[Fabricator]

Hello everyone,Fabricator here as a new member. I'm not very well educated when it comes to PC security. My questions may seem odd because I'm the type of person who looks at the "what if's" in life. My first security question is: Can another person (I don't know) or a website secretly download questionable or illegal information into my PC without my knowledge? Secondly: If this is possible,how can I immediately detect it and dispose of it or better yet, how can I completely terminate the proposed security breech. Thanks Everyone

Edited by Fabricator, 15 July 2009 - 12:15 AM.

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Hi,

Welcome to Geeks To Go

Can another person (I don't know) or a website secretly download questionable or illegal information into my PC without my knowledge?

Simply Yes.
Software can be loaded onto your PC that can download content from your Pc to the user who created. For example some Trojan loggers e.g. Key Loggers can track a users keystrokes which can then be used to access file passwords etc.

Other software can run in the background and can track movement around the web e.g. Spyware and can then be used to direct advertising content etc.

Also some software can be used to download other fake software to your PC such as fake security content. This can again further open your PC to their attacks.

A recent threat Conficker also creates a network from your PC with others that is used by attackers to spread content.

If this is possible, how can I immediately detect it and dispose of it or better yet, how can I completely terminate the proposed security breech

The best was would be to use a layered solution. This is where different software is used to stop the infection before it is run.

Firstly you need to try and stop the attack before it can get into your system. This is done with a firewall that can block attempts from unknown IP's or untrusted software as you ask it to. I would advise Comodo free firewall .This I feel gives you good solid wall to stop most infections.

Next if the software gets through and install then you should have Antivirus and Anti Spyware. I would advise you install Avast and SuperantiSpyware. Again both are free. You want Avast home edition by the way.

This should stop most infections. Then if you do get infected you can head over to the Virus-Spyware-Trojan-Removal forum and you can get help removing the infection.

Hope that helped.

[rev_olie]

Hi,

Welcome to Geeks To Go

Can another person (I don't know) or a website secretly download questionable or illegal information into my PC without my knowledge?

Simply Yes.
Software can be loaded onto your PC that can download content from your Pc to the user who created. For example some Trojan loggers e.g. Key Loggers can track a users keystrokes which can then be used to access file passwords etc.

Other software can run in the background and can track movement around the web e.g. Spyware and can then be used to direct advertising content etc.

Also some software can be used to download other fake software to your PC such as fake security content. This can again further open your PC to their attacks.

A recent threat Conficker also creates a network from your PC with others that is used by attackers to spread content.

If this is possible, how can I immediately detect it and dispose of it or better yet, how can I completely terminate the proposed security breech

The best was would be to use a layered solution. This is where different software is used to stop the infection before it is run.

Firstly you need to try and stop the attack before it can get into your system. This is done with a firewall that can block attempts from unknown IP's or untrusted software as you ask it to. I would advise Comodo free firewall .This I feel gives you good solid wall to stop most infections.

Next if the software gets through and install then you should have Antivirus and Anti Spyware. I would advise you install Avast and SuperantiSpyware. Again both are free. You want Avast home edition by the way.

This should stop most infections. Then if you do get infected you can head over to the Virus-Spyware-Trojan-Removal forum and you can get help removing the infection.

Hope that helped.

[Fabricator]

Thank you Rev...You really seem to know your stuff! Your advice is greatly appreciated. You've got a friend in Pa. Fab

[rev_olie]

No problem glad to help

[dsenette]

Secondly: If this is possible,how can I immediately detect it and dispose of it or better yet, how can I completely terminate the proposed security breech. Thanks Everyone

the ONLY way to be absolutely sure that NOTHING will ever happen with regards to infection or other security breeches on your computer would be to unplug it from the wall...and bury it in the back yard under a few feet of concrete....other than that....there's always a chance

[rev_olie]

the ONLY way to be absolutely sure that NOTHING will ever happen with regards to infection or other security breeches on your computer would be to unplug it from the wall...and bury it in the back yard under a few feet of concrete....other than that....there's always a chance

That's true unfortunately in modern society. However I'm pretty sure rising damp can steal data now