Site trying to download files to my computer

[Tomas]

No firewall. No anti-virus. No microsoft IE 8. No problems.

Mac does have anti-virus and firewall features integrated.

Don't be one of those Mac people that that thinks their machines are immune. They are not.

Very true and very good caution, VW.

I've used UNIX machines and Macs exclusively for the past quarter century and my Macs have a number of anti-virus goodies (beyond those built in) working to protect them. Macs are not immune, though they are a bit better than the common Windows machines.

Currently I use NoScript, ClamXav, and Little Snitch as well as having a decent firewall protecting my home LAN from the world. So far none of my Macs have had virus, trojan, or malware problems in 25 years of use.

One needs to be cautious.

 

[SouthernBoy]

It immediately starts blocking all scripts--which means some sites stop working. You click on the "S" logo in the lower-right corner, and options pop up to permit you to "allow" or "temporarily allow" a site to run scripts. Over time you will have a core of sites allowed to run scripts that you trust. You can also designate sites as "untrusted." NoScript stops even offering you the option of allowing a site you have designated as "untrusted." For example, I have googlesyndication.com as untrusted. That kills a lot of ads.

Gotcha, that makes sense.

 

[eye95]

Maybe it is time to check out "Security Essentials" again. It use to be a pretty crappy program, but I have heard a few good things about it lately.

I got tired of Norton and McAfee acting somewhat virus-like themselves. A friend suggested ripping Norton out (I had sworn off McAfee a year prior) and switching to Security Essentials. No problems since. Not even from an overly aggressive, self-marketing virus scanner..

 

[chakragod]

So far none of my Macs have had virus, trojan, or malware problems in 25 years of use.

Oh man if only I could remember that joke...something about "because who would write them for something that is 10% of the market." lol

 

[sst0185]

I got tired of Norton and McAfee acting somewhat virus-like themselves. A friend suggested ripping Norton out (I had sworn off McAfee a year prior) and switching to Security Essentials. No problems since. Not even from an overly aggressive, self-marketing virus scanner..

I have been using Avast! for 6 months now on a Dell desktop and Hp mini, I'm happy with it so far.

 

[tletourneau]

Avast is good. When I'm using my PC I also run sandboxie. It works with any app and keeps the app isolated from the OS.

Sent from my EVO 4G using Tapatalk.

 

[Tawnos]

Oh man if only I could remember that joke...something about "because who would write them for something that is 10% of the market." lol

It's a combination of that and the toolchains, according to a number of security researchers who have spoken at defcon, blackhat, etc. Making and using an exploit for windows is just plain easier, as more shell code exists in all different sizes, analysis tools for finding exploits are more sophisticated and more plentiful, etc.

Combine that with the number of windows pcs out there (especially in business deployments) and the incentive for targeting macs is very small.

 

[Grapeshot]

Avast is good. When I'm using my PC I also run sandboxie. It works with any app and keeps the app isolated from the OS.

Sent from my EVO 4G using Tapatalk.

No offense intended, but why are people so frequently posting that they are using Tapatalk and on what device?

 

[epilogue]

No offense intended, but why are people so frequently posting that they are using Tapatalk and on what device?

The application posts that tagline automatically, they usually have an option to turn the signature off which is on by default.

 

[Grapeshot]

No offense intended, but why are people so frequently posting that they are using Tapatalk and on what device?

The application posts that tagline automatically, they usually have an option to turn the signature off which is on by default.

So we are in effect being spammed by the application/manufacturer.

Please, anybody using this application, turn OFF the spam function.

 

[t33j]

(Internet Explorer 8, BTW)

Well there's a big part of your problem.

 

[VW_Factor]

Indeed. Try to avoid using Internet Explorer for much any browsing. While its not the easiest browser to hi-jack, its the most popular and therefor targetted.

Microsoft Security Essentials is actually a pretty good anti-tool for prevention of infections. Before Vista, it was purchased from another anti- company and has since been partially integrated into Windows (Both Vista and 7) as Windows Defender. Its sister MSE, works very well with it.

If you are looking at cleaning out an infection that is already on the machine, its not always a good option however.

Look at http://siri.geekstogo.com/SmitfraudFix.php or http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/combofix/how-to-use-combofix

Run either of those tools in SafeMode, to get your foot in the door on repair. (When I repair a clients machine anyway) I'll then yank the drive, and run a virus repair/delete scan on another dedicated machine (drive installed as secondary).

My "repeat" customers are few and far between now since loading them up with MSE. You really have to try or really really click on the wrong stuff to get around it.

 

[carracer]

Well there's a big part of your problem.

Unfortunately, as good as Macs and Other browsers are...most of the business world runs on windows and internet explorer. Most corporations are going to online information and training that is developed for Internet Explorer. Other systems may have Unix or linux as servers, but, are designed to interface with windows.

As Macs gain in popularity there will be more hacks and virus's dedicated to it. Why take down a few thousand macs when it's more fun to take down millions of windows users!

 

[epilogue]

So we are in effect being spammed by the application/manufacturer.

Please, anybody using this application, turn OFF the spam function.

But why? :lol:

Sent from my work laptop on company time while sipping coffee pretending to listen to my co-worker (TM)

 

[t33j]

Unfortunately, as good as Macs and Other browsers are...most of the business world runs on windows and internet explorer. Most corporations are going to online information and training that is developed for Internet Explorer. Other systems may have Unix or linux as servers, but, are designed to interface with windows.

As Macs gain in popularity there will be more hacks and virus's dedicated to it. Why take down a few thousand macs when it's more fun to take down millions of windows users!

Mac is not a browser and unix/linux is not a web server. They are operating systems.
Web Servers almost never interface directly with client operating systems. That's the job of the browser.

You are almost certainly right about the popularity bit. That's reason enough to switch to another browser even if you aren't aware of the reasons IE sucks.

 

[Tomas]

Now you've done it, Grapeshot.


-- Sent from my Palm Pre using Forums

 

[carracer]

Mac is not a browser and unix/linux is not a web server. They are operating systems.
Web Servers almost never interface directly with client operating systems. That's the job of the browser.

You are almost certainly right about the popularity bit. That's reason enough to switch to another browser even if you aren't aware of the reasons IE sucks.

Guess I didn't read my post for clarity. Was refering to macs as an operating system and should have created a separate sentence for the browser reference. Was not refering to webservers when mentioned linux/unix. Figured someone would bring them up int he context of being a viable alternative to windows in the corporate world. Which they are as servers, but, not as clients.

Yes, by all means switch to another browser to help it gain popularity and get a foothold. I like FireFox (browser) and Thunderbird for email myself. I just don't attempt to use either in a corporate environment 'cuz lot of stuff don't work with them.

 

[Grapeshot]

Now you've done it, Grapeshot.


-- Sent from my Palm Pre using Forums

Nothing new, except you forgot to say "again."

Got enough to read without the dang commercials.

 

[eye95]

Nothing new, except you forgot to say "again."

Got enough to read without the dang commercials.

You forgot to tell us how you sent your post!

--Sent from FireFox 3.6.3 running under Windows 7 on a Dell Studio 1569 laptop while watching Two and a Half Men in the background and sipping a cool, clear glass of water.

 

[Grapeshot]

You forgot to tell us how you sent your post!

--Sent from FireFox 3.6.3 running under Windows 7 on a Dell Studio 1569 laptop while watching Two and a Half Men in the background and sipping a cool, clear glass of water.

That's because I haven't received the January check from my sponsors yet.