Viruses, spyware & malware

Started by Juno July 26th, 2014 11:18 PM
  • 1748 views
  • 27 replies

Juno

OK I PULL UP

Age 28
Female
Seen 2 Days Ago
Posted 1 Week Ago
4,561 posts
9.5 Years
I'm sure many of you have unintentionally picked up these annoying, unwelcome programs at some point in your life. How and what program(s) do you use to get rid of and prevent them? Know where or who you got them from? What was the absolute worst malware you've had on a computer?

El Héroe Oscuro

IG: elheroeoscuro

Male
Chicago
Seen April 10th, 2022
Posted August 21st, 2021
7,237 posts
14.3 Years
My computer is actually unprotected at the moment, so I guess one could say that I'm pretty susceptible to what's out there. What's the best virus/malware protector that I can get? Doesn't matter whether it's free or not; I just want to get the job done.
The Mad Blogger

"Look, whatever you're thinking,
do me a favor; don't let go."

Daily Bloggity
Twitter
My Daily Articles
My Anime
Food Fight #18
VIPQOTD #4

Gamerscore: 629,694

HxCrypt

Living <3<3<3

Male
Somewhere on Earth :)
Seen September 16th, 2017
Posted September 12th, 2014
264 posts
9.1 Years
I use Panda Cloud antivirus currently,and I'd remember it saved my desktop,the situation goes like this.I borrow my friend DVD,it contents of Virus,I don't install any anti-ware in my desktop that time,so when I run the DVD,my computer automatically shut down.When I restart,I feel my CPU run slower than before (lag).I don't have much savings that time,so I left it there until I find a way to solve the problem.About two years later,someone suggest me to use Panda Cloud.So I back home and run my CPU again,it's getting worst (you can't even imagine that how slow it is) ,but nothing to worry,I got the solution and I try it.Yes,it neutralizes all the virus inside,I remember it has thousand of weak virus inside (luckily it haven't getting stronger).After that,my CPU go back normal until now...
Maybe you can't believe what I'm talking about,you can try it on your own,maybe you will understand.I use the free version of Panda Cloud (it has premium version which offer more features) ,it works fine for me,it designs simple,it won't keep popping-up.
In my opinion,Panda Cloud is the best antivirus ever :)

FC : 4227-2945-6428

Tsutarja

Age 28
he / him
Florida
Seen 6 Hours Ago
Posted 15 Hours Ago
27,327 posts
13.2 Years
Microsoft Security Essentials is my antivirus software, and I've been a user of it since 2011. Not once while using Security Essentials have I ever gotten a virus, and it's free and barely uses up any resources on the computer.

Juno

OK I PULL UP

Age 28
Female
Seen 2 Days Ago
Posted 1 Week Ago
4,561 posts
9.5 Years
I run Windows Defender on my Surface Pro, and I think I also use Microsoft Security Essentials on my laptop - they both came with their antiviruses, so I can't say if they're the best or any better over any other antivirus, but they seem to work for me. I've been very careful about avoiding dodgy sites on my Surface so I haven't had any problems with my it yet, but I've used Malwarebytes a few times to get rid of malware on my current laptop.

Pendraflare

Age 32
Male
Pennsylvania
Seen July 30th, 2021
Posted March 29th, 2021
6,263 posts
9.8 Years
I've ran into a few programs on this computer that the sources warn may have malware, and i'm always wondering if something will slow it down. Also, over two years ago I was hit with this Internet Security 2012 program on my Windows computer that was always closing my stuff and kept saying to download it, but I overheard that's a scam and does nothing for you, so I had to get on my iPad and find out more about it, then call the source and have them tell me what to do. I had to spend money to get it away for good, but it worked out.
Azurilland | Twitter | Nuzlocke Forums
May someday resurface in full. We'll see what happens down the road!

Lusus

Age 23
Non-binary
Ljubljana
Seen April 18th, 2018
Posted February 17th, 2018
1,405 posts
10.4 Years
I let avast!Antivirus scan my PC every week. It usually doesn't find any viruses, though i don't really download anything which is probably the reason why. If avast does find a virus, it's usually just 1 or 2 minor viruses from something i don't use anymore.
Male
Exiled
Seen October 2nd, 2015
Posted October 2nd, 2015
344 posts
11.9 Years
I WILL NEVER USE NORTON AGAIN. EVER.

