The Flat Earth Society
Other Discussion Boards => Technology & Information => Topic started by: Lord Dave on May 14, 2014, 10:57:05 PM
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Ok so as we all know, viruses mostly come through nasty websites and especially the ads on said websites. Those pesky java scripts and such.
With my scare from Ransomeware, I've decided that for my daily web browsing, I'll use a linux distro and for my gaming, I'll use windows.
The first solution would seem to be dual boot but that's a pain, forcing me to completely shut down one OS to jump tasks and I'm not going that route.
The second is just linux with wine and ect... but that is unstable or doesn't offer the same quality FPS (especially with my card).
So what I've settled on (unless someone has a better idea) is linux in a virtual machine. Without a direct connection to any windows files, any nasty java script should fail in the linux box and even IF it succeeded in doing something, it wouldn't be able to access my windows OS.
So, does anyone have any suggestions for a nice, light weight OS I can run in a virtual machine and allow for all the flash and java I could want? And with recent browsers? I don't want to use firefox 3.0.
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Kaspersky Pure exists for Windows noobs. Or you could just buy a Mac and you'd have the most stable and fun to use OS in existence.
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Have you considered Debian?
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I haven't had a computer virus in years.
Don't download a codec to see the naked lady push a marrow up her vag.
Don't download a cure to a virus when a website tells you that you have one.
Don't open e-mail attachments with the word 'Viagra' or 'earn $5000 per month from home' in them.
Its not rocket science Dave.
I use Microsoft defender. That's it. A free anti-virus from MS themselves. What is the problem and why are you making this so needlessly complicated?
Have you considered Debian?
Don't be an arse. He is trying to keep shit-ware off his system. Not install it as his OS of choice.
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Where are you getting these viruses from? I'm with Thork on this one. You're doing something wrong.
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Y'all can laugh, but when someone visits a guitar site on a filtered school network(so no naughty vags) and get's HIS WHOLE GOD DAMN PROFILE ENCRYPTED, I get worried.
I haven't had a virus in ages either. Doesn't mean I'm inclined to get one.
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Y'all can laugh, but when someone visits a guitar site on a filtered school network(so no naughty vags) and get's HIS WHOLE GOD DAMN PROFILE ENCRYPTED, I get worried.
I haven't had a virus in ages either. Doesn't mean I'm inclined to get one.
You must truly be the worst system admin in employment.
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Y'all can laugh, but when someone visits a guitar site on a filtered school network(so no naughty vags) and get's HIS WHOLE GOD DAMN PROFILE ENCRYPTED, I get worried.
I haven't had a virus in ages either. Doesn't mean I'm inclined to get one.
You must truly be the worst system admin in employment.
If you can elaborate on how to stop these viruses from getting in, I'd be really happy to hear it.
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Y'all can laugh, but when someone visits a guitar site on a filtered school network(so no naughty vags) and get's HIS WHOLE GOD DAMN PROFILE ENCRYPTED, I get worried.
I haven't had a virus in ages either. Doesn't mean I'm inclined to get one.
You must truly be the worst system admin in employment.
If you can elaborate on how to stop these viruses from getting in, I'd be really happy to hear it.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822158
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Y'all can laugh, but when someone visits a guitar site on a filtered school network(so no naughty vags) and get's HIS WHOLE GOD DAMN PROFILE ENCRYPTED, I get worried.
I haven't had a virus in ages either. Doesn't mean I'm inclined to get one.
You must truly be the worst system admin in employment.
If you can elaborate on how to stop these viruses from getting in, I'd be really happy to hear it.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822158
Warning This workaround may make a computer or a network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We do not recommend this workaround but are providing this information so that you can implement this workaround at your own discretion. Use this workaround at your own risk.
Yes I can see how this is VERY helpful in avoiding viruses...
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(http://i.imgur.com/H19WEox.jpg)
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Have you considered Debian?
I have but I was hoping for something more specific to browsing. Debian would work but if I can find something smaller, I'd be happier.
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(http://i.imgur.com/H19WEox.jpg)
Irrelevant.
