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Have You Ever Been Infected?


Only once when I got a rogue AV.

Though today I went to Ponyarchive because I heard it got taken down and wanted to see for myself and the site decided to redirect me to gay porn, so that might have put something on my system, though I'd have to do a virus scan to be sure.
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Is it even possible for websites to just download stuff onto your computer without your consent (other than cookies, filling your cache etc)?

But uh yeah believe it or not, these shock sites rarely if ever actually harm your pc other than maybe not letting you close them, as most of them are made so people spread them around, and nobody would spread a virus willingly.
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Originally posted by leod
Is it even possible for websites to just download stuff onto your computer without your consent (other than cookies, filling your cache etc)?

Yes, it is.

(Don't worry, all of those are either trojans or browser bugs, and browser bugs are pretty rare.)
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My worst infection was definitely SecurityTool, which installed itself on my machine just 3 days before Christmas of 2009. The sucker locked me out of pretty much everything on my computer by claiming it was infected. We had to take it into a PC repair shop and spend hundreds of dollars to get rid of it. Due to the Christmas holiday, the computer was in that shop for 6 days.

A couple months later, I got infected with XP Internet Security 2010 while browsing deviantART. Thankfully, we were able to get rid of that with a System Restore from Safe Mode. After staying away from dA for about a month, I decided to switch from Internet Explorer to Firefox with AdBlock Plus. I later installed NoScript as well. It'd be well over a year before I'd get infected again.

The third infection came when I switched computers after my hard drive crashed. The computer I was given was pretty old and didn't have Firefox on it, forcing me to use Internet Explorer again. Since there's nothing on IE that can block ads or selectively block scripts, I got infected with MalwareProtection while browsing Know Your Meme. After cleaning that up with a System Restore from Safe Mode, I downloaded an older version of Firefox since the newest version probably wouldn't run well on that machine.

That computer broke during my last move, so I'm now using a laptop which, thankfully, already had Firefox installed when I got it. I installed NoScript after getting a message asking me to switch to an older version of Java to run some script. This computer doesn't have any antivirus software.

Protip: Don't use Internet Explorer.
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Of course, as an ex-Windows user, I got the occasional issue, between running cracks back in the day and my father's ignorance.

Heck, one time I faffed up the uninstall of Norton Antivirus, and iot ate up files in the computer it needed. T'was an "OMFG" moment indeed.

Not boasting about using Linux (It's easier with what's available today, but still kinda hard), but since I've stuck with Ubuntu, I've been having less issues about the system, and the fact I can freely format and reinstall at will is nice to have when I've done something to mess my system to the point of no return.

Once I update to Ubuntu 12.04, I'm staying there. I dislike the 6-month update cycle and LTS releases fill in the niche of noob who wants a stable system. :P

Gamma V: There are indeed ways you can block ads and close off vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer, both within the program and within reliable third-party utilities (like Spybot S&D for example).

In fact, IE's had addons (BHO's) since 1994. It's user ignorance that is the key issue. That and lack of educated users. I use to believe the problem with Windows was Internet Explorer, but it was more so the user was the problem.

Now if I had to pick, I would say to use Firefox as Mozilla supports open-source and the browser has an add-on system built-in, instead of being totally reliant on Windows installers. That's the crux of Firefox, the add-on system being separated from the Windows installation.

Same with Chrome, but it appears they've got tie-ins with the developers of Angry Birds as I've seen an ad that claims you can download Chrome with Angry Birds pre-installed/pre-configured. Sickening, IMO, bur if you really, truly LOVE that game to pieces, then get Chrome.
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Originally posted by Player 1
Of course, as an ex-Windows user, I got the occasional issue, between running cracks back in the day and my father's ignorance.

Heck, one time I faffed up the uninstall of Norton Antivirus, and iot ate up files in the computer it needed. T'was an "OMFG" moment indeed.

Not boasting about using Linux (It's easier with what's available today, but still kinda hard), but since I've stuck with Ubuntu, I've been having less issues about the system, and the fact I can freely format and reinstall at will is nice to have when I've done something to mess my system to the point of no return.

Once I update to Ubuntu 12.04, I'm staying there. I dislike the 6-month update cycle and LTS releases fill in the niche of noob who wants a stable system. :P

Gamma V: There are indeed ways you can block ads and close off vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer, both within the program and within reliable third-party utilities (like Spybot S&D for example).

