im using my computer everday. .
just wondering how safe is it? what are the security issues with windows?
are they reliable, even with other OS, eg linux? are they really realiable. Even with zonealarm pro. can u system be totally safe from intruders?
how safe is it to be on the net, in this decade?
Discuss
Hermit
Last edited by hermit; 05-06-2002 at 10:47 AM.
- - fUnKy F3m@le - -
>>how safe is it to go online in this decade?
Using Internet Explorer: Not incredibly.
Using Netscape (or anything else): Fairly.
Merely going online is rarely damaging to your computers health. Using e-mail programs like Outlook Express is the computer equivelant of walking around in a dynomite factory with a lit match.
"There's always another way"
-lightatdawn (lightatdawn.cprogramming.com)
yeah like the man says its e mails that pose the risk.
[edit : and attachments and little progs etc from sites such as this !!!!]
get the best anti-virus stuff you can and keep it up to date.
don't open any e mail attachments unless youre sure of the origin.
back up your entire harddrive once in a while or at least important stuff. its easy enough if you can copy to cd's. its worth the effort IMO.
i have a friend who lost all his data on his harddrive !! being on his address list i also had the offending e mail but he told me b4 i'd opened it. very close call.......
i wouldn't know if microsoft is more vunerable than linux and other OS's but i'd be interested in anyones comments.
people who write viruses should be hung up by the testicles until they die. and i'm not kidding.
at least they should be imprisoned and given hard labour until they pay for all the damage they do......
that guy who released the melissa virus (forgot the name is it melissa ???) cost about $50 million and has got 18 months i hear. he'll only do 6 months easy time. not enough. they need discouraging better than that...kill the bastards......
Last edited by stevey; 05-06-2002 at 01:16 PM.
Steve
>just wondering how safe is it?
About as secure as your car or your house. If someone wants to get in, he will. Nothing is 100% secure.
hth
-nv
She was so Blonde, she spent 20 minutes looking at the orange juice can because it said "Concentrate."
When in doubt, read the FAQ.
Then ask a smart question.
Your brain is your best defence.
If you have a brain, (a good one mind you) you don't need the latest in firewalls or antivirus programs.
That's my opinion, I'm sure not everyone would agree with it... but in my years of using computer(s) I haven't gotten a virus, lost any data or suffered any major damage (besides O/Cing my old Motherboard... that was stupid)
Stay off the warez (as much as possible), pr0n, and other websites where the virus concentration is usually high (cracks is another)
Also, don't give your email to companies (NONE)... unless its totally nessicary, simply put something like [email protected] unless you're signing up for a newsletter... or they need to mail you a password or technical support..
trouble is , have your friends got brains ???
the virus i mentioned in my post..
a friends little brother picked it up (from somewhere dodgy i think- hes crazy),
it then went to everyone on his address list inc his brother tim.
then it was sent to me, because i was on tims list.
and i can't remember what it said, but if it was from a friend why wouldn't i open it ?????
tim had disabled his anti-virus stuff temporarily cos it was annoying him or something so he'd not picked it up.
my Norton was very out of date cos ive been on the net for donkeys years and had grown complacent since i'd never had a virus. the out of date Norton did not pick it up and if i'd opened it, one week later - no data on the hard drive !!!!!
why do people write viruses ?? is it amusing ??
why are they not punished properly ??? i don't care if they are <18, so what ???
Steve
Virus writers should have all computers taken away from them and have a giant V stamped on their heads.
i agree.....
or have a elephant stamp on their head, even better.....
Steve
Now im not defending those who write malicious viruii, however let it be said that the true virii, not those stupid wipe yer drive types, but true virii are among the most advanced forms for programming... It is the tiger style to out shaolin..if you will, or not...
anyways, it is in this style that will come major advancements in artificial intelligence, neural networks and the like...
again... yer average script kiddie will not produce the first positronic brain, but the essance of the code will be intelligent mutations and linking.
But then again... people who write True virii, arent killing computers any more, arent getting caught for killing computers... so i guess yer right...
Malicious Virii Authors who intentionally loose thier creations upon the public show have all access to said public revoked...
fnord...
Thats a bit harsh you guys, geez.
flashdaddee.com rocks!!!
Were you expecting it? Normally, I'll ask a friend if i'm not expecting anything from him/her. Also, I don't check my email much, so the friend would normally warn me before sending.and i can't remember what it said, but if it was from a friend why wouldn't i open it ?????
i have friends from all over the country sending e mails. usually jokes, funnypics, jobs, all sorts. i dunno really what you mean by expecting one. thats like 'expecting' a letter. you don't expect them...Originally posted by Dual-Catfish
Were you expecting it? Normally, I'll ask a friend if i'm not expecting anything from him/her. Also, I don't check my email much, so the friend would normally warn me before sending.
anyway, i may need to be more careful. but look why should i be more careful ??? why is it necessary ?? so some weenie wanker can have a giggle ??
its annoying. if anyone thinks its harsh to say kill em, well i dunno.
i would certainly kick the **** out of any weenie who came to my house and deliberately wiped my hard drive. whats the difference if he did it by releasing a virus ?? only that i can't catch him.
how is that Melissa weenie ever going to pay the $50 million damages he's caused. if it was anything other than a computer virus, and you'd deliberately caused that much damage, you would be locked up big time. the laws soft on them.
Steve
Oh, well then I suppose thats a different story. Most friends from across the country I usually have on an IM, then they usually alert me.
Another thing to watch out for is the size of .exes
Generally speaking, anything over a few megs and you're pretty safe... as most of those lame viruses are a few hundred kilobytes.
yeah good point.
ive been lax as to what i open etc....
this virus i was on about started upsetting Word, then slowed stuff down somehow, and finally made such a mess over the course of a week or so, it was easier to wipe the drive and start again. but he was a young kid, dunno if it could have been dealt with better ??? i think he probably got it from a hacker/cracker site by downloading willy-nilly.
but its a problem when these things are sent to everybody's addressees etc......then they spread easy.
i'm gonna be far more careful but its annoying that we have to be, just to entertain some vandalous weenie !!!
Steve
missed out quite abit on the discussion.
Yup i guess nothing in this world is a 100% safe. Not even the banks. Everything evolves around risk.
No gain - no loose - i suppose.
About people writing virii , in my opinion, it might be one of those dudes from anti-virus company. you never know. that is where all the money is. ..
i dont see any point in writing virii, just plain dumb and stupid.
this lead to the next question, what anti-virus are you using at the moment. . ?
Im currently using kaspersky anti-virus. Recommended by good computing friend. Sorry to say i hate anti-virus, slow my comp by half
- - fUnKy F3m@le - -