The site Thork linked to is basically a list of files NOT to scan. It has absolutely no advice for actually securing your systems.
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No no that facepalm was directed at Thork.
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Elementary OS is pretty dope.
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What is Noscript
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So what you have is essentially a glorified sandbox. Why not just use Sandboxie?
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What is Noscript
Noscript is an overzealous way to keep yourself from getting viruses. It pretty much breaks every site, and most people just end up "trusting" the sites they go to a lot anyway.
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What is Noscript
Noscript is an overzealous way to keep yourself from getting viruses. It pretty much breaks every site, and most people just end up "trusting" the sites they go to a lot anyway.
Mostly yeah, but whenever I'm on unknowns I generally just allow the scripts that I want to run (like videos and shit) and leave the rest off. It's useful for that kind of thing.
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What is Noscript
Already in use.
So what you have is essentially a glorified sandbox. Why not just use Sandboxie?
Thanks for the tip. It looks like what I want.
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Have you considered Debian?
I have but I was hoping for something more specific to browsing. Debian would work but if I can find something smaller, I'd be happier.
What do you mean by "smaller"? You'd be hard pressed to find a Linux distro much smaller while still being reasonably usable to laypeople, for most definitions I can think of.
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Have you considered Debian?
I have but I was hoping for something more specific to browsing. Debian would work but if I can find something smaller, I'd be happier.
What do you mean by "smaller"? You'd be hard pressed to find a Linux distro much smaller while still being reasonably usable to laypeople, for most definitions I can think of.
Think Chrome OS.
But PP's sandboxie link solves my problem without the need for a Linux VM.
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Think Chrome OS.
In what way is Chrome OS "smaller" than Debian?
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antiX is Debian based, but very light and should run fine in a VM on pretty much any machine made within the last decade. If you do decided to go the VM route, give it a try.
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(http://i.imgur.com/H19WEox.jpg)
Irrelevant.
The site Thork linked to is basically a list of files NOT to scan. It has absolutely no advice for actually securing your systems.
That site tells you what systems MS security essentials protects and I would hazard a guess that your one at school is one of them. I didn't realise that clicking a hyperlink to view the product would be prohibitively taxing to someone who purportedly does IT work for a living.
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So what I've settled on (unless someone has a better idea) is linux in a virtual machine.
Don't bother. Just bang Ubuntu or derivative on a USB stick. Boot into the stick. Boom.
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What's a Linux?
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(http://i.imgur.com/H19WEox.jpg)
Irrelevant.
The site Thork linked to is basically a list of files NOT to scan. It has absolutely no advice for actually securing your systems.
That site tells you what systems MS security essentials protects and I would hazard a guess that your one at school is one of them. I didn't realise that clicking a hyperlink to view the product would be prohibitively taxing to someone who purportedly does IT work for a living.
First off, I did look at the link. You didn't link to any product. You linked to guidelines on what to not scan with your chosen AV software.
Secondly, We HAVE MS security essentials.
And 2 firewalls.
And a web filter.
And an Active Directory structure which limits user accounts.
Users can't even write to the "program files" folder.
Yet a virus, which hides in advertisements and runs a very normal windows function to encrypt your files (It's part of the essential functions) still got through. There are only three known defenses:
1. Block the site before you access it.
2. Block scripts (mostly java)
3. Sandbox your browser. (or non-windows)
So thanks again for proving that you've gone soft with your Mac.
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(http://i.imgur.com/H19WEox.jpg)
Irrelevant.
The site Thork linked to is basically a list of files NOT to scan. It has absolutely no advice for actually securing your systems.
That site tells you what systems MS security essentials protects and I would hazard a guess that your one at school is one of them. I didn't realise that clicking a hyperlink to view the product would be prohibitively taxing to someone who purportedly does IT work for a living.
First off, I did look at the link. You didn't link to any product. You linked to guidelines on what to not scan with your chosen AV software.
Secondly, We HAVE MS security essentials.
And 2 firewalls.
And a web filter.
And an Active Directory structure which limits user accounts.
