Yet another reason I refuse to use Social Media.
I laugh at malware. And laugh at malware removers.
Well, not really. Not even worth laughing at.
I use MSE only, and the Win 7 firewall.
MSE is fine for giving the needed warnings that make you pause.
As others have said, infection happens because of careless clicking.
But I'm only careful about running execs and downloadables that might execute.
Otherwise I'm entirely carefree about browsing, and go wherever I want.
Why am I carefree?
Because I can restore a clean system image in 5 minutes.
Imaging - it does the laughing at malware and malware removers for me.
That cracks me up. Anytime your computer is connected to the internet, malware can sneak in, no matter how careful you are or even if you don't have a browser open. Most malware nowadays is stealthy; they work quietly in the background so you have no clue they are there unless you have an AV looking for them or you discover your bank accounts have been drained. Sure you can restore a clean image in five minutes but that isn't going to do you any good once damage has been done.
Good explanation, LMiller7 !! This is so very true ...Malware authors know how anti-malware products (the enemy) work, can detect specific products, and know their strengths and weaknesses. Malware may attempt to disable known products and other tools used to detect their activities.and that's how they "slip past".
Did you know that MSE is an AV? If you don't think so, you can argue that with others.
As I said, I'm basically carefree about malware.
How many times have you been infected by "stealthy" malware?
The only "stealthy" malware that entered my machine since I began using an AV was when I "stupidly" clicked on an Adobe Flash player update that was a mimic. That was a browser hijack that wouldn't uninstall. Now I only go to the Adobe site for Flash updates.
A 5 minute image restore fixed it all - laugh and mock all you want to.
And talk about "stealth" all you want. Be paranoid all you want.
I repeat. The simplest protection against malware is a decent AV and system images, and caution about what you click.
The absolute fastest and best way to eradicate malware is restoring a good image.
If you're personal info gets stolen, or you suspect your PC is compromised in any way, are you going to putter around this forum looking for a fix that sometimes takes weeks, while your PC is still vulnerable, or restore an image in 5 minutes?
Of course you change your bank passwords if your PC gets compromised.
IF you keep your passwords on your PC.
No different than if you lose your wallet with bank card an PIN inside it, you'll have to take action.
So that's just a big red herring you threw out there.
By the way, I'm not a corporation or the DoD.
So I'm a pretty carefree guy about this once I take the basic precautions.
1. You can have a stealth infection in a backup and not even know it.
2. When one knows so much that they laugh at infections they are surly doomed.
*** To all those wonderful people who read our post around the world.
Their are governments and a huge number of companies trying to stop or block computer infection. They also try to catch the people creating and using these infection. These governments and companies don't do this because they can't find any thing else to spend time and money on.
They do it because serious bad things can happen if infections are not fought and fought hard. We all have to do our part to be as safe as we know how.
Security is not a laughing matter. The people who create these infection are not dumb. They steal billions and billions of dollars from people, countries, and companies all around the world.
P/S: Again to all those people who come to this Forum and enjoy reading our post please register and join us. Their are many good things you can enjoy as being a member. It is easy to do and it is Free.
I don't make infected images. The only images I make have been run for many months with no sign of infection.
Why do people come here? They know that their PC's are infected.
Or that their bank accounts have been mysteriously emptied by a keylogger.
Look, the best anybody can do to prevent infection is to use an AV and a firewall, and avoid careless clicking. I do, except I sometimes carelessly click.
Simply using MSE and the Win 7 firewall has worked 100% for me.
Others can pimp whatever product they like.
I don't get paranoid about infection, any more than I worry about meteor strikes.
If I get careless (easy if you're carefree) and click on something that causes infection, I just restore an image. Done, over, finito. Five minutes.
It's kind of funny seeing resistance to images in this sub-forum.
Since imaging is the best infection remover of them all.
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