Virus Protection

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Regardless of which OS you are running, there are a number of ways to protect against virus infection whithout using any form of anti virus software.The obvious one, is not to connect to the internet.

Do not install any program that you are not 100% certain of.

If you do connect to the internet, do not open unsolicited Emails, and never download attachments that you are not 100% certain of, even from people you know.

Use a Firewall. Windows has a Firewall, make sure it is on.

Use an Email account that checks your Emails for virusus.

Keep your OS and software separate from your data, so if you do become infected, you can re-install your OS and software without losing your data.

Do not use Peer to Peer internet sites.

Do not visit dodgey internet sites.

Do not download stuff from internet sites.

These are just basic things that can be done without any special knowledge or training.
You missed one

Don't switch on your computer

:coat

 
I install Avast! or AVG on the PC's I build for users.

I don't run any AV other then common sense myself, on my PC's or the servers I set up. I find hardware firewalls/NAT tables and not installing viruses do wonders.

 
The March copy of PC Pro landed on my door mat Yesterday. In it is a round up of antivirus solutions\security suites. I haven't read it yet, might do that later rather than going to Preston.

 
The March copy of PC Pro landed on my door mat Yesterday. In it is a round up of antivirus solutions\security suites. I haven't read it yet, might do that later rather than going to Preston.
I would. Preston is a dump.

 
Why are they publishing the March copy in January?

Is it like displaying easter eggs on Boxing day?

 
I know. Last time I went I was approached by a bargain basement prostitute in daylight. Not been keen on returning!
was she not very good................

:eek:

;)

Went to a course just outside Preson and called in the big CPC counter. Even that was a dump.

 
Why are they publishing the March copy in January?Is it like displaying easter eggs on Boxing day?
Mags are provided from wholesalers on a sale or return basis, so can sit on the shelves for up to 4-5 weeks so if they were January issues in early Feb no one would buy, but you might get the punter to buy a March copy at the end of 4-5 weeks in early Feb or even mid Feb

 
Wow,

people actually believe that if they don't connect to the internet or don't go on dodgy sites they will not get viruses!

Firstly if you have a PC then what is the point of it, if you don't at some time go on the internet, at least for updates and communications (to keep your computer protected)

Unbelievable and a very bad practice not to have any protection.

To all those in the real world!

An anti virus is a must.

Not all packages perform the whole job though as well as anti virus you need antivirus, antispyware, anti-rootkit and other security technologies to protect you fully.

There are lots of free versions and even more paid for.

But the only one that we go back to time and time again is VIPRE.

It is a professional package at a commercial price.

It provides all the protection general users require.

It has very little overhead on the computer, (far less than AVG, norton etc.)

I keep recommending this one over and over again.

For only 30 USD a year for peace of mind I would concider this money well spent.

Even for all the houses PC's you can buy a "home" licence for I believe 40 USD.

This is really a no brainer and once you've done it you'll realise the amount of processing power AVG takes from the computer, plus how many trackers and attacks you actually do get.

Search "sunbelt vipre"

 
Well my pennies worth

Firstly I have virus s/w installed

In the last 15+ I can only remember once getting hit, must be 10 years back and was more inconvenient than costly

There is a lot of hype and sadly generated by the very companies selling the software, after all it is a multi-billion $ business and you need to keep the punters coming back (paying ones that is), it also true that you get a lot of false warnings but usually these are not from brand software .exe's or .dll's. The actual rate of virus attacks (destructive to data) is still low, in the order of 3% of attacks as I recall, the real issue/threat is from Trojans and Malware that install Key-loggers, slave programs or Phishing via URL redirection

I've also seen comments about Peer 2 Peer sites 'Limewire' etc being full of virus infected s/w, I would qualify this with there's higher probability that if you download something with the wording of 'Crack', 'Keygen' or an .exe it likely has a payload with it so the risk is high, after all the crims do target muppets

In regard to phishing and malware sites, personally I believe this is the area that scanning/monitoring software offers it's true value, as a user of on-line shopping and on-line banking I'd rather have some protection than none, simply because on-line gives me more time to do other things. Do I exclusively rely on the s/w, no you still need to use common sense, it's an arms race and the scams change and adapt, so you need to as well

Bottom line, think of this s/w in the context of Home insurance, I'd rather not have to pay a premium, but it may save me money later

 
*******COMPUTER WARNING**********

On the subject of Viruses.