Users can't even write to the "program files" folder.
Yet a virus, which hides in advertisements and runs a very normal windows function to encrypt your files (It's part of the essential functions) still got through. There are only three known defenses:
1. Block the site before you access it.
2. Block scripts (mostly java)
3. Sandbox your browser. (or non-windows)
So thanks again for proving that you've gone soft with your Mac.
I use a mac at work. I've been back on my windows PC for months.
Anyhoo, no more software development for me.
The company I worked for freelance have given me a new permanent job. Basically I sell the software instead. I get more money, a company car, OTE, lots of travel all over Europe, selling bonuses and basically all I have to do is talk to people and make pretty powerpoint presentations.
Also I suspect you have misdiagnosed the problem. I suspect you screwed something up, and are now blaming a virus. Just a suspicion. You'd never tell me what really happened anyway. But frankly this cock and bull story about a student in a locked down system getting a virus from a safe site advert is ludicrous. But carry on. Install Linux on the school computers. I'm sure the teachers and children will thank you for making them that much more difficult to use. ::)
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(http://i.imgur.com/H19WEox.jpg)
Irrelevant.
The site Thork linked to is basically a list of files NOT to scan. It has absolutely no advice for actually securing your systems.
That site tells you what systems MS security essentials protects and I would hazard a guess that your one at school is one of them. I didn't realise that clicking a hyperlink to view the product would be prohibitively taxing to someone who purportedly does IT work for a living.
First off, I did look at the link. You didn't link to any product. You linked to guidelines on what to not scan with your chosen AV software.
Secondly, We HAVE MS security essentials.
And 2 firewalls.
And a web filter.
And an Active Directory structure which limits user accounts.
Users can't even write to the "program files" folder.
Yet a virus, which hides in advertisements and runs a very normal windows function to encrypt your files (It's part of the essential functions) still got through. There are only three known defenses:
1. Block the site before you access it.
2. Block scripts (mostly java)
3. Sandbox your browser. (or non-windows)
So thanks again for proving that you've gone soft with your Mac.
I use a mac at work. I've been back on my windows PC for months.
Anyhoo, no more software development for me.
The company I worked for freelance have given me a new permanent job. Basically I sell the software instead. I get more money, a company car, OTE, lots of travel all over Europe, selling bonuses and basically all I have to do is talk to people and make pretty powerpoint presentations.
Also I suspect you have misdiagnosed the problem. I suspect you screwed something up, and are now blaming a virus. Just a suspicion. You'd never tell me what really happened anyway. But frankly this cock and bull story about a student in a locked down system getting a virus from a safe site advert is ludicrous. But carry on. Install Linux on the school computers. I'm sure the teachers and children will thank you for making them that much more difficult to use. ::)
I'm almost at a loss for words.
http://forum.tfes.org/index.php?topic=1388.0 (http://forum.tfes.org/index.php?topic=1388.0)
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/cryptodefense-ransomware-information (http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/cryptodefense-ransomware-information)
Also, this is for my personal PC, not work which everyone but you seems to have understood.
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The only way to truly secure a computer is to keep it offline in a bunker 5 miles below the surface of the earth, with all of its components disassembled and kept at least 1000ft away from each other.
Deguass the harddrive for good measure.
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The only way to truly secure a computer is to keep it offline in a bunker 5 miles below the surface of the earth, with all of its components disassembled and kept at least 1000ft away from each other.
Deguass the harddrive for good measure.
Look, I'm just hoping to avoid having my data encrypted. Everything else I can live with/fix.
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The only way to truly secure a computer is to keep it offline in a bunker 5 miles below the surface of the earth, with all of its components disassembled and kept at least 1000ft away from each other.
Deguass the harddrive for good measure.
That wouldn't be a computer.
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Look, I'm just hoping to avoid having my data encrypted. Everything else I can live with/fix.
Block all websites and whitelist them as you need them.
That wouldn't be a computer.
Each component by itself, no, but when referencing all parts simultaneous it is a computer, just a disassembled one.
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Sandboxie has proven to be exactly what I need.
