Question about security

How safe/unsafe is it to download stuff that people post on here? Will a simple virus scan detect fraudulent software?

I tend to trust respected members but for others Im always scared to download stuff.

Your AV software should catch any crap, but, if your AV software is shit, it won't.

Another thing is backdoors to the scripts, which you have to search for, and post about, when you find them.

For the most part you are not DLing software from here, but from the RSs, you send it, and the other file sharing sites. Remember these are usually uploaded by other people, and, as such, can not be controlled by anyone from this forum.

Unless you DL it form a members site, so you know who to blame, be very leery about all software you follow the link to DL from anywhere.

I'd say its as safe/unsafe as downloading stuff people post online anywhere.

Seriously, I trust nobody equally regardless of what site I'm on. Make sure you have a good firewall to detect any wares that might sneak in and try "phoning home" to their creators.

And absolutely have a good antivirus software running that you update the virus definitions at least once per day for.

Its also smart to check for updates to your firewall regularly too if it doesn't auto-check on its own.

And even more important than all of that in my opinion, make backups often for any important information and files; and if you run Wind0ws make regular restore points for your system.

CD's/DVD's are pretty cheap these days so there's really no reason to not run regular backups of important stuff. I was doing this until recently and it would take me 2 DVD's per weekly backup, so that's just $30 per year.

Now, I have 2 80GB externals that I grabbed off ebay and run a constant live mirror for both my internal hard drives to those, but I still create disk based backups on a monthly basis just to be truly safe.

Not safely guarantee to download any software. Last month I download Antivirus software here but there are vicious virus. I have to bring my computer to the comp expert and it cost me $200.

Just be careful with deadly computer virus and 'dark snake' that ready to attack
the prey. :chairshot

Why not just run any programs you get in sandboxie (it's a program for windoze). It's sets up a separate environment that shields the rest of your computer. Or if you're more technical use VMware.

afterlife

Always run a good antivirus but if there is something wrong with a DL someone will catch it and post about it quick. We're all paranoid here.

You can always just upload everything to Jotti.org

They scan your files with 20 different top name anti-virus scanners, and then display the results in a table. This can help you decide if your AV is missing something, or perhaps reporting a false positive.

I have been pretty fortunate with my downloads that have been posted here. One thing I go by is who is posting the download and are they a newer member or trusted long time member.

Also thanks for the jotti.org, I did'nt know about that!

What firewall do you all use/recommend for XP pro? I have tried a couple but they seem to really slow down my connection speed and sometimes won't let me online unless I disable them.

engine102 said:

What firewall do you all use/recommend for XP pro? I have tried a couple but they seem to really slow down my connection speed and sometimes won't let me online unless I disable them.

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A lot of people have had good success with the free version of Zone Alarm, including myself. I recommend Agnitum Outpost Pro, or Look 'n' Stop.

Zone Alarm calls home, whether it's free or paid or whatever. Yes it does check for updates, so it calls home. But even if you set it not to check for automatic updates, it still calls home and sends some encrypted data.

If you want a quality firewall, try Comodo. It's free. And it can be setup for alerts for all outgoing connections. It's not for the technically faint of heart. It's at the same level of Agnitum Outpost Pro as mentioned by Essential Clix.

afterlife

Virus scans work most of the time, but not 100%. It would be easy to write your own program that deletes your entire hard drive (like 2 lines of code), or whatever, that is not detected by any current virus scan.. virus scans mostly protect against more well-known viruses/trojans

Essential Clix said:

A lot of people have had good success with the free version of Zone Alarm, including myself. I recommend Agnitum Outpost Pro, or Look 'n' Stop.

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I have been using zone alarm free version, I like it other than it does lock up my connection every so often for no reason. I have to reboot to get it back. It's weird because there is no one thing that triggers it to keep locking up.

Thanks for the recommendations, I'll check them out too.

1. get a mac.

2. get linux.