Internet security issues

[johncrobinson]

AVG is one of the better anti virus products.
Many others are also excellent but AVG is and has been for a long time one of the leaders.

Viruses are only one type of malware.These days Browsers are a primary target.
There is now not so much interest in corrupting systems as there is in examining files and data.So many users are unaware that the computer is "leaking".

It used to be said "Knowledge is power" nowadays its Money as well.!!

 

[hedgerowpete]

Wonder if it's anything to do with Windows stopping support for Windows 7 from Monday 14th ??
Do you run using Windows 7 ??

https://venturebeat.com/2020/01/14/microsoft-ends-support-for-windows-7-what-you-need-to-know/

no, ten unfortunutly

 

[Chippy_Tea]

AVG is one of the better anti virus products.

AVG is now owned by the owners of Avast antivirus fortunately Avast is one of the best free antivirus progs you can use, i prefer AVG as its a bit more user friendly (just my view)

 

[Druncan]

I just wondered. Do you need antivirus on Android and Linux based distros?

 

[Chippy_Tea]

He is using Windows 10 so I assumed he was using a PC or laptop.

I don't use antivirus on my android phone and never have.

 

[hedgerowpete]

He is using Windows 10 so I assumed he was using a PC or laptop.

I don't use antivirus on my android phone and never have.

its a lappy, and i am old school so not ableto do even crude techno stuff like linus

 

[Dutto]

I use a MacBook Air, Safari as a Browser and have MacKeeper installed. I also clear out ALL of my Cookies on a regular about once per day.

I only accept Cookies from sites that I visit and I clear them out on the basis that NONE OF THEM are left on the machine for MY benefit!

With my email provider (AOL) I also get the chance to block and throw out anything that contains certain words so every time I get a dodgy or unwanted email I not only delete it, I block the Sender and the Subject.

Like many diseases, computer viruses and spam emails are better prevented than cured.

 

[johncrobinson]

Linux is a much tougher nut to crack Generally than windows
There are a quite a few reasons for this which are a bit long winded to go into.

Generally no you do not use virus checkers with linux,Except as a curtisy to windows users,who you might be communicating with via emails ect.
You can still spread em even if you dont get em.!!!!

Linux is developed by a community that are generally utterly fanatical about security.
This focus on security renders it less user friendly than windows and limits its use with the general public
There is also no financial "comeback" in the event of things going wrong again this limits corporate use.
About 10yrs ago I developed my own "version" of Linux (Quite a few hardcore folk do this ) for my own personal use.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I have tried different versions of Linux and found it too much like hard work.

 

[johncrobinson]

Indeed it can be chippy.
Many Linux enthusiasts are obsessivly keen to promote the benifits (A bit like another subject beginning with B)
and try to develop linux into a sort of windows clone.(there are hundreds of variants now)
When in fact its the "all grain" equivelent in homebrew.Real nuts "n" Bolts stuff.

I tend to take a more horses for courses approach.
I installed it for a conspiricy theory friend, He loved it as he thought the new world order could no longer scupper him with viruses and spyware.
He has now passed away.(cancer)
He left me his laptop (the one i am typing this on ) The first thing i did was install win 10.

I do use linux but more for scientific purposes.

 

[kelper]

All antivirus companies will say the same. To get the best AV you need to look at quality reviews. VirusBulletin is independent and not reliant on advertisers.

https://www.virusbulletin.com/testing/results/latest/vb100-antimalware

I think the reviews in PC magazine are very well written. https://uk.pcmag.com/antivirus/8141/the-best-antivirus-protection

 

[ElvisIsBeer]

Since switching to Linux, DuckDuckGo & ProtonMail, I'm finding things 'quieter'.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I don't think we have much to worry about as long as we keep our PC's and laptops up to date and don't visit dodgy sites, I am more concerned about our phones that are snooping on us all the time they are on and few seem to care about theirs doing the same.

 

[johncrobinson]

Yes chippy.Back in the day when we still used floppy disks to install software some were infected with viruses designed simply to cause havok and damage,Probs written by some nutter sitting in his underpants in a darkened basement.The motive being devilment pure and simple.
Randsome ware is the modern incarnation of this type of attack but is quite rare.

Today I think the focus is much more on infiltration in order to collect info about the user and there preferences so they can be targeted for marketing/political purposes.This obviously cannot be done by trashing the targets system.
It relies on the user being totaly unaware.And as such is likely to be far more widespread than most of us think.
Its a bit like cctv some people take exeption to been "monitored" others are perfectly happy about it.

The same will apply to smartphones which are really just handheld computers.

 

[Leon103]

I need to upgrade my computer from Windows 7 to Windows 10. What a faff.

 

[MmmmCitra]

I need to upgrade my computer from Windows 7 to Windows 10. What a faff.

Not sure if you 'need' to, although not supported any more if you have a good firewall and anti virus and make sure any site you visit has the padlock symbol on the search bar you'll be ok, it's probably a Windows scare to make everyone buy their stuff.......

 

[Leon103]

Not sure if you 'need' to, although not supported any more if you have a good firewall and anti virus and make sure any site you visit has the padlock symbol on the search bar you'll be ok, it's probably a Windows scare to make everyone buy their stuff.......

No don't need to and most 'security experts'are saying you should upgrade.

 

[johncrobinson]

It all depends what you use it for.

I have a few old win xp machines,Dont have a issue as no one today is still trying to corrupt an operating system that went obsolete 12 years ago.