Has your computer ever been infected by a virus?

Let see. What do I do to keep viruses (and their likes) away. 1- Keep my antivirus updated. 2- Never open e-mail attachments that I wasn't expecting. 3- Use Firefox whenever I go into unexplored territory (somehow Firefox seems less prone to malicious attacks). 4- Scan my drive ''C:'' whenever my antivirus says it has catched ''something'' sneaking into my PC. 5- Run Ad-Aware and Spybot every month (or sooner if I have the time). 6- Use a router with my cable-internet connection. 7- Use a software firewall. 8- Investigate all warnings given by my antivirus and firewall. 8- Run PurgeIE periodically. I cannot say with absolute certainty that these eight points are resposible for my virus-less PC but it is either that or just plain luck.

People need to wake up and purchase Mac computers. I can do anything with a Mac that a PC can do. . . . and probably more easily.

my pc got infected ONCE downloading a win98 service pack from microsoft.
THAT WAS THE ONLY VIRUS INFECTION MY LAPTOPS EVER HAD.

IF YOU CAN'T TRUST THE OS PROGRAMMER WHO CAN YOU TRUST?

i replaced that laptop with an i book.

# i always have the latest version of norton antivirus
# i check for updates daily
# i regularly use a program to check & delete spyware
# i clear all cookies & empty the cache whenever i land on a dubious website.

# i CHECK ALL MY E-MAIL ON THE SERVER and delete everything
suspicious.

that?s all and i guess i must have had some luck too

have a virus free lucky day

hitsch

There are four main entry points for virus/Troj to enter a computer system:

1. User installable program (portable media)
2. User Installable program (download from internet)
3. Email and Email attachment(s)
4. Internet connection tcp/ip stack

Back in the day, the ''sneaker net'' where friends, family and co-workers exchanged programs/data via floppies and self authored CD's, virus's could spread like wildfire in these circles.

The solution to plug this hole was simple:

1. Dissable any ''autorun'' on your computer
2. SCAN the portable media before using it
3. Use write protected media

Friends/relitives/co-workers computers which were infected were easy to spot. Their boxes would insist on attempting to WRITE to the write protected media thereby creating an ERROR which in turn would lead to a virus scan of their computer.


I doupt if there is a computer user that never has downloaded a program or two from the Internet. There surely are some fun and interesting programs that can be had for free.

You can feel safe downloading programs from the interent as long as you follow some simple guidelines:

1. Only download from trusted or popular sites.I get drivers/programs/updates at the MANUFACTURERS website, NOT some fly-by-night corner of the internet.

Downloading from ''ter1 players'' such as: Microsoft, Adobie, mcafee and symantec, cnet and yahoo (as examples) makes sense. If Ulead has a free add-on for its image editing software, I download it from Ulead's website, NOT from some untrusted sourse.

2. Only download from sites which pre-scan all posted downloads. Many of the ''ter1'' sites like ''download.com'' do this for free.

3. Check for number of downloads and read user opinions before downloading. If a few thousand people downloaded the program before you and gave it a ''THUMBS UP'', then its likely a safe download.

4. Never-ever-ever download or install software which is presented in a pop-up. For windows users NEVER EVER click on the popup to close it, ''pop-ups'' will show on your progam bar and use the RIGHT CLICK/CLOSE PROGRAM on the progam bar to close the pop-up.

As I write this, a close friend of mine is suffering from the effects of a virus laden email attachment. We may need to FORMAT/REINSTALL his computer because he did not follow some simple rules in regards to email.

1. De-Install/Remove ''Outlook'' from your Windows box.

While this may prove UNPOPULAR and un-do-able in a corporate environment, in my 25 years of computer usage I've found that EMAIL which is anything MORE THAN simple ASCII text can and often is carrying something more that you surely don't want on your computer.

Back in the days of timed/toll ''dialup'' it made sense for users to ''get in/out quick''. Loging into your ISP, downloading your email and disconnecting was the norm.

SMTP/POP email clients allowed users to download the email content to their computers so that they could read/compose replies at their leasure while not encuring online charges. At the time this made sense.

We now live in a world where ''unlimited'' connections from Dialup to cable to DSL/Fibre is the normal connection to the internet, so using a special (buggy!) program to email makes no sense at all.

Since Microsoft forced on us ''enhanced email'' which may have embedded vbs scripts and other nasty ''goodies'' which RUN AND EXECUTE by default, it was clear that a ''stick to the basics'' approch to email was/is needed.

Hence, I only use WEB-EMAIL.

My web-browser (Firefox/Opera) is the ''client'' and Hotmail/Verizon/Yahoo scan my email (and attachments) before I read it, if there is something NASTY/BAD embedded in it, Firefox/Opera does not have a clue as to what a ''VBS'' is so they won't automaticly or otherwise do anything with it.