I did use AVG for a bit, but it was so resource hungry I couldn't do online gaming without it bogging it down. Now I stick with avast!, since it's lightweight, user friendly, and has picked up some nasty things a few times that were actually inside my PC and hadn't been noticed by AVG.

The worst virus I ever got was when I was trying to download a printer driver and it ended up deleting various system32 components. You can safely presume I did a full re-installation of Windows.
None

“Our only limits are the ones we place on ourselves.”

Hiatus

Seen 6 Days Ago
Posted July 24th, 2021
12,283 posts
10.8 Years
My main computer runs Linux right now, and I've heard that there's little to no viruses available for it (I suppose people haven't developed them), so it's completely protection-free. I'm thankful for it; although running virus and spyware software is usually not any hassle, you're still required to update them every once in a while. Personally, I find that to be a little bothersome (for any program, really).

When I was running Windows, I'd accidentally visited that you contaminate you with some ad-ware of sorts, which would force your browser to install some plug-in that would automatically take you to some advertisement page prior to entering new sites. Regardless of how tough I tried un-installing, it would re-install immediately, and to finally get it fixed, I had to download some virus program (have been without one for quite some time, as I used to be very careful when it came to viruses back then).

Avast is the one I got, and I was very satisfied with it. It doesn't take much space at all, and best of all, it runs in background and doesn't get in your way. It does more than virus-protecting, in fact; you're able to clean your computer with it, scan for errors, and when gaming, it's even able to switch your computer mode so that it would run faster. Fantastic, isn't it? :]

Tsutarja

Age 28
he / him
Florida
Seen 6 Hours Ago
Posted 15 Hours Ago
27,327 posts
13.2 Years
My main computer runs Linux right now, and I've heard that there's little to no viruses available for it (I suppose people haven't developed them), so it's completely protection-free. I'm thankful for it; although running virus and spyware software is usually not any hassle, you're still required to update them every once in a while. Personally, I find that to be a little bothersome (for any program, really).
I'd say the main reason why Linux viruses are such a rarity is because of how many Linux users even actually exist on a client scale, which is nowhere near as many client computers that run Mac OS X and/or Windows.

Reyzadren

Arid trainer

Male
Laverre
Seen December 3rd, 2020
Posted December 3rd, 2020
360 posts
8.9 Years
I use Avast antivirus to scan for viruses in my computer. I also have Spybot which deals with the rest - spyware, malware etc.
Soundcloud Profile: Ascension Drive

Megan

She/Her, It/Its
Seen 9 Hours Ago
Posted 16 Hours Ago
17,811 posts
10.3 Years
On Linux none. On Windows Avast at the moment, though that may change some point in the future. While it was fun in the beginning they recently started adding more strange stuff to it, besides virus protection. I like the idea of updater on Windows that update more than just Microsoft stuff, but what I don't like is that they added a tool, that seems to have some functionality similar to TuneUp Utilities, which is known for causing countless problems.

I am the only one who should be allowed to break my system. :D
Moderator of Previous Generations, Forum Games and VPP
You got a thing!

Belldandy

Ice-Type Fanatic

Age 30
Female
Ottawa, Ontario
Seen October 29th, 2018
Posted December 27th, 2016
3,978 posts
10 Years
My computer is actually unprotected at the moment, so I guess one could say that I'm pretty susceptible to what's out there. What's the best virus/malware protector that I can get? Doesn't matter whether it's free or not; I just want to get the job done.
I don't use anything either XD but before, my dad was using Malware Bytes, Bit Destroyer and Spybot: Search & Destroy.

I heard NOD32 is good, too, but that could be old :P It was good in the '07s anyway.