In fact, IE's had addons (BHO's) since 1994. It's user ignorance that is the key issue. That and lack of educated users. I use to believe the problem with Windows was Internet Explorer, but it was more so the user was the problem.

Now if I had to pick, I would say to use Firefox as Mozilla supports open-source and the browser has an add-on system built-in, instead of being totally reliant on Windows installers. That's the crux of Firefox, the add-on system being separated from the Windows installation.

Same with Chrome, but it appears they've got tie-ins with the developers of Angry Birds as I've seen an ad that claims you can download Chrome with Angry Birds pre-installed/pre-configured. Sickening, IMO, bur if you really, truly LOVE that game to pieces, then get Chrome.


IE had BHOs in 96/97 with IE 3.

Anyways, I prefer running LTS Ubuntu, but may switch to Debian stable. Far faster and more minimal.
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Few days back, on our old laptop, antivirus wasn't in use for one day. >.> So, when my sister went and downloaded some stupid games, the computer was filled with totally at least 35 Zwangi-p, Zwangi-w, Zango-AH, Zango, PUP-gen and Hotbar-BE viruses. |-O
I've had one virus in particular that always seems to make its way to any computer I happen to frequently use. Virtumonde. This annoying little thing downloads other trojans to essentially wreak havoc on the infected computer, but for some reason the downloaded trojans go away every time the infected comp is booted. Due to the nature of this virus, it is actually irrelevant if you're not connected to the internet.
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A collection of really tiny infections happened over the past year or so. By the time I found out what had happened, my hard-drive had been damaged. I can run it, but it crashes exactly ten hours after startup.

I bought avast! Internet Secure last August and have not had an infection since. Best $20 I spent.
I just got a really huge virus on my laptop which doesn't allow me to play any online games. However, I used Anti-Virus (which I often forget to activitate >_>) and it deleted it, which made my laptop being completly clean from any infections. :)
Oh boy, I still remember the Bagle Virus, the possibly worst virus EVER, reduces net speed, PC speed, disables Anti-Virus and kills Safe Mode.

I removed the virus doing A LOT of steps without Anti-Virus, I did it but my PC was never the same...
I don't believe I've ever caught a virus. I think my parents have at some point, but not me.
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Same as the above post. I never really had one technically since the only time was long ago when we all shared one computer. My step brother and my parents would look up what god-knows-what and would click random links.

Yeah, that was so long ago. That was about like, what, 8 or 9 years ago? I don't really remember because it has been too long ago.

I hardly click any link or go to any site I personally don't know. Which makes it hard to look up certain things. I guess I am pretty cautious when it comes to things like this. It is not that I am worried but I don't find the need to. So why bother? However, lately only one thing tends to make me explore.

I actually had my first virus (or whatever it was) about a month and a half ago. It looked like this, in case anyone cares. The text basically says that I need to buy some security update for my computer, as there are (supposedly) too many viruses on it.

The funny thing about that virus was, that it only ever showed up when I had my internet connection enabled, and not instantly, but after a seemingly random amount of time. After it showed up, though, there wasn't anything else I could do but shut down my computer manually. It's also amazing how Avira AntiVir was apparently unable to find the virus when I let it search for it (it found some other files that weren't actually viruses, though), although, according to the internet, it's already been around for quite some time now.
I could, however, still use my computer normally and with enabled internet connection in safe mode, so it wasn't a very hard task to just download some other anti-virus software (which happened to be Malwarebytes Anti-Malware), which then proceeded to find and delete the virus.

I can honestly say that I still have no idea where I got this virus from, though.
Originally posted by Octopus
I actually had my first virus (or whatever it was) about a month and a half ago. It looked like this, in case anyone cares. The text basically says that I need to buy some security update for my computer, as there are (supposedly) too many viruses on it.

The funny thing about that virus was, that it only ever showed up when
I can honestly say that I still have no idea where I got this virus from, though.



Thing was you had fell right into a trap of a fake antivirus gimmick scam.
Here is a tip for you, anything scanning 2 hdds and a cd-rom with windows xp theme, should be too easily give it away.
Plus note, what your my computer icons really have and drive letter association.

If it ever does that again, start task manager and end your browsers processes, that will stop it from proceeding and actually bringin in crap you don't need.

