Which of the following things have you done?

NVM, I'll take the anonymous to heart.

 

There is a NONE of the Above...how about ALL OF THE ABOVE??

 

Except for the occasional signing on to a wireless connection without encryption have not done any of the above, but my adult children do many of the above constantly, even though I have warned them. My son has wireless set up in his house with no encryption.
I can logon to several of my neighbors wireless with no difficulty. One of them had her system set up by a "professional" who did not set up the encryption. After I told her I could access her wireless, she had him come back and do it correctly.
Every time my daughter gets a new laptop to use for work she forgets her own wireless password and has access to at least 3 of her neighbors routers.
One problem is that many people with computers have no idea of what to do and are afraid to change anything for fear of what will happen.

 

Amongst others I selected used cracked software...

I'll defend myself on that, the software I cracked myself (it was a lot easier in the 80's/90's). The reason I cracked it was because it was too much of a PITA to dig out manuals and type in word 7 from paragraph 4 on page 26. I never released these cracks to anyone but this type of protection implies guilty until proven innocent, current software validation implies the same.

It's no surprise I prefer GNU OS's and software. I can see the big guns problems but they can't assume their users are pirates unless they (users) prove (with sometimes buggy software) that they're not.

 

If you travel frequently (like RVers do) and take your laptop along, there's often no option but to log on to an unencrypted hot spot, is there?

 

have done all of the above at some point and sometimes learned the hard way but is nt that how we learn best how not to do it and how best to mend our computers not being as sarcastic as i sound just honest

 

On the Net w/o anti-virus. So many programs require you to disable it to install and then go to their web site to register/finish/update that how can you avoid it? I also had a problem with my anti-virus and their support tech required it disabled as part of their online help. I'm not counting any of this because it's a rare exception.
Used unknown wifi access? No but with my new phone there is a big possibility in the future.
Adult sites? Surely everyone knows the viral risks there. Here's a couple more tips: NEVER on anyone elses machine especially your employers. Never on your own PC if you have family or friends who seeing it would embarrass or a spouse that would throw something at you (or even be deeply hurt but say nothing). Lastly, if you absolutely have to, restrict it to one or two sites you trust and even then use Firefox running the noscript add-on. You would be amazed how many sites are actually accessed just from one page. I count about sixteen just on this page (ads and cookie stuff).
Add-ons from facebook? Those things bore me so much I was really happy to discover that you can hide these now without hiding friend that is using it.
Opening email from unknown senders? Of course not!!! But don't forget those KNOWN senders that have that annoying habit of forwarding them all to you anyway.
Programs to clean up your PC? I used a registry cleaner once that cleaned out so much the MS Office considered itself no longer registered and would not let me re-register it with the key I had! That was a pain until I got 2007.
Illegal media downloads. Never but I have successfully tried ripping streaming media. I wouldn't consider that a malware risk and since I never shared the results I'd consider the legal risks pretty small.

 

I'm too paranoid to do these things

I'm too paranoid to do these things. You should have added to the poll, "Do you allow other people to use your computer?" I don't do that either.

The one time that a computer of mine got infected, almost a decade ago, I let someone use my computer.

If they have web mail I will navigate to it, they then input their user name and password. I stay in the room with them while they read their mail and answer their mail.

They are not allowed to click on links.

Almost all of my friends have email on their mobiles, so I don't really have a problem.

Some rare event of a relative is usually it.

Computers, wife, fountain pens, and bicycles are not to be shared.

 

Been there, done that.

 

Temptation is the sincerest form of flattery.

SaintSatinStain would lend his dog? For shame!

 

I visit that site just to READ the articles!

 

I am one of the fortunate people to have found this site years ago and because of it I am glad to say that I have not done "most" of what was listed on the poll.

Because of this site, I have installed all that is recommended by you smart guys/gals and most of the time before I am tempted to do something stupid, I will search the forums for opinions on what I am tempted to do.

This site is my bible. Thanks to everyone who contributes!

 

Installing anti-malware program

Why would installing a program to clean up malware be considered risky.
If you're referring to the pop-up ads that offer to clean up malware, that's different, but that's not what the question was.

Bobbie2836

 

Wel put! I too visit this site daily for my own education on what's new and what problems others have and the resolution to them.
My hat is off to the guys/gals that keep us safe!