How To Not Get Viruses

[Pink Dragon]

From a programmer with enough experience to start a business, I can tell you that nowadays technology has changed so much and can be so dangerous. Here are some steps you could take to prevent from getting infected by viruses:

1. Only download from trusted sources - nowadays people can send spoofed emails (meaning they can send emails from address like mark@fbi.gov) so only open attachments if you are 100% sure it is from whoever

2. Only visit trusted sites - you can get infected by just visiting a site, you don't even have to download or open anything.

3. Viruses can be embedded into any images - so if someone posts an image and you view the thread, you will be infected straight away.

Also anti-viruses are a load of crap, they just slow down your computer and nowadays even a novice hacker can bypass most anti virus softwares.

Since there is no phone section or anything similar, I might aswell post phone security here too.

1. Spoofed SMS can also be sent (so hackers can send message from any number)

2. You can be infected by visiting untrusted sites or downloading from untrusted sources - viewing images from SMS

Once infected with a virus, no matter what device you are on computer or phone - hackers are able to do the following:

basically anything you can do on your own device

- view all your files ( I know some sad kids that infect girls' phones with viruses then use their nudes to blackmail them)

- view your camera/webcam ( they can turn it on remotely and it wont even appear in your process list)

- keylog

- copy/send files

Sorry if I scared anyone but this is all reality.

[scotty nm35]

And keep it in your pants.

[Leroy Peterson]

I follow the first 2 rules and provide backups occasionally... routers have firewalls. All that means you really dont need to run anti-virus software. The small risk means a much faster computer and no background bullshit

[RosieR34]

I hadn't had an anti-virus for 2 years - had 30 trojans or what not - mainly harmless. But installed an Anti-virus, I don't like them but if it gives a standard protection then I guess it's better then nothing. Also, an anti-virus wouldn't slow my computer down. Got enough power to run a small city

[GH05T]

install norton, they we can talk,

that shit would slow down the sun

[Trozzle]

Get a girlfriend; no more [computer] viruses

[Anfanee]

First tip to not getting a virus:

Don't be a retard.

I've been downloading and working on computers since i can remember. Not 1 virus. If you get viruses you are looking in places you shouldn't.

in saying that 90% of viruses are harmless. Spam or slow computer down. A heap of them are just designed to pop up ads so companies get more money for the views.

Keyloggers are the ones you want to be careful about. Before you know bye bye bank.

Seriously though. protect your shit. Always use protection.

[GH05T]

stop searching for little russian girls

[Anfanee]

  On 20/11/2013 at 12:37 AM, GH05T said:

stop searching for little russian girls

Pretty much this.

[RosieR34]

  On 20/11/2013 at 12:28 AM, GH05T said:

install norton, they we can talk,

that shit would slow down the sun

Done. Haven't noticed any power stress on CPU / other.

Edited November 21, 2013 by RosieR34

[niZmO_Man]

Use a Mac?

[Birds]

http://drtech.bangordailynews.com/2013/04/14/new-products/busting-the-myth-apple-macs-do-get-viruses/

[Kenna802]

I agree about norton. So bloody slow. Nowadays I use bit defender ( cheapish but works a treat ) I used to fix my mates computer every weekend without fail. To this day I don't know what porn he was looking up but it must of been off tap. He funded my alcohol habit for about two years by buying me a carton of beer in lieu of fixing his computer. Every weekend without fail was me sitting at his computer getting drunk on his beer. Sigh .. Those where the days

[ianjb]

u need experience to start a business now?

someone should tell my boss.

[GeeTR]

Think about using VM's with non persistent disks for suspect sites. Virtual Box is pretty dang good these days.

Sandboxie too can provide very good protection.

[luke gtr]

  On 03/12/2013 at 2:50 AM, GeeTR said:

Sandboxie too can provide very good protection.

of course, dat chafe

[Mayuri Krab]

  On 20/11/2013 at 12:37 AM, GH05T said:

stop searching for little russian girls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dM2IIvs6m4

I use avast free + normal windows 7 firewall alone with my Asus router's hardware firewall & never had any major issues with my computer.

Got some adwares once but that was about it...

[bucket_boy101]

I've had this box for around 12 months now, and had either avast or AVG Free on it the whole time (I got rid of Avast because of its annoying voice-over pop-up thing). I've had one case of a malicious self-installing add on in firefox that I could remove simply by going into the add-ons and removing it. Never had a problem. One of my former housemates had no virus software, and got a virus that caused him to have to alter his registry to "fix" it. He ended up doing a full re-install with no backup. I guess I just have "safer" internet habits.

[junkie]

its not hard. here is my list for not picking up too much crap:

1. Main point, keep your OS patched and up to date. Thats not just for Windows, applies to OSX and Linux as well. I know a lot of people love to turn off auto updates, thinking stuff will break, but that rarely happens and regular security updates come out to fix serious security problems

2. Keep installed software up to date, especially browser plugins like Flash and Java. A lot of malware uses security holes in installed software, Adobe and Oracle products are some of the worst for it

3. Dont use IE (duh) Chrome or FIrefox will give you a lot more security. If you need IE, update to newest versions for your OS

4. Buy a decent router with a SPI firewall, and keeps its firmware up to date

5. Run a semi decent AV - I use MSE and never notice any performance issues, but there are plenty of other options. Just stay away from the bloated all in one products theyre a waste of time and money

6. Uninstall any software you dont use

7. Install ad/malware blocking broswer plugins, like AdBlock Plus. They block known malware and ad serving domains, speeding up your browsing

8. Finally, dont dowload random junk you dont need. Be careful with cracked software and games too, no shortage of packages going around with hidden trojans, etc

thats prety much it

[niZmO_Man]

7. (to add) noscript