Malware bytes free edition or trialware will automatically scan your pc and certain ports to be sure of what you stumbled across is real or not.

If your not much for mssessentials, use avast for the time being as your antivirus system.
Works great if not better than the current version of mssentials.




Time to jump in here. Anyone who says they've never been infected is a damn liar or do not know of what qualifies as a virus. I remember reading a statistic once that 80% of PCs in the US will contract at least one virus once in their lifetime. Dangerous or not. Viruses range from anything from full blown trojans to spyware and tracker cookies. On my old laptop, I learned just how dangerous the LPing industry could get. A user sent me an exe claiming it was a Mario builder level they wanted me to LP. I opened it foolishly and was greeted with a screen reading 'THANK YOU FOR DOWNLOADING THIS TROJAN'. I panicked as all sorts of files started crowding my laptop. Over the next few months, my laptop began slowly dying till it eventually refused to boot up. I went about a month on the Wii until I got this netbook.

Needless to say I haven't had anything quite as fatal and have known how to deal with things potentially troublesome. I am very careful about where I visit and what I download. Even so I've still detected hundreds of tracker cookies and a couple of spywares which I've had to get rid of.

I've been running the free version of MalwareBytes ever since I decided Norton could suck my nads and have greatly considered investing in the full version seeing as it's been so useful to me.
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^ I agree with most of what you've posted up, but anyone could accidently get a virus or infecttion through different means.
If you just so happen to get a new part for your pc and use the disk from the manufacturers.

Sometimes they may some viruses on it by accident when not paying attention to their tech lab and what they burn into the dvd disc.

Malwarebytes is quite good yes, but remember it won't be able to bring down the most toughest virus-malware infections you'll see soon later on.

This belongs to a old friend and partner of mine on another forum he use to visit.

http://www.spyware-asylum.com/
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/types-computer-viruses-watch/
Very informative and detailed and begins to talk about infections that will rootkit itself deep inside your pc making it hard to get rid of without bad consequences to come afterwords.

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/types-computer-viruses-watch/
These here are sample of what you people may face if you ever get infected with something you put on your pc or by some other means.

The ones toughest I have dealt with was the retro-virus in 2010, but this one had a very nasty malware program directed at windows xp-7 os and was meant to completely strip the of\s of all security and protections.
Not even a regular antirus will do at times. :\

There are a "few poeple" on here that I know can avoid being infected. and they wouldn't have to blink twice without touching it or looking in that direction.




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Anyone who says they've never been infected is a damn liar or do not know of what qualifies as a virus.

Do not assume the more cautious crowd is lying. We just are lucky and/or quite protective about where we go and what we do.


I think most of my reason for avoiding is because I am highly suspicious of any and all links someone I don't know sends and I don't go to random sites (even links I get from trusted friends are researched if I don't know it too well). Sure there's a chance that out of the trusted websites, one may get hacked where they do give viruses but it hasn't happened for me.

I never fell for any email scam, those are very easy for me to detect. So yeah, I guess my cautious nature at times shows up. At least when it comes to my computer's safety. I don't have much of a cautious nature but I do try to give it a big thought before doing any action.

I do the same with my programming but I will admit I am no pro security guy in that aspect. I have friends and people I know who are somewhat, heh. So if in doubt, ask around. It never hurts and maybe it will slow you down but taking things slowly will allow you to avoid fatal mistakes with your computer.

I once had the "BKA Virus". Its a Virus from Germany. Everytime when I login on my Computer, a Pop up shows up which cant be closen and it says:

This is the police! Your Computer is full of Child Porn, bestiality, Violence Videos/Pics and plans of a terrorism attack and pirate copys....Pay 100 Bucks with Ukash. Heh!

I got this when I was looking for a new Wallpaper...
Originally posted by MikeXP-Technology-solutions
Malwarebytes is quite good yes, but remember it won't be able to bring down the most toughest virus-malware infections you'll see soon later on.


I've never had to deal with any malware on that level, but I've had Malwarebytes not finish the job on a few instances (when I was removing some malware from dad's computer).
Plenty of malware (usually the fake AVs) can sometimes prevent you from running it at all. Though, there was a recent update for Malwarebytes that added a sort of "Stealth Mode" (I think it was called "Chameleon") that would allow it to get around program-blocking malware.