Thanks PP.
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Sandboxie has proven to be exactly what I need.
Thanks PP.
Don't rely on this too much, though. There are plenty of viruses and malware that can escape from sandbox environments.
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That wouldn't be a computer.
Each component by itself, no, but when referencing all parts simultaneous it is a computer, just a disassembled one.
By that logic, you breathe disassembled lead.
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By that logic, you breathe disassembled lead.
Only if the air you're breathing was lead at one point in time.
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By that logic, you breathe disassembled lead.
Only if the air you're breathing was lead at one point in time.
I' sure there are minuscule particles of lead in the air you're breathing. Every breath you probably breathe an at least an atom of a dead king's foreskin too.
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Sandboxie has proven to be exactly what I need.
(http://www.lawskills.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Fotolia_37177616_XS.jpg)
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Sandboxie has proven to be exactly what I need.
(http://www.lawskills.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Fotolia_37177616_XS.jpg)
Is that meant to symbolize overkill or that I've cracked the nut?
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you cracked the nut with a sledgehammer
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you cracked the nut with a sledgehammer
Like a Boss!
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Also, this is for my personal PC, not work which everyone but you seems to have understood.
I see. Because I read
Y'all can laugh, but when someone visits a guitar site on a filtered school network(so no naughty vags) and get's HIS WHOLE GOD DAMN PROFILE ENCRYPTED, I get worried.
I haven't had a virus in ages either. Doesn't mean I'm inclined to get one.
Do the kids from the school you work at come round to your house to use your personal computer then? You might want to be a little bit careful about that.
Or are you just trying to tell me that because a child allegedly got a virus on a school machine by doing something innocuous, you are filled with paranoia about viruses and willing to go to any length to avoid this same terrible fate happening to you. You know Michael Douglas got throat cancer from oral sex? You should probably avoid vaginas too.
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You should probably avoid vaginas too.
I've never seen one but I've only heard bad things.
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Also, this is for my personal PC, not work which everyone but you seems to have understood.
I see. Because I read
Y'all can laugh, but when someone visits a guitar site on a filtered school network(so no naughty vags) and get's HIS WHOLE GOD DAMN PROFILE ENCRYPTED, I get worried.
I haven't had a virus in ages either. Doesn't mean I'm inclined to get one.
Do the kids from the school you work at come round to your house to use your personal computer then? You might want to be a little bit careful about that.
Or are you just trying to tell me that because a child allegedly got a virus on a school machine by doing something innocuous, you are filled with paranoia about viruses and willing to go to any length to avoid this same terrible fate happening to you. You know Michael Douglas got throat cancer from oral sex? You should probably avoid vaginas too.
I'm sorry, I didn't realize my methods of protection were out of paranoia. I guess those backups are just paranoia too right?
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I think both of you have a point here. Sure, it is a bit of a paranoid thing to do, but it comes with essentially no disadvantages, so what's wrong with a bit of paranoia?
Also, Thork, weren't you the guy that steered away from Google services when the media highlighted their privacy policy, despite the fact that no major changes were made to the policy? Wouldn't that count as paranoid either? Again, I'm not trying to criticise the move itself, I'm just saying that there ain't nothing wrong with this kind of stuff, so long as it's kept in moderation.
IMHO, there is no such thing as "too secure" - the only question is whether or not the added effort/inconvenience from your security measures would bother you enough to reconsider.
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Well it seems it's even easier than I thought...
http://gizmodo.com/how-the-icloud-hack-holds-ios-devices-hostage-for-ran-1583281606?utm_campaign=socialflow_lifehacker_facebook&utm_source=lifehacker_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
I guess apple allows for the locker of a phone to send a message and that's how it appears.
Take note friends:
If someone get's your apple ID info, they control your phone.
Unless you didn't sign your phone up for "find my phone" then it's safe. Ironic, no?
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If someone get's your apple ID info, they control your phone.
Unless you didn't sign your phone up for "find my phone" then it's safe. Ironic, no?
Well TBH it was always an obvious security risk. And Apple isn't the only one with this kind of app.