Likewise, even if I'm STUPID ENOUGH to open/click on or otherwise OPEN a attachment from a UNKNOWN SOURSE, there is NO OUTLOOK on my computer or EMAIL ADDRESS BOOK on my computer to USE and SCAN to send the VIRUS to my friends and family.

While I have finally allowed OUTLOOK onto one of my laptops, it is only used for keeping my SCHEDULE and as such has no ADDRESS LIST or EMAIL SERVERS defined.

If you use WEBMAIL, you can BLOCK the SMTP port on your firewall. <grin>

Speaking of firewalls.....

Finally, a computers TCP/IP stack is gets most of the press these days. This is the program or series of programs that likely your OPERATING SYSTEM author created to allow your computer to network on the internet.

Simply put, ALL TCP/IP code has bugs in it. Be it: Unix, BE, OS/2, Linx, FREEBsd or even Windows.

While it could be argued that since:

1. TCP/IP was invented/developed on UNIX
2. UNIX is the oldest implimentation of TCP/IP
3. Many comercial sites run on UNIX

that a UNIX or UNIX derived (FreeBSD/Linix) TCP/IP is less buggy then other implimentations (IE: Windows).

The simple fact is that NONE of the TCP/IP implimentations were EVER tested at the EXTREAM's that current virus writers exploit.

It is interesting to note that most if not ALL of Microsofts TCP/IP problems come from their "enhancements".

The FACT IS that if you connect your computer to the INTERNET WITHOUT a FIREWALL, you'll be infected within only FIVE to TEN MINUTES.

Since SOFTWARE is always BUGGY, (as reflected in the countless revisions to ZoneAlarm and the like) the only REAL solution is a HARDWARE FIREWALL.

No computer of mine has EVER attached to the internet without at least a SOFTWARE firewall. All my computers at home are behind a Hardware firewall.

One COULD go so far as to say, "just don't use Microsoft products" and be fairly safe. For the almost 10 YEARS that I used OS/2 I'd simply LAUGH at all the problems that Windows users were having. Most if not all the "issues" are with Microsoft products.

Lets face it, most of the "exploits" are taking advantage of "features" that are UNIQUE to Windows.

Unix/BE/OS2/Linx/FreeBSD/Exc simply don't know what VISUAL BASIC is or what to do with ACTIVE-X code or have a ADDRESS book to exploit or a OUTLOOK (express or otherwise) to flood friends and family with infected email.


While many might feel that my measures are extream, it has allowed me to operate safely for years of computer enjoyment without the frustrations that come with infections.


Mark0.

just use anti-virus and watch where you go!

Yes about 3 or 4 times & I had Norton virus 2003 New running & up dated too. I still got them.

NEVER, Trend's PcCillin' has never failed me since the 1980's to date.

All the problems I have ever had since 1985, have been caused by, you guessed it, ME! I have a tendency to push it to see what happens, knowing that I am going to pay for it. Or I just do something innocently stupid at the time, and BAM! Gotcha!. The only Smart thing that I have done consistently is to back up often. That has saved my tush more times than I can remember.

Yes, in the registry.

The people who claim to have only been hit once with a virus either don't have internet service and got it from a friend who gave them a program on an infected disk, or they are LYING!

When infected E-Mails became a fun new way for the "twisted-ones" to spread their joy <G>!
But not since one incident. I immediately began scanning my E-Mail manually with an Anti-Virus App and automatically since the advent of this feature.
Now AVG scans my mail going OUT as well...

The virus program failed to spot the virus or worm.

i have been infected twice by virus once and i was using norton anti virus.since i have been using avg anti virus software free i haven't got not one virus.
all i use is free software for everything and they work as good or better as the paid stuff.

It does not seem like many viruses affect the Mac. On my Dell, I use anti-virus software that so far has caught all possible problems.

Never in all the years since 1992. I have never ran a anti virus protector until recently. A windows upgrade from microsoft recomended that i install one before i downloaded an upgrade from microsoft. To which they also listed several anti virus software companies with no advice as to which one to install. I chose the CA program since is was a freeware and not a shareware. An that has only been about three months ago. I have never gotten a virus and i download all the time from the internet.
But i am careful about email that i open. If i don't know them i do not open any email, an believe me i recieve more than my share of junk mail.
Thanks for letting me put my nickles in.
Have a happy sunny day
Abobble

Have been infected a number of times. I use VET by Computer Associates and it has always cured things

This infection was many years ago (after prehistoric times) and I can't even remember the name of it. But what I do remember is that it did not cause any damage, nor did it stay very long. To keep from being reinfected, I basically control what is downloaded, installed, and viewed on the computers (I am the one who keeps them running). Anyone who wants to download a file must first tell me about it so I can check it out. Then I will download it for them and check the file out itself before installing it for them. (I am the law with my computers). Anyone found violating my rules can and will be locked out of thier account! No if, ands, or butts about it.

