Seven easy steps to keep viruses from your devices

Biased article... for example

An alternative is to run a Linux operating system or Apple’s OSX.
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Er... not everyone can afford a Mac... And using a crappy/weak password won't help either with Linux.
 
The first tip is probably the last thing anyone will consider:

1.) Use a more secure operating system. Computer viruses often target Windows computers because so many more run on a Windows operating system. An alternative is to run a Linux operating system or Apple’s OSX.
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In all the years I've been on Windows I've never once had a virus with just free antivirus & malware software running.
6.) Be careful when opening graphics or media files. Although graphics and media files themselves are not viruses, it is possible for a virus to be disguised as a graphic or media file by assuming a false extension, such as .jpg. Opening files like this allows the virus to infect the device.
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How does one 'be careful'? If the av hasn't picked it up as a virus there's no way to 'be careful' about it.

But yeah - sharing drives is where most people get their viruses from. Dude gave me a hdd a few weeks back asking for some stuff to be copied on - there were about 50 random .exe files on there and my av went nuts. Other than that - I've never had virus issues. Not sure what ****ty websites people browse that they pick up so much crap.
 
People stil believe the OS/X fallacy that it is immune to viruses/malware. I have seen Macs that are littered with malware and are almost unusable due to malware.
 
But yeah - sharing drives is where most people get their viruses from
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This...

And people get offended when I say to them... Uh, okay but before I use your flash drive, let's plug it into my Linux box here so I can see what is on there... If I see those hidden .BAT files, and exe files, I give it back, or if they consent, I format it...
 
What an utterly inane and self defeating article

So the first, and therefore presumably the most important step, is to replace the Windows OS with something else, but the article then quite specifically caters for Windows users in the following steps. Also, the average user who doesn't know how to take care when using email/internet, doesn't even know what an operating system really is...
 
Electron1 said:
People stil believe the OS/X fallacy that it is immune to viruses/malware. I have seen Macs that are littered with malware and are almost unusable due to malware.
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True, I always understood it as both has viruses but to due to the vast majority of Windows users, your less likely to encounter a virus on a Linux system and more likely to get it on your windows system.
 
Thor187 said:
True, I always understood it as both has viruses but to due to the vast majority of Windows users, your less likely to encounter a virus on a Linux system and more likely to get it on your windows system.
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Well it's not just about actually getting the virus which is easily explained by the market share and target argument.

But in general it would be much harder for a little virus or unsolicited application to do real damage to a *nix based OS by the pure nature of design and things being more self-contained.

It is less and less true with newer versions of Windows especially with things like UAC.

Problem is the idiot was gullible enough to believe the porn would be free then he is gullible enough to give full administrative privileges or sudo access to the odd looking program that just popped up.

The most secure system in the world is only as good as the lowest common denominator who has access to it.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Well it's not just about actually getting the virus which is easily explained by the market share and target argument.

But in general it would be much harder for a little virus or unsolicited application to do real damage to a *nix based OS by the pure nature of design and things being more self-contained.

It is less and less true with newer versions of Windows especially with things like UAC.

Problem is the idiot was gullible enough to believe the porn would be free then he is gullible enough to give full administrative privileges or sudo access to the odd looking program that just popped up.

The most secure system in the world is only as good as the lowest common denominator who has access to it.
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Fully fully fully agree with that!!

Best antivirus = common sense
 
Thor187 said:
........

Best antivirus = common sense
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+100000000

I have been in the "IT industry" since 1993 and have never been infected. I'm currently using windows defender on all my pc's and it works just fine.

My 7 steps

1. Don't browse and or download pron
2. Don't open any attachments from unknown people. That is if the AV did not remove it already. Just delete it. Also be careful when clicking on some unsubscribe buttons.
3. Don't download exe, bat or com files(among others) from p2p sites. Chances are, its a crack version of something and contains malware. Even some "legit" sites could be spoofed, be careful.
4. Some people hide exe's in word docs for example. Delete the doc
5. Trust your free AV's advise, even if it could be a false positive. Delete the said file and get it from somewhere else if you really need it.
6. Don't be a gullible person. Question everything
7. Don't browse and or download pron
 
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