Can i virus spread like this?

[Auron586]

Hi, recently my two sisters got computers and have a habit of going to random websites or clicking adverts/downloads.

my question is, if one of them got a virus or some kind of malware could it spread to my computer or others on the setup we have?

okay, none of the computers have file sharing or anything like that, although all are connected to the same router (they have wireless, im using wired)

Again none are networked exactly, but are connected to the same router, each has some form of firewall and anti virus.

any more information please ask, i will be around for 20 minutes, otherwise ill check here tomorrow.

thanks in advance

 

[mickey megabyte]

i assume you and your sisters have good antivirus software?

you should be ok if so.

 

[DocBrown]

Never say never ! I had it happen once when I connected an infected computer to my wired network & made the infected computer a member of the workgroup

Took me a couple of days to clean up the mess

Better have them get MalwareBytes Free version, and run that along with good antivirus, etc.

 

[Auron586]

yea good antivirus on all, malware bytes on most i think, will check and NO sort of network, file share or workgroup is setup, only internet, unless its set by default, but im sure it does not.

so it should be fine?

 

[DocBrown]

Are they all the same versions of Windows ?

You can check what workgroup Win7 computers are on by typing

Workgroup in the Start/search window

 

[Auron586]

2 windows 7, one XP, ill check that workgroup tomorrow (on wii internet channel ATM, lol.)

if they are not fileshare/workgroup, should it be fine?

 

[DocBrown]

2 windows 7, one XP, ill check that workgroup tomorrow (on wii internet channel ATM, lol.)

if they are not fileshare/workgroup, should it be fine?

I'm hopping so

 

[Auron586]

thanks for the fast reply, i will post back tomorrow the result of that search, do all computers need to be on to check workgroup btw?

one final question, anything else i can do to improve security? is there any way to hide one computer from the other?

anyway, ill check here tomorrow, hopefully for a good reply ^.^

 

[gregrocker]

My niece's computer infected my sister's whole network regularly and I would get to come over to chase bugs around the house.

First put MS Security Essentials on each computer while disconnected from the network, run a Full scan. Next run Malwarebytes or another AV of your choice from bootable CD: FREE Bootable AntiVirus Rescue CDs Download List

I have done this over the years using AVG, then Avast and now MSE. So far, MSE is holding fast once the network is turned back on after disinfection.

 

[Bill2]

Worms.

1) You can receive a worm via e-mail, in the form of an attachment. If you click on the attachment to open it, you’ll activate the worm, though in some cases, you don’t even have to click to activate it. Once activated, the worm will search for a list of e-mail addresses by going through files on your computer, such as your email address book and recently visited web pages.

It will then send emails to all the addresses it finds (say your sisters'), with a copy of the worm as an attachment. The process will then be repeated on the receiver's computer. Some worms even have a mail server coded into them, so your email program doesn’t even have to be open for the worm to spread.

2) There are other ways. There used to be the MyDoom worm, which copied infected files into Kazaa, thereby hitching a ride for itself.

Worms can do a variety of damage- open a backdoor into the infected computer, thus compromising it completely and even turn it into a zombie, steal information and launch denial of service attacks.

 

[Borg 386]

Hi, recently my two sisters got computers and have a habit of going to random websites or clicking adverts/downloads.

Yes, clicking on an advertisement or a download can easily get you malware/viruses. Even at legitimate sites people assume are safe, someone could have compromised the site and posted a malicious advert.

The list of sites compromised by malware laden banners/adverts in the past is quite long, but also includes sites people assumed were safe, such as Fox News, MSN, The New York Times, Facebook, etc.

I agree with Doc & gregrocker, put MS Security Essentials and Malwarebytes on their PC's, and make sure they use them to run regular scans

 

[Auron586]

thank you both for that information, just to clarify, none of us have any malware at present, i am just trying to become as secure as possible.

i will check that homegroup thing soon.

Any other security tips to combat this sort of virus spread? (i dont use social networking or email on my computer so not much threat from that.)

EDIT: sorry Borg i missed your post! i will be sure to install malware bytes on them all (do you know the official site?)

at the moment im using AVG (full version) and my sisters have AVG (free) and Nortons 360, should i replace them with MS security essentials? (i would like to keep avg (full) if possible)

 

[Borg 386]

Here you go Auron586

Malwarebytes

at the moment im using AVG (full version) and my sisters have AVG (free) and Nortons 360, should i replace them with MS security essentials? (i would like to keep avg (full) if possible)

It depends on if you are comfortable with AVG. Have a look at this page:

http://www.sevenforums.com/system-security/72070-whats-best-anti-virus.html

I know that MSE is free, has a good track record and uses little system resources.

I have McAfee and MSE running on mine together (McAfee came with the sys pre-installed). However keep in mind not all AV's "play well together" & you can get conflicts running more then one.

When installing MSE, it is recommended that you uninstall any other Anti Virus, however, you can try to put it on & if they do "play well together", that's an extra layer of protection that's good to have.