Avoiding viruses!

[BIGdkluver]

Any advice on how to avoid picking up hidden viruses while surfing for hot male porn on the Internet?

I accidentally picked up a couple the other day and had a heck of a time getting rid of them.

Are some sites well known for being infected with viruses? Some sites do look very cheap and crappy. Which ones should I avoid?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Industrialsize]

Get a MAC...........I've never had a virus and don't even have any virus protection software on my computer.

 

[StaffnRod]

The short take:
> Insure your Windows Firewall turned on
> Have an Antivirus installed and up to date (AVG free vers. works)
> Install free vers. software from Malwarebytes.org
> Unplug/disconnect from Inet - reboot - Scan with both above
> Reboot and only then Reconnect to Inet

Hope it helps alleviate the worst of Win problems lurking..
Staffy

 

[BIGdkluver]

Thanks to both of you for your advice! I appreciate it very much!

I have a PC rather than a MAC, but I do have a fire wall and the malewarebyte software.

Anyone else wish to comment?

 

[Stretch]

Get a MAC...........I've never had a virus and don't even have any virus protection software on my computer.

This

 

[StaffnRod]

Thanks to both of you for your advice! I appreciate it very much!

I have a PC rather than a MAC, but I do have a fire wall and the malewarebyte software.

Anyone else wish to comment?

Hmm, as you didn't mention the exact problems persisting.
> Assume you do have AV setup- if ?? Goggle 'AVG free'
> Realize free MWbytes requires manual updates ~every month
Try that and follow the remaining Reboot steps noted before

- If your looking for prevention while surfing- with IExplorer
> set your Inet Options > Security settings - Med. High
> Turn on a PopUp Blocker

Beyond that - can't help much more w/o an exact OPSys descript.

 

[ikerny]

I have had no viruses in over three years since getting Kaspersky Anti-virus. I couldn't stand Norton anymore slowing down my computer and delete the free version whenever I get a new computer. Whatever you have make sure it updates everyday. Good luck.

 

[JF]

If you have Firfox as your broswer, look at some of the add-ins which can help reduce the risk of virus infection. Add-ins such as NoScript help by stopping scripts on pages running automatically. You get to choose which scripts / sites are allowed to run, and can avoid those annoying re-directs to sites with pop-ups / malicious code.

NoScript does takea bit of tuning, as it defaults to blocking everything, but once you get used to it you can be sure of exactly what you are running, and you will be amazed at what you had previously been exposed to without knowing it.

You should also beware of what anti-virus companies term 'social engineering' - the process of simply persuading someone to run an infected file / link by either pretending it comes from a known contact or by promising access to free money / hot porn / whatever floats your boat. The best anti-virus program in the world can't protect against someone who blindly follows instructions that a 'friend' sends to them telling them to turn off their AV software just to get a glimpse of the latest celeb home video which has apperently been leaked on the net.

You play as much a part in protecting your system as does your AV software.

 

[bakardi420]

Second the Firefox adds-ons. Get WEBOFTRUST (top security add-on to find it quick) and it gives you a little green icon beside the address bar when sites are rated safe, orange when they are suspicious and red when the are untrustworthy(and weboftrust blocks red sites from loading unless you want to proceed). Just go to green sites and you'll be good. Get adblockplus add-on (top security add-on) to get rid of banners and ads. I use to wonder about these add-ons but I'll never look back now!

 

[willow78]

I third Firefox and Firefox add-ons. When I first got on the 'net, I used IE. It wasn't long before my PC started slowing down and I noticed my browser history listed pages I never even visited (herbal colon cleansing, "the truth is out there", etc). Plus being a 'noob' did me no favours. My biggest mistake was clicking on a pop-up that said "Viruses have been detected on your computer. Click here to install trial software to get rid of them." Eventually it got to the point where my desktop background disappeared, I couldn't change any settings and then one day it crashed altogether. After I did a full system restore, I switched to Firefox and I haven't had any serious problems. But learning to be cautious and learning from my previous mistakes helped.

With the porn video sites, I find it's the pop-ups that cause the most trouble. I just ignore them. If they pop-up OVER the picture and block the video, just leave the site. Don't click the pop-up to close it. I did that a few months ago and it just paralyzed my laptop. Luckily, going back to an earlier restore point fixed it, but other viruses aren't that easy to deal with.

I hope I don't seem patronizing. I notice you've been on LPSG since 2004 so you've been on the internet a lot longer than I have.

I use Trend Micro which has a green/red icon indicator similar to the one bakardi420 mentioned. Although I have found the Trend Micro toolbar can be a bit temperamental sometimes.

I'd definitely recommend Firefox, it has so many good add-ons for security (and entertainment), you have to install them from the Firefox website but they're all free. And the Tools, Options... menu settings are very helpful with adjusting settings for 'cookies' and security levels, pop-up blockers, etc.

Your own caution is always good. There are SO MANY free porn sites out there that if you aren't sure about the one you're on, just leave it. There are plenty of others to choose from.

 

[Equus14]

I use Norton Internet Securities, and I've never had a virus even though I would have had a great many without it. Norton caught them all.

I get the OEM version of the program and pay only about $20 for it yearly.
Worth it in my opinion.

And I have a fast computer so I don't mind that it's a little slower to keep it virus free.