Yes! I got walloped by the Blaster worm, within 3 minutes of installing XP. Didn't even have time to set up my antivirus before the worm dove in. My antivirus software couldn't get rid of it. Even programmes designed to obliterate it didn't work.
Soooooo... I dove into DOS and deleted the sod within 2 minutes. So much for virus obliterating software! Thank God for the power of DOS! That's one strong programme there.

My computer never has had a virus, because I get NAV updated and scanned weekly and because I use tight controls on it.

I've been one of the lucky few (that I know of) who hasn't been infected. Being careful is a big plus. I keep my virus protection updated and always have email protection on. Plus, I never open an attachment from certain people who always seem to have computer issues. For the longest time I used McAfee and was always safe. Now I'm using Zone Alarm Security Suite and haven't had any infections.

Even with an excellent virus scanner, simply using your computer exposes it to viruses. Having used a computer on a broadband connection for years, it statistically makes sense that my computer has been infected with many viruses.

I am fortunate that I am able to have multiple layered protection from viruses, spyware, and spam, as well as all the other little nasties out there. I have a 5-layered approach; firstly, the anti-ware on the broadband system I use, then AOL's anti-ware, and I have 3 other layers on my own puter; Microsoft's spyware, Norton Antivirus and Internet Security, and an intermittent use of McAfee Antivirus progs, as well as a couple of DLed ones from AOL DL Center. Have not had ANY infections since I initiated this layered approach on my newest puter when I first got it.

It was one that you got infected by clicking on a link. This kind of infection hadn't been published so I fell for a fake message about my ISP.

And Zone Alarm caught it. And my disk started thrashing.

I don't have a virus scanner. I did have McAfee, but it is so cpu intensive I disabled it.

my hard drive got to where it would not open and when it did it would shut right down i had to have the hard drive cleaned and then had to install everything over

2 or 3 times before I installed a firewall. Once from a floppy disk that a customer sent me; since then, I always scan any media with my anti-virus program before using. I haven't been infected for 3 or more years. I have a hardware firewall in my network router, a software firewall (ZoneAlarm Pro) and Frist F-Prot anti-virus; all updated automatically.

To the fatalists here who believe that everthing can and will have a virus, so therefore macs are not exceptions , let me repeat that Mac OSX does not have one yet in 5 years it has been out. It's Unix under the beutiful graphical interface, and it has been designed by paranoid minds as far as security goes.

Seeing some of the posts here makes me think of the fountain pen days... someone saying "every pen WILL leak, so your fancy microtip or ballpoint WILL too, and i dont even want to TRY it or discuss it any further because it has INK flows so OBVIOUSLY it HAS to leak and WILL leak the moment you start writing."

I have used comps extensively since the DOS 6.0 fifteen years back through Win3.x,95,98,me (eminently forgettable this one), 2000, and xp, solaris, a little mac os 8.6 in between and now mac osx. There is very little that i cannot do on a mac that i need win for, and there is a whole lot of stuff i can do on a mac that i cant do on win. I currently use solaris, win 2k professional and mac os x at work and mac osx on my laptop. The decision to go for a mac laptop (powerbook) was made just 1.5 months after first using mac osx 1 year back...once you go mac, you never go back. Macs are NOT TOYS, though kids and ignoramuses can use very satisfyingly them as such. We use a lot of macs for serious number crunching along with any number of sun workstations at one of the worlds largest research facilities.

Remember that pre OSX mac versions(os 9 and below) have had viruses, but osx is a totally different os that was completely rewritten with a unix core and not backward compatible with os9 (you will have to start os9 virtually in a window within osx to use any os9 apps), and since that change to osx hapened in 2000, no viruses afecting mac osx....none at all. Please be informed (and substantially more than hearsay) when you post.

A small caveat...microsoft office macro viruses can work on the mac side too, but will only affect office documents. but this is a fault of microsoft office rather than mac osx, so just go easy on the macros as always if you are not sure what the are supposed to do.

Rather than bashing mac users because they are smug (and rightly so, which usually hurts even more), push microsoft to improve things on the security front. there is no excuse to let windows leak like a sieve and make users accept things ''coz that's how all computers are'' coz mac has shown that is not true and you can make an OS that will be virus free for 5 years and counting.

My son used to trade a lot of floppies with his friends.
Before we were running continuous protection at home I got a couple of nasty boot sector beasties from web sites. Nothing in the past five years though.