Virus?

[Ricky]

Is it really possible to get a virus simply by connecting to the internet?
I am told it isn't.
Which is true?

 

[Buford T. Justice]

Well if you connect to an ISP and you use Windows 2000 or WIndows XP (not
patched) and the ISP or another connected computer is infected with the
Blaster Worm, you will get it.

BTJustice

 

[taff]

Is it really possible to get a virus simply by connecting to the internet?
I am told it isn't.
Which is true?

Yes it is indeed. Some viruses are looking for openings in windows to
get in. Most viruses are within files and are downloaded with the
file, but not all.

Before you connect to the internet it is a must to have at least a
good antivirus program, and a good idea to also have a firewall
enabled.
If you connect to the internet to download these programs, it is
probable that they will not work because some of the nastier viruses
can disable these programs.

Taff............



www.sounds-pa.com | www.thecomputerworkshop.com

 

[null]

Is it really possible to get a virus simply by connecting to the internet?

Of course, if you haven't taken measures to prevent it.


Art
http://www.epix.net/~artnpeg

 

[FromTheRafters]

Is it really possible to get a virus simply by connecting to the internet?

Possible, yes.

I am told it isn't.

You were told wrong.

Which is true?

If you connect to the internet with an internet facing vulnerability
such as the one blaster uses, you can get anything downloaded
and executed on your machine. It just so happens that the blaster
version of the exploit code was written to download a worm's
executable file ~ but other programs even worse than blaster
could have been downloaded and executed had the exploit code
not been blaster's.

 

[Robert Moir]

Well if you connect to an ISP and you use Windows 2000 or WIndows XP
(not patched) and the ISP or another connected computer is infected
with the Blaster Worm, you will get it.

Or the Lion worm if you connect with a vulnerable Linux machine...

or... (etc)

 

[jafar]

Of course, if you haven't taken measures to prevent it.

Indeed.
1) Set up internet connection and firewall.
2) Do a full windows update.
3) Install anti-virus and spyware detector.
4) Set up a real firewall and do away with the default.

I did 2, and 3 the other way round, but my XP install has survived the
last 2 weeks and should do for a while longer if I'm careful
Did I miss anything?