I have a theory

Since I've stumbled upon this particular forum some months back, I've mainly lurked... posting a few times. I've noticed that several regulars have been worried about virus infections and that has me wondering. In all my years on the net, I've only been infected once and that was several years ago. I've downloaded my fair share of programs and surfed, more or less at will. Other than running a firewall, an updated anti-virus program and one spyware program (Ad-aware), I don't obsess over this issue. And in turn I'm not infected. My wife takes about the same number of precautions on her computer and in the past seven years she has never been infected ... period. She refuses to weigh herself down with more than one spyware program (Ad-aware).

So, what is the answer? I'm not sure. I know that both of us take "reasonable" precautions when opening email. Both of us run a scan once a week. Our anti-virus programs keep us updated daily in an automatic fashion. We both use Firefox/Thunderbird (latest versions). In my case I have my cookies cleared (but retain my "exceptions ") after each closing of my browser. And that's it.

Is it possible that the more one obsesses with this stuff... the more spyware programs he loads onto his computer... the more likely he/she is to believe himself to be infected? In fact, I sometimes wonder if some "want" to be infected just so that they have something to talk about and something to give their many anti-this and anti-that programs an opportunity to do their stuff!

That's my theory for today.

 

Most of the major issues we see these days tend to be spyware/malware rather than classic virus infections - at least from folks who run up-to-date AV software.

Spyware typically gets on your system from web sites you visit (or from sites that are silently linked to sites you visit) and most AV software is not designed to even notice spyware.

The non-IE browsers tend to get hit lots less. I think they may have more secure default install settings and I know that the majority of spyware is targeted towards IE so you would tend to see less because of that.

The main issue for most of the IE users who come here after being eaten alive is that their browser settings are for 'fun surfing' rather than for security. Many don't even know how to harden the browser and others dislike the sites that simply don't work with high security.

My guess is that you aren't having problems because you take reasonable precautions (no Kazaa, **** sites, etc.) and because of the browser you use.

 

Hi James,

I second Newt, it's the Browser.

We've had a discussion on this issue - about firewalls, and the firewall is the least likely defense to be breached. And per Newt, viruses are less likely now than spyware/adware that changes system behavior to the detriment of the user.

Should add, those that are obsessed, to use your phrase, and find adware/spyware on their systems, for whatever reason, don't pay attention to their Browser's options and security.

Regards - Charles