Thread: Computer Virus Warning

Thanks Artur, I don't use Google chrome, have Avast on my compie for virussen, this virus programm works really well.
Working on line means that you get in your e-mail box, or with surfing on the internet, sometimes a message which is strange for you. I'm used not to open strange messages, but I remove them immediately from my compie.
All well in Brasil?
Best regards, Ad

the leading independent security product testing and certification organization, has examined six major browsers- Apple Safari, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer 7, Internet Explorer 8, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera against socially engineered Malware and published a report called ‘Web Browser Security - Socially Engineered Malware Protection’.
The report reveals that Internet Explorer 8 (RC1) is the safest one with a 69% catch rate against Malware. It was 30% in Mozilla Firefox (3.07), 24% in Apple Safari, 16% in Google Chrome (v1.0.1549) 5% in Opera v9.64, and 4% in Internet Explorer 7. (You can download the complete test result from here (pdf))
From this report you can clearly understand that presently Internet Explorer 8 is the safest browser that you can rely on. At the same time Internet Explorer 7 failed to perform a better result.

I use Firefox with the WOT plugin which warns if the site you are going to has a bad reputation.

I would recommend scanning with superantispyware - SUPERAntiSpyware.com | Remove Malware | Remove Spyware - AntiMalware, AntiSpyware, AntiAdware! - as it has probably installed Malware or a browser hijacker.

The headline about the report from NSS labs should actually read: Microsoft-sponsored reports find IE8 most secure browser

Microsoft-sponsored reports find IE8 most secure browser (Updated) - Ars Technica

Also note that it is only talking about 'socially engineered malware' - that means sites that try to trick you (the user) into providing information for bogus reasons - the test does not measure exploits (attack vectors that use weaknesses in the software itself).

If you want a really safe browser, run Firefox on Linux.

Originally Posted by Master Splinter

The headline about the report from NSS labs should actually read: Microsoft-sponsored reports find IE8 most secure browser

Microsoft-sponsored reports find IE8 most secure browser (Updated) - Ars Technica

Also note that it is only talking about 'socially engineered malware' - that means sites that try to trick you (the user) into providing information for bogus reasons - the test does not measure exploits (attack vectors that use weaknesses in the software itself).

If you want a really safe browser, run Firefox on Linux.

Point taken but nevertheless, we have to take some things on face value.

Originally Posted by munruben

the leading independent security product testing and certification organization, has examined six major browsers

And this "leading independent security product testing and certification organization" is...?

NSS Labs?

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

And this "leading independent security product testing and certification organization" is...?

NSS Labs?

I wouldn't know Skew, maybe in part some of it is. I was only quoting from an article that is out there at the moment for us to read and make up our own minds I guess. If folks are not concerned about security, the fastest browser at the moment is suppose to be Safari and is available for Windows now. Claims have been made that it is 3 or 4 times faster than Firefox but it lacks some of the features of Firefox and IE8 but for speed it is way ahead in my opinion but I only use it to go to sites I know to be secure but I have found that it is indeed much faster than Firefox and IE8 on the computers that I am running at the moment. I agree that we can take the results of some of these "tests" with a pinch of salt but unfortunately we have to take our lead from somewhere and if we believe only half of what we read then it gives us some general ideas on the subject.
In the end of course, we all have to make our own decision what we consider right for our own needs. Hoping that we make the right one.

I run AVG for anti virus, very good. Yesterday had a malware called "security tools". It ran in the windows security site.Very hard to get rid of, fortunately my neighbour is a computer guru and he fixed it by installing spybot anti-malware, scanned computer and fixed all systems then uninstalled spybot, rebooted pc and re-installed spybot. all good now.

I run Firefox under Ubuntu (Linux) with no problems at all. Unfortunately, because some of my software can't run under Linux I have to keep Micro$oft W7. As a result I bought a very good antivirus programme - PANDA Global Protection 2010. Stunning IMHO.

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Yes every time I fire up my Linux PC's I feel so glad that I don't have to run endless scans for virus's, spyware, malware, root kits, hijackers, key loggers, trojans, worms etc., etc., etc....

Because I hate Microsoft and I refuse to use their crap OS's and software anymore.

I am just SOOOOOOOO grateful for Linux and the people who help develop it and all the great software to go with it......

Hums a happy tune....

Sings along to ACE self built 330W guitar amp playing "The Passenger" by Iggy Pop.....

No make that Sabbath Bloody Sabbath...

No more Microsoft......... and their hackware......


How do you tell a Pro Microsoft Forum?

They all talk "Scan, Scan,Scan, Scan, Scan....."



I am just so glad that I DO NOT have to use Microsoft Software any more or ever again.

Ubuntu Linux - download the CD and try the "Live Version".......

And if you poor unfortunates like it, and absolutely must cling to the corporate brainwashing thing, do a dual boot.....

I am soooooooooooooooooooo happy!!!!!!! No more Microsoft... !!! Yes!

Yeah I guess any product that get 90+% market share must be complete crap.

Must make all those many millions of users complete morons I suppose.

In fact you sound like an expert on the subject so I guess I'd have to agree with everything you had to say.

But I have one question.

How did you find the time to post anything? I thought you be too busy scanning with like about 10 antivirals - one after another, just before going online to do the banking; you know like Jeehoover, in the first 6 days he scanned and on the 7th he went online in the HOPE that his system was uncorrupted enough to do online banking, without losing everything?

Ohhh Noooooo Outhouse Explorer has been hijacked, Outhouse Depress has been hacked from another dodgy email that I didn't scan 17 times, now they have my system under total control! - And goody with the DRM in Windoze 07 - I can't copy my CD's to my ipood....

Back to scanning I guess.... With Microsoft - one is more productive - perpetually scanning ones system for more bugs and Ohhhhh the disk wear... Oh gotta do another DSKCHK... all that cache thrashing wears them out so much faster.....

Arrgggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh you mean to tell me that the 4,999,227 Microsoft security patches don't do anything....... The firewall is worthless, and MS security suit simply wastes screen space.....

Oh no shock horror......

Oh well I'll leave you guys to do your system scanning, I have work to do.

Geeps sombody had a bad day didnt they. Viruses and the like are not caught by anything till its known. Now a new virus gets in and the first thing it does is nobble your virus scanner. So its luck of the draw. I started with Mcafee and a virus got through that. Then Norton and a Ebay scam got through and killed my hard drive. Then Trend. Managed to fix 3, (one got caught by a windows upgrade). So now I use 2 freebies Windows defender and AVG. Am I safe? I dont think so, at least Im not paying $100 for the pleasure.

Avast or AVG + Malwarebytes = free protection as good as anything else (other than some corp solutions).

Browser does not matter much, if you like high risk sites then NOT IE. popular = higher risk of exploits. (and if you think MS studies are accurate.....)
AV "testing" and much of the lab testing that goes on is not reliable and only an indication. Many tricks are used to get a higher than real world score. this would include triggering being at such a high level than you get many false alarms and blocking of normal files "just in case" the system gets hacked. In the real world, if your system is hacked your AV is gone, they have access to system level processes so can do what they want anyway. Spent quite some time chatting to one of the high level techs at one AV company and he couldn't supply any logic on why they do this. The ONLY reason is to fool testing

Your real risks come from the period between a new Virus and the AV being updated and stupid user behaviour. Of course the unpopular (but proper) firewalls give you one additional level of protection.