Tsutarja

Age 28
he / him
Florida
Seen 6 Hours Ago
Posted 15 Hours Ago
27,327 posts
13.2 Years
I heard NOD32 is good, too, but that could be old :P It was good in the '07s anyway.
ESET's NOD32 is still existent, that's for sure. I haven't used it myself, but from what I have heard, it's probably one of the top paid antivirus suites available to purchase, in terms of protection offered and performance.

starseed galaxy auticorn

PC's Resident Auticorn

Age 34
she/he/they
the land of magical unicorns
Seen 1 Day Ago
Posted 1 Week Ago
6,648 posts
18.9 Years
I have a mac laptop, so getting a virus on this thing is totally rare. I won't say it's impossible or anything. I'm just saying it's very rare. So, I really don't have anything else to keep protected since I don't need it.

However, the worst I've ever had it was on a Dell desktop we used to have. It was so bad that it slowed down the entire computer. We ended up sending it to my aunt later, but it ended up kicking the bucket on her.

Tsutarja

Age 28
he / him
Florida
Seen 6 Hours Ago
Posted 15 Hours Ago
27,327 posts
13.2 Years
I have a mac laptop, so getting a virus on this thing is totally rare. I won't say it's impossible or anything. I'm just saying it's very rare. So, I really don't have anything else to keep protected since I don't need it..
Although it's still not as common on Macs to catch a virus as it is on a Windows computer, please do keep in mind that the chances of getting a virus on a Macintosh computer have gone up gradually over the years, especially with more developers coding for Apple and also more consumers purchasing Macs as well.

The Void

hiiiii

Male
MOTHA RUSSIA
Seen May 29th, 2019
Posted August 9th, 2015
1,416 posts
13 Years
Norton 360. It's pretty useful. As the name implies, it protects pretty much every aspect of your virtual life. It protects you from viruses, phishing scams, and can backup up to three computers.
Όφις ην μη φάγη όφιν, δράκων ου γενήσεται.

obZen

Kill Your Heroes

Age 32
Male
/tmp/obZen/.locale
Seen January 1st, 2021
Posted December 27th, 2020
397 posts
17.5 Years
On Windows, I used ESET Nod32 in conjunction with Malwarebytes. I was completely safe with these programs
I also had addons like Adblock+ and https-everywhere, and EMET running some apps. Sandboxie was on standby just in case I HAD to go downloading stuff

On Linux, I have ClamAV running for the heck of it, though I've considered looking into PAX and grsec patches for the Linux kernel.

On Windows, I used ESET Nod32 in conjunction with Malwarebytes. I was completely safe with these programs
I also had addons like Adblock+ and https-everywhere, and EMET running some apps. Sandboxie was on standby just in case I HAD to go downloading stuff

On Linux, I have ClamAV running for the heck of it, though I've considered looking into PAX and grsec patches for the Linux kernel.


obZen on Pokemon Showdown

mikey

Age 30
Male
Seen 10 Hours Ago
Posted 4 Days Ago
6,229 posts
14.1 Years
I've got Norton 360 running on my desktop. It's been pretty reliable for me. I've had it on here about 2 or 3 years now, and have had no problems. Would recommend it.

Moderator
of Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Discord Moderator

Centipede Chan

Age 26
Female
United States
Seen October 14th, 2021
Posted April 4th, 2021
1,069 posts
9.1 Years
I have no security besides the windows firewall. It's lasting me quite a long time and even on my last computer I never got a virus or spam or anything at all. That's the perks of knowing your crap and what not to click on in the internet.

Blu·Ray

Manta Ray Pokémon

Age 25
Male
Denmark
Seen February 13th, 2017
Posted August 12th, 2016
382 posts
13.1 Years
I don't use any antivirus aside from Windows defender, and I have never actually been infected with anything myself, but my parents are really the greater issue. They seem to be true malware magnets, just clicking through random install processes without even taking a look at what they install... And when the homepage has changed to Ask.com search or Bubblysquigglywobblywebsearch.scam, I am, of course, the one who is tasked with the cleanup... Malwarebytes is my go-to tool for removal of malware or viruses when I am aware of the fact and just want it removed. I have tried out various more permanent solutions on my parents' computers, AVG, Avast, Kaspersky, but so far I haven't found a solution that is non-obtrusive, uses a minimal amount of resources, and just works. Until then I'll just hope that someday, my parents will learn to think about what they download and especially what they install...