Virii, Spyware, Phishing and other PC Malware: how bad?

Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
I am strongly considering getting a PC desktop to complement my iBook, because I am tired of some key software not being available or not being anywhere near on par for the Mac all these years. However I am also very concerned about the alarming rise in reports of various and ever-increasing types of malware on Windows: virii, trojans, spyware, adware, etc.



I am somewhat suspicious of all the hype and wonder sometimes if it's not the typical media attitude of hyping up threats (and disparaging Microsoft these days), especially since my experience with PCs has been actually relatively malware-free. My old PC, now dead, never really caught any virus (back when I was using it two years ago), or spyware, and likewise my PC at work is totally malware-free.



So I ask all fellow Mac users who have a PC to complement their Mac: is it really hell out there? If so, why do most PC users not seem to care so much?



I figure, with my hardware router/firewall, a basic antivirus in place, using Firefox instead of IE, and Thunderbird instead of Outlook Express, I should be ok. Please let me know if I am just fantasizing and if it has become a dangerous PC world out there indeed. Thanks!

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 16
    kickahakickaha Posts: 8,760member
    Well, you'll be better than the average person, that's for sure, but remember, the average time for an unused, fresh WinXP (pre-SP2) box to be cracked is < 4min. That's just sitting there, attached to the net.



    Have fun.
  • Reply 2 of 16
    nebagakidnebagakid Posts: 2,692member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Kickaha

    Well, you'll be better than the average person, that's for sure, but remember, the average time for an unused, fresh WinXP (pre-SP2) box to be cracked is < 4min. That's just sitting there, attached to the net.



    Have fun.




    Do you have to be browsing the web or set up anything besides an internet connection?

    Like, what if I just start it up and leave it sitting there, not with any open applications?
  • Reply 3 of 16
    kickahakickaha Posts: 8,760member
    < 4min.



    No apps running, nobody logged in.



    Gotta love it.



    Now, granted this is pre-SP2, but *STILL*, that's just asinine.
  • Reply 4 of 16
    mcqmcq Posts: 1,543member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Nebagakid

    Do you have to be browsing the web or set up anything besides an internet connection?

    Like, what if I just start it up and leave it sitting there, not with any open applications?




    Nope, just have it hooked up to a broadband connection. Without the firewall, worms will get through pretty quickly if you're unlucky. I've heard of seconds, but it depends.



    With SP2 and the firewall turned on by default, this makes it reasonably safe, so you have time to get the other defenses up. Add in the stuff Cygsid would do, and that makes you pretty safe from most malicious items.



    Basically I've done what Cygsid did with my PC (pretty much just a gaming box)... and haven't had any viruses, malware, or any of that type of stuff. It's hyped in the media, but that's because of PEBCAK
  • Reply 5 of 16
    cygsidcygsid Posts: 210member
    good to know MCQ, thanks!



    how about spyware however? I read you can catch those things pretty easily, and that then they're darn hard to remove! Would using Firefox (most of the time) be enough protection? I am hoping common sense, and an instinctively paranoid attitude, will shield me from all that nastiness... let's hope so!
  • Reply 6 of 16
    cakecake Posts: 1,010member
    I've been building gaming rigs for me and my friends for years and never had a major problem.



    The hardware firewall and antivirus software is a good start.

    Must have software for any PC:
    • Ad-Aware. Free and fantastic. Just be sure to click the update button each time you run it to keep the definitions current.

    • Spybot: Search & Destroy. Another essential and , again, make sure to update the definitions on a regular basis. Also, it has a good Immunize feature for IE on those rare occasions when you need to use it.

    • AVG Anti-Virus. Solid, free protection against viruses (there is no such word as "virii" btw )

    If you do get something nasty on your system, it's not such a big deal to get rid of it. If none of the above apps don't take care of any issues you have, HijackThis is a very powerful program to have in your arsenal.

    It's also very easy to wack your system with it too, so simply run the program then post the log file in one of the many HijackThis forums and many nice people can help you determine what you need to delete.



    Once you get you PC set up - clone your HD. It'll help you get back up and running if something catastrophic happens



    There are a lot of things out there that can mess with a PC, but with the right tools you'll be ok.
  • Reply 7 of 16
    Quote:

    virii



    Viruses
  • Reply 8 of 16
    groveratgroverat Posts: 10,872member
    I set up a lot of computers for UT and they are generally bulletproof. We have a site license for Symantec Corporate, so you'll have to find an anti-virus alternative. This is vital.



    Get XP SP2 and enable the firewall and automatic updates. SP2's firewall is sufficient for general use and shouldn't need supplement with third-part firewall software. Just get strict with the built-in firewall if you're nervous.



    It is really not a big deal to keep a PC clean. Don't believe the hype.



    The free indispensables:



    #1

    Mozilla Firefox - (Install AdBlock, Linky & All-In-One Gestures) (A good filter for AdBlock will make you a very happy web surfer.)



    If you must use IE, install Google Toolbar or Yahoo! Toolbar w/ Anti-Spy. I prefer Google Toolbar because the Y! toolbar has big ugly buttons that don't load as fast as Google's.



    #2:

    Spyware Blaster

    The most powerful protection against rogue ActiveX scripts and such.

    Update and enable protection every week or so.



    #3:

    Spybot Search & Destroy

    Update and immunize every month or so.



    #4:

    Ad-Aware

    Update and scan whenever you're feeling peckish.
  • Reply 9 of 16
    kickahakickaha Posts: 8,760member
    All that work to overcome a bad security model. Eek.
  • Reply 10 of 16
    dfilerdfiler Posts: 3,420member
    For the past week, our company's LAN was completely fubar.



    After nearly a week of a network completely saturated with traffic, we finally figured out what it was. A relatively rare windows worm was spreading itself around the network. The only sign of an infection was other computers not being able to print and an asgag.exe file at the root of C:. Arp requests up the wazoo will prevent less aggressive nics from communicating at all!



    A billion reinstalls, upgrades, and regedits later, we finally have our network back.



    Once you figure in lost productivity, Windows is the most expensive operating system available... at least for those as unlucky as us. We could have bought an extra computer for every single one of the infected systems for the cost of this worm incident.



    (Spybot, Norton, and AdAware were no use.)
  • Reply 11 of 16
    groveratgroverat Posts: 10,872member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Kickaha

    All that work to overcome a bad security model. Eek.



    I remember 1998... good times.
  • Reply 12 of 16
    spyware, adware, and viruses are not THAT bad if you're careful. what bugs me are people who download music (p2p), porn, every "free" screen saver possible, Snood, Webshots, open up e-mail attachments from strangers, blah blah blah and and wonder why their computer runs slow and can't believe anyone would ever be able to put a peice of software on their computer w/o them knowing. gee whiz you idiot, i wonder why. but then again, if they were smart enough to deal with this stuff i'd be out of a job.



    needless to say you don't sound like these people i'm referring to, so go get the PC
  • Reply 13 of 16
    a_greera_greer Posts: 4,594member
    If you have windows and broadband, get a NAT router and turn the firewall on, the router its self blocks most worms by nature and the firewall helps too
  • Reply 14 of 16
    groveratgroverat Posts: 10,872member
    Microsoft AntiSpyware has been released in free beta form.



    I hope they start shipping systems with this enabled. They need to roll it into Security Center along with an anti-virus program.
  • Reply 15 of 16
    dfilerdfiler Posts: 3,420member
    That's like shipping a toilet that spills shit everywhere... and then offering customers a floor-mop beta.
  • Reply 16 of 16
    cakecake Posts: 1,010member


    That's a good way of putting it.
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