linux instead and go nuts. No, linux by itself is not some magical anti-virus shield; BUt 99.99% of viruses are targetted strictly at windows. So by running linux you manage to simply avoid them working. Not to mention linux's idea of "billions of distros/packages/etc" combinations means those linux viruses you would get would probably not work because one of your billion packages is outdated by 0.1 version... or something. And worse case scenario, if stuff messes up, it only messes up your linux partition, not your windows one (which half the linux distros dont even see or cant write to because NTFS!!!) so its extra protection on top of exisitng protection.
I dont have my dual-boot system up anymore, but I got a live thumb drive that is one of those rescue thumbs with Dos/Commander/Linux/Etc. and I still use it on occasion when I know I need to google the shadier parts of the net.
Granted, this isn't really a casual every-day solution as it wont protect you from the random drive-by viruses (like the mysql.com example) but its nice when you know you have to specifically browse sites that might endanger your computer (i.e. hardcore midget cat porn).
june gloom on 5/10/2011 at 10:13
Except lost_soul doesn't have a point. Whereas you described the solution in a reasonable manner, lost_soul has a string and a plastic ring around his back and he unleashes some irritating stock phrase every time someone pulls it. Nobody listens to what he has to say because he has nothing to say usually, and when he does it's usually either "girls are icky" or "i don't understand the concept of civil rights."
Dia on 5/10/2011 at 12:34
I've used Avast! for years now and never had any problems. Like it a lot. :thumb:
Vernon on 5/10/2011 at 13:40
Quote Posted by Yakoob
99.99% of viruses are targetted strictly at windows
Microsoft need to drop the admin-as-default bullshit. They have thousands of engineers and computer-human interface folk. It took them so long to fail at a design for UAC. :(
Also yeah, just the fact that people don't use Linux because it makes them suffer tremendously for their knowledge gap. Not everyone can actually use it (not everyone has Asperger's syndrome)
Renzatic on 5/10/2011 at 18:58
Quote Posted by Vernon
Microsoft need to drop the admin-as-default bullshit. They have thousands of engineers and computer-human interface folk. It took them so long to fail at a design for UAC. :(
MS hasn't had an admin as default setup since XP. And the UAC is hardly a fail. The overly annoying aspects that plagued it in Vista have long since been fixed in 7. Nowadays it works about like elevation rights in any 'nix OS.
Quote:
Also yeah, just the fact that people don't use Linux because it makes them suffer tremendously for their knowledge gap. Not everyone can actually use it (not everyone has Asperger's syndrome)
Yeah, if you're going with Slackware or Arch, maybe. Ubuntu, on the other hand, is about dead simple to use these days. Installing it is almost easier than setting up Windows. Plus you can get all your programs through a snazzy little app store that makes finding and installing stuff a breeze. It's reliance on the terminal is more of an occasional thing, rather than the constant necessity it used to be.
In fact, if you're wanting to use a computer just to watch movies, listen to music, read ebooks, or hit up the internet, I'd recommend using Ubuntu over Windows 7. It runs a little better on lower end hardware, and it's
free. You can't really beat that.
june gloom on 5/10/2011 at 19:11
but
but i don't have suspenders!
