For PC Virus Victims, Pay or Else

[Skybird]

Not really new, but a problem growing since quite some time now.

I can only repeat it agai n and again: when doing online banking and going online in general, PARANOIA IS A VIRTUE.

Another growing concern is are drive-by-attacks. The times when downloaded intrusive software mjust be activated by the user by making him click on something, are the past. New malware of this type installs and activates itself by the user just landing on a certain website with an infested element. Period.

Finally, rootkits and new trojans are of such a nature that antivirus software practically does not detect them. Thus my recommendation to use an additional specialized malware scanner parallel to a firewall and antivirus scanner. This doe snot delete the risk, but it reduces it. My alarm from three months ago that amde me reinstall my system was coming from the malware scanner as well, not the antivirus scanner.

I occasionally read of IT security experts who said that in their opinion antivirus scanners are already overrated and are being still sold to the private audience for profit interests only.

In general I think the web is becoming much more risky and dangerous.

Plus there is enormous lobbying for establishing more state censorship. But that is another topic.

The degrading security situation also is a primary argument against smartphones, imo, since smartphone users are even more naive and carelessly minded, than PC users.

In case of a security breahc on your system: do not repair. Format and reinstall. Always. As the phrase tells you: "once corrupted, always corrupted".