How do people still get viruses..

[Nine Tailed Fox]

Been using this PC built on August 8, 2018  and only just got .pup's.

[minibois]

Some people are naive and download everything, click the "Trust this developer and give them admin privileges"-button on untrusted stuff, download stuff from non-official sources (I don't even mean piracy, just people downloading freeware not from the official website, but those download websites that Google suggests you).

There are also still people not running stuff like scriptblockers, that can leave you vulnerable on certain sites.

 

It has mostly to do with human error and less with the systems in place to block viruses and other crapware.

[DrMacintosh]

A lot of people don’t recognize the clues that we notice as red flags. It’s not too hard to grasp the idea that not everyone is a techie. 

[emosun]

Also has a lot to do with running constant updates and the latest software. Recent and latest versions of operating systems and software are targeted more than outdated ones.

 

You got dozens of programs on a single machine constantly streaming data in and out so it's very easy to hack a system like that. it's extremely difficult for a system that has no data transfers to get viruses

[TetraSky]

It's not so much "viruses" these days and more malware and the likes. Be it keyloggers, cryptolockers, etc etc... Usually with the intention to steal information from the target's PC. Because why would you ruin a computer... when you can both ruin it and make money by stealing their credit card info or identity.

 

From what I can guess, it's usually from infested ads/websites, outdated devices and social media, that people get infected the most lately. An adblocker is pretty much your first line of defense now a day, not just a tool to get rid of eye annoyances.

[Flying Sausages]

A wise man once says, " A condom for your computer a day, keep the virus and hacker away." 

[oeci]

Apparently people still believe that the web works differently than real world and lots of very nice people simply give away free meals. Or they inherit a few million bucks from a distant relative in Nigeria, or... Nothing can be done about that kind of stupidity, no matter how secure your OS/ software is.

[TempestCatto]

Old people will always exist. Therefore, a generation which does not comprehend something very new, especially to the tech world in general, will always be around. Before you know it, we will all be old ourselves. We will have a new tech in our homes, say walls that can change colour and slight shape just by thinking a command. We will never fully understand how it works and fuck it up a lot. We will rely on our younger offspring to aide us in using it. Some asshole will develop some kind of virus that treats your commands like a genie treats wishes (very literal). It will be hidden in some cool looking background which the wall can display. We will only see what we like, given how little we understand about it and not see certain red flags. We will then order it to be downloaded and installed and BAM. The cycle continues. It will never end, there will always be a piece of shit and a toilet for it to land in. It's up to the younger generation to flush it away when it happens.

[Roswell]

I always find it funny how many people think that only ignorant and uninformed people get malware, which in itself, is highly ignorant. It doesn't matter how tech savvy you think you are, you're not immune to malware simply because you think you know the warning signs.

 

A quote I made from a previous thread:

 

Quote

Infected ads, compromised commenting systems, hijacked web platforms (WordPress/Joomla), infected office files in professional settings and a multitude of other things are out of most users control.

 

Hell, how about the millions that got infected with Trojans when CCleaner's servers got hacked and they injected the official installers?

 

"Don't download sketchy stuff" is one of the more ignorant things that can be said about computer security.

 

[Tomsta]

1 hour ago, Nine Tailed Fox said:

Been using this PC built on August 8, 2018  and only just got .pup's.

Porn

 

Also never underestimate the stupidity of people

[TetraSky]

18 minutes ago, Tomsta said:

Porn

 

Also never underestimate the stupidity of people

Your porn comes in .exe format? That should be your first clue as to whether it's legit or not.

[Lurick]

6 minutes ago, TetraSky said:

Your porn comes in .exe format? That should be your first clue as to whether it's legit or not.

Lack of proper adblocker + clicking random porn links = drive-by downloads and attacks.

[Tomsta]

7 minutes ago, TetraSky said:

Your porn comes in .exe format? That should be your first clue as to whether it's legit or not.

One doesn't have to actually download porn, there are sites embedded with malware so the very act of going to a site exposes you to virus's

[TetraSky]

2 minutes ago, Lurick said:

Lack of proper adblocker + clicking random porn links = drive-by downloads and attacks.

Come now, anyone dumb enough to basically google random porn sites instead of going to the well known streaming sites... Kind of deserve it.

[Lurick]

Just now, TetraSky said:

Come now, anyone dumb enough to basically google random porn sites instead of going to the wellknown streaming sites... Kind of deserve it.

People no smart, they have the dumb

[Tomsta]

2 minutes ago, TetraSky said:

Come now, anyone dumb enough to basically google random porn sites instead of going to the well known streaming sites... Kind of deserve it.

Or said well known site doesn't have their kind of kink

[wasab]

Silly, you have viruses long ago, you just do not realize it. Your computer has been part of the botnet since the day you use a computer and webcam videos of you has already been sent to some hackers already. 

[RoseLuck462]

Lack of adblockers

[Arika]

7 hours ago, DrMacintosh said:

A lot of people don’t recognize the clues that we notice as red flags. It’s not too hard to grasp the idea that not everyone is a techie. 

i want to download a program.

 

chrome says this website is unsafe

• ignore, go to the website anyway

click one of the 5 differnet download buttons

• download .exe

doens't open, must be another link

• download .exe and repeat above

chrome says this file is dangerous and has quarantened it

• tell chrome not to quarantene it and redownload

run program, windows saying it's a bad idea

• fuck you windows i know what i'm doing, i want this program, install anyway

is virus, computer infected

• fucking windows, it's so vulnerable and full of viruses, i'm just going to get an Apple

 

[Dehaka]

is it possible to get a virus just because they know your ip? i get tons of block logs on my router, but i dont know if it's blocking all of them.

 

also i think most people get infected from visiting sites not downloading exe files? even for lots of normal sites im cautious.

[DrMacintosh]

29 minutes ago, Arika S said:

is virus, computer infected

Why are you so hostile to the idea that people can get a virus without actively going to look for one? 

[Mantabase]

7 hours ago, Nine Tailed Fox said:

Been using this PC built on August 8, 2018  and only just got .pup's.

I'll play devil's advocate and say - "As far as you know."

 

Depending on what you mean by "virus" you may have one and not know it yet.  But generally, Windows systems come more and more secure by default than they did 20 years ago.  Folks who get viruses are either ignoring warnings and avoiding safe practices, or are targeted.  Or just not lucky.  I do get intrusion attempts at work - because where I work.  But I don't call those viruses.

[Mantabase]

5 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

Why are you so hostile to the idea that people can get a virus without actively going to look for one? 

In this day and age, provided you are taking proper precautions, you almost do need to try and get one.  But it depends on the definition of virus you are using.  Just IME.

[DrMacintosh]

1 minute ago, Mantabase said:

In this day and age, provided you are taking proper precautions, you almost do need to try and get one.

And do you honestly believe that "proper precautions" are common knowledge to Edna from your Church? 

[Flying Sausages]

56 minutes ago, Dehaka said:

is it possible to get a virus just because they know your ip? i get tons of block logs on my router, but i dont know if it's blocking all of them.

 

also i think most people get infected from visiting sites not downloading exe files? even for lots of normal sites im cautious.

You got your private IP compromised bro. Better call your ISP to change the ip or get a new router or do something about it.

 

You can get hacked if bad guys already compromised your private IP. They can use your IP to do a lot of bad things, and you don't know till you check your router for logs and fed boys knocking on your door.