I think a mod gave me a virus.

[Michlo]

What is safe browsing exactly?

 

I don't realy know. Magic probably.

 

No realy, you're right, no browsing is TRULY safe. Not even with AV software - you still might get to know the latest security threat before your favorite AV company hears about it.

 

Then again the last time I had a virus was 5 months ago.

 

How did I know without an AV soft? The pc behaved awkwardly, it's realy easy to tell if you're not running many programs on the background, found out that rundll was trying to open more than 10 simultaneous TCP/IP connections. Found out that something's scanning the whole ip range on my local network. Used file monitor to find out what was running rundll, deleted the file using the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce registry key.

 

MAGIC.

 

 

The big problem with your thinking, mate, is that the virus may do more than just make your PC behave "awkwardly".

 

For one, it could be a worm and you've now infected all of your friends, etc.

 

For another, identity thieves are becoming more and more insidious and smart about their thieving. I would hate that one of these viruses caused you to become a victim.

 

There is nothing smart about reacting to a virus AFTER you have one. You need to stop it even reaching you. End of.

[WoogieMonster]

...How did I know without an AV soft? The pc behaved awkwardly, it's realy easy to tell if you're not running many programs on the background, found out that rundll was trying to open more than 10 simultaneous TCP/IP connections. Found out that something's scanning the whole ip range on my local network. Used file monitor to find out what was running rundll, deleted the file using the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce registry key.

MAGIC.

 

Maybe I'm lazy, but it seems so much easier to have protection and just click the big "Scan My Computer" button. Then, if my protection finds a problem, I click the big "Fix the Problem" button.

[nosisab]

someway this whole case looks the tale of the man that bought a lock after the thief taking everything he possessed.

 

Or maybe is just confidence at being invulnerable or lucky or...

 

What surprises me is the easy people find in blaming things without any supportive reason. When posting something like this thread bring facts or at least a plausible reason you "believe" something harmed you.

[buddah]

Fact, I have personally downloaded every mod hosted here at tesnexus at least once and never had a virus from any mod or utility.

[ihateregisteringeverywhere]

Didn't know about that google thing. I more or less meant "not visiting potentialy dangerous websites - and even if visiting potentionaly dangerous website refrain from running active-x controll, java applets , downloading executables, giving out personal info, saving important info on the internet or my pc for that matter and the like".

 

And Michlo, I don't realy know, your points sound perfectly valid, but... I dunno for example the e-mail worm thing - it's just.. very improbable - think about it. A worm is limited by what's running its script. If I'm only using interned based email services then all of my emails are just simple html and are therefore limited to only run the code my browser would allow any webpage to run. If a worm that could infect me this way existed then an infect-on-page-visit security threat would have to exist as well, etcetera, etcetera - I'll just stop right there, because I know that you're mostly right. But meh. The data on my disk is expendable, my e-identity is free-based - nothing to loose there either and my real life identity is in no way connected to the virtual one. I just don't feel like permanently overprotecting all that at a cost to my pc's overall performance from threats that can be mostly avoided.

[nosisab]

Didn't know about that google thing. I more or less meant "not visiting potentialy dangerous websites - and even if visiting potentionaly dangerous website refrain from running active-x controll, java applets , downloading executables, giving out personal info, saving important info on the internet or my pc for that matter and the like".

 

And Michlo, I don't realy know, your points sound perfectly valid, but... I dunno for example the e-mail worm thing - it's just.. very improbable - think about it. A worm is limited by what's running its script. If I'm only using interned based email services then all of my emails are just simple html and are therefore limited to only run the code my browser would allow any webpage to run. If a worm that could infect me this way existed then an infect-on-page-visit security threat would have to exist as well, etcetera, etcetera - I'll just stop right there, because I know that you're mostly right. But meh. The data on my disk is expendable, my e-identity is free-based - nothing to loose there either and my real life identity is in no way connected to the virtual one. I just don't feel like permanently overprotecting all that at a cost to my pc's overall performance from threats that can be mostly avoided.

Think this way: if one doesn't take preventive measure and rely just on periodic scans... when found that large virus collection the question turns out: what infected what?

 

You are driving on a very dangerous road. Telling just about this email thing... most actual worms will exploit vulnerabilities and infect the machine just by you opening it.

 

Your data is expendable... until you losing it. Murphy would say it's malevolent nature will find a way to show you it's not.

[giskarduk]

Infidelrbp

 

If you or anybody else ever suspect a file is a virus on any website not just here, the first thing you should always do is pm a member of staff and tell them. Sending them a link.

 

Viruses and Virus writers are sneaky little things and can usually be delt with by reading up what that virus does, but to post in public can spread panic through the less virus aware users that takes months to put right. If a virus does exist the staff are the ones that can fix it not the users and its the staff who are the ones who will inform their users of the danger and provide information about how to fix it.

 

That is always the correct proceedure.

 

And if they staff take no notice or action or fail to respond to you at all, I would not return to that website.

 

Most users do infect them selves online but microsoft often leave security holes that allows embedded database hacks to link to stuff that automatically runs when you view a website. Thus automatically infecting every visitor of that website. Most of the time the virus is not on the website, the file space is secure but the database has been hacked and links to a website that does have the virus uploaded to its file space.

 

Your only protection against those forms of attack is an active and up todate virus checker that will warn you the moment it happens and stop it.

 

So its a good idea to get a Virus checker but a virus checker comes with no garrentee you will be safe, do not assume for a second just because you have one, you cannot become infected. All it does is reduce the chances of it happening and alerts you if any known threats are detected.

 

giskard

[Michlo]

All right, I thought of the answer to safe browsing for our "Ihateregistering...." feller and this shall be my final word on the subject because I'm really starting to wonder if he isn't just yanking our chain.

 

So here it is, for your absolutely safe browsing mate:

 

Unplug your computer from the internet and leave it that way for good.

 

There you go, nice and safe and you're not a risk to everyone else either. :)

 

Cheers.

[ihateregisteringeverywhere]

Opening "it". What's this magical "it" that you speak of, if you don't mind me asking?

 

I'd also like to see one of theese worms you mentioned. You know, the ones that can use the vulnerability of html tags to infect my computer. I'd pm you my email if you could.

 

And Michlo?

 

I love you :). Marry me please.

[Michlo]

And Michlo?

 

I love you :) . Marry me please.

 

Well that last was supposed to be my final word on the subject but since I've not had a proposal in a while I shall have to respond:

 

Only if you can get to Southern California whilst it is still legal. ;)