Just to make sure all you guys are up to speed.

There is a new virus e-mail going around with the header

"Danger swine flu found in tinned pork"

Please delete it straight away it's just SPAM.

 
*******COMPUTER WARNING**********On the subject of Viruses.

Just to make sure all you guys are up to speed.

There is a new virus e-mail going around with the header

"Danger swine flu found in tinned pork"

Please delete it straight away it's just SPAM.
Don't know wether to :coat :coat:coat or ROTFWLROTFWLROTFWL

 
*******COMPUTER WARNING**********On the subject of Viruses.

Just to make sure all you guys are up to speed.

There is a new virus e-mail going around with the header

"Danger swine flu found in tinned pork"

Please delete it straight away it's just SPAM.
Caltronics - I always thought you don't say much, but what you do say is worth listening to, until now :D

:Spam :spam:spam:spam:spam

ROTFWLROTFWLROTFWLROTFWLROTFWL

:D

 
*******COMPUTER WARNING**********On the subject of Viruses.

Just to make sure all you guys are up to speed.

There is a new virus e-mail going around with the header

"Danger swine flu found in tinned pork"

Please delete it straight away it's just SPAM.
ROTFWLROTFWLROTFWL

You`re telling "porkies" again, aren`t you????

Got to admit, stressful day today (unfortunately, the forum added to it, thanks to some).

Reading this was like a slap round the bum with a wet lettuce leaf - unexpected, but somehow comforting........ :^O :^O:^O

I`m off for someGuinnessbefore bed - you know how it is!

 
Wow so much confusion going on here.

Linux based OS

Mac Based OS

Windows Bases OS

Any other OS is just as vulnerable mainly down to user error but they still have their flaws.

Windows is the biggest target purly because its wide use of applications and users.

Linux and Mac have their fair share of attacks, currently im watching someone in china nmap and bruteforce the root account on one of my servers. Had a honey pot running for a week, no updates, no nothing just windows xp pro sp2...it had well over 6000 unique ip's, over 3000 viruses detected and even tried speading over the virtual network.

As for people that have had bank details and paypal lost or logins to other random sites, well its more than likely your fault! Most of the time is down to phishing sites but the odd virus can slip through antivirus or firewall or not, so even if you do have an antivirus/firewall installed just sometimes its not enough.

For protection I recommend ESET Smart Security(I sell it too ;) ) It has very very frequent updates and great heuristics, the detection rate is high and false positives are low. The firewall outperforms most i've seen i've tested. But it can't outform an hardware firewall.

And yes it is true vendors do make the viruses in theory, its more that the vendors find the bugs/holes, publish the details after the updates are pushed(2 week notice thing) the hackers/coders/script kiddies etc then use the details to build bots and roll it out via different means.

So precautions:

Wireless Network:

Mac filtering

Strongest encryption available to a standard home user - WPA2-PSK, there are higher ones but not common also use WIPS if its available.

Change SSID to something that doesnt say who it belongs to or identify the router make.

Set the DMZ to an invalid or used IP address.

Computers:

KEEP UPDATED!!! cant stress that enough to my customers, its the biggest hole against the user breaking things.

Use a good antivirus and firewall including the built in router NAT if your using one.

Be carefull where you surf and click on.

Use diferent passwords when you surf online, once they have one password they would

have the rest especially your email password which if an targetted attack then the possiblities are endless.

Use your computers built in security like the firewall(dont use it if your using a 3rd party firewall) and use decent windows passwords anything over 15 chars if its XP and beyond, use it as good practice for after XP, processing for cracking passwords are getting much faster with FPGA and prgrammable graphics processors.

Sorry for the very long post and ive probably missed a few things.

EDIT:eek:oo forgot to add theres one for wifi too ;)

http://tinyurl.com/4njus from defcon12 conference

 
^^^^^^ wont argue with that lol. Where did you learn all that..... you must do alot with computers!!!!!!!!!!Applaud Smiley

 
I'm a computer tech by trade with many interests around it, I try not to do it but a trade is a trade and at the moment i'm taking as much work as I can get, mainly network security.

 
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