Computer Security Questions

[jerry0]

I use windows.  I previously just used free antivirus, the windows defender and malwarebytes free but now pay for kaspersky.



1.  Now if you click on a link but not sure if it is dangerous or not, you should be using the AV immediately to scan it right?  Now if windows defender shows something but you quarantine or delete it, is your machine safe?  Now if you use a paid antivirus like norton or kaspersky and it shows nothing... it is still not 100% safe... is that correct?  I read kaspersky catches over 99% of malware/keyloggers and it is never 100%?  So basically doing a clean reinstall of windows is the only way to make sure?  Does that also mean if you let a computer IT genius look at your pc and have them do every scan imaginable without them doing a clean reinstall, it is still not 100%?



2.  Can you catch virus/malware/keylogger just by clicking on a link?  Whether clicking on it or you typing it manually into the address bar?  I heard most sites should use https and any site that is http should be typically avoided correct?  But even if its a regular site, how do you know if it is safe?  I recall I had visited a few sites where I got message the site is unsafe.  Whenever you get that message, you should leave it right?  But a site that is only http can still be safe if you know the owner of that site and they confirm that http site is correct?  I heard you can only catch malware/keylogger on your pc if you download a file and open it.  The same as if you go to a website and download a file and open it.  Is that true or false?  For example if you visit a website, could it automatically download a file and you see it download on the bottom left corner of your windows pc?  I assume that does happen the moment you visit a site?  Now even if it downloads it, as long as you don't open it and remove it... you safe?  I heard mixed opinions on this.  Some people say just visiting a dangerous website can get you malware just by visiting it... others say you need an extension downloaded... others say you need it downloaded and opened.  So which is it?



3.  Does paid antivirus from kaspersky or norton do much more than free antivirus like windows defender and malwarebytes free?  Do paid AV display more messages on the screen compared to windows defender when they detect a site or file is dangerous?  I remember many times opening a file after downloading and defender would give some message like are you sure you want to open the exe file.  But if you know for sure it is safe, then no issue right?  But whether its paid or free AV, the moment you open an exe file or whatever file program, the antivirus cannot protect you right?  Such as say its malware/keylogger, then you are screwed?  Or even if you open it and then later scan it with the AV, it would detect it and remove it?  Thus imagine getting malware/keylogger and kaspersky detects it when during a scan.  If it removes it... is it removed completely?  What about windows defender?



4.  I heard about RAT - Remote Access Trojan.  Is this one of the worst malware to have?  I know keylogger is very bad because anything you type on your keyboard, it detects with your keystrokes.  But does keylogger also see your screen?  So if you use a virtual keyboard that protects you from keylogger like kaspersky keyboard, does that protect you?  It seem to say it does?  But if you get RAT, then you are basically compromised?  Since anything you type and your screen is going to be visible to the hacker?  



5.  Which type of virus/malware you have on your pc would basically compromise your software wallets on your windows pc?  Say you use electrum which is a hot software wallet.  When you open it, you will enter your electrum password to get your account.  I heard of the clipboard malware virus where you copy and paste an address and if you don't check, you would be sending your coins to another address.  But if you catch a virus, is your electrum pc compromised or not?  A keylogger and RAT for sure compromises your electrum wallet right?  Now let say you have a keylogger.  They can see what is your password for electrum since they detect your keystrokes.  You need this password to get into electrum and when you want to send coins.  Does that mean if you have a keylogger, someone could access your electrum anytime to log in and send the coins?  When they do this, can the user see their mouse start moving on their screen?  Does your pc need to be turned on?  What about RAT?  I thought RAT would mean they could access your pc anytime whether your pc is on or off and then just log into your electrum without you knowing?  So if you get malware/keylogger/RAT, does that mean if your hard drive is encrypted, it means absolutely nothing?

[jerry0]

6.  If the moment you catch malware/keylogger/RAT, if you no longer enter your sensitive information on this windows pc and go and clean reinstall it... as long as your files and software wallets are not opened from then on... are you safe?  Example you scan and detect infections with kaspersky or windows defender and then remove it and then eventually clean reinstall windows.  I assume as long as your important files are encrypted with a password, then even the keylogger/RAT cannot do anything to it?  Thus imagine not going to enter your electrum password because the moment you type it, then keylogger detects it?  I assume those malware cannot see what you typed in previously right?  Or can they still do it?



7.  If you use a VM or Linux or Mac, what are you protected against?  If you catch nasty malware, I assume you have to do a clean reinstall of your VM or Linux or Mac correct?



8.  I heard people say they get a separate computer for crypto.  Do most suggest this?  If so, linux?  What about chromebook?  Also when you talk about separate computer for crypto, you mean software wallets and crypto trading as well?  Is using the same pc to do all your crypto and everything with streaming from those tv/movie sites a recipe for disaster?  Imagine wanting to stream a football or soccer game.  Those have tons of ads that you have to close before you can view it.  Also I'm sure many of you watch porn for example and download it even.  If you ever download videos and files like that, your windows pc will most likely be compromised right?  I always heard those main porn streaming sites... those are safe.  Is that true?  It is only when you use not mainstream streaming sites, then it's dangerous?  So you use an android tablet to watch then?  If you were to use a pc... what would be the best option?  Chromebook?  Windows pc but make it a virtual machine?  But could you use the other part of the VM for your important things on the same laptop though since I heard a VM separates your computer into multiple parts?  Thus could you have one windows laptop and make it a VM but have one part for your main stuff... one part for crypto... then the other part for movie streaming and downloading pictures which might have malware?  But could one part infect the other?  I heard some malware is very nasty where you have to do a complete clean reinstall.  Is that true/false?

[Lafu]

1.  Now if you click on a link but not sure if it is dangerous or not, you should be using the AV immediately to scan it right?  Now if windows defender shows something but you quarantine or delete it, is your machine safe?  Now if you use a paid antivirus like norton or kaspersky and it shows nothing... it is still not 100% safe... is that correct?  I read kaspersky catches over 99% of malware/keyloggers and it is never 100%?  So basically doing a clean reinstall of windows is the only way to make sure?  Does that also mean if you let a computer IT genius look at your pc and have them do every scan imaginable without them doing a clean reinstall, it is still not 100%?

If you not sure about that the Link is safe or not copy the link and insert it on google and look what it does find about it.
You can also check it when the link is a download link to check it with Virustotal ( but mostly if you just check the link and dont upload the file it will be detect nothing)
If you downloading something from a website and you are not sure about it , load it up to Virustotal and run a scan there.
Also it depends on what you want to click , if its only a link for a website it should be good , for downloads you should check them for sure.
Keep in mind that there are some Malware and Virus Softwares that can pass the Antivirus Software sometimes , nothing is 100% safe , a new install is safe for sure !

2.  Can you catch virus/malware/keylogger just by clicking on a link?  

Normaly not but its possible.

But even if its a regular site, how do you know if it is safe?  

For safe and secure Websites you will see a Green or a Lock next to the Adress Bar

I heard you can only catch malware/keylogger on your pc if you download a file and open it.  

Thats the most common use or fault for infections with malware or Viruses.

4.  I heard about RAT - Remote Access Trojan.  Is this one of the worst malware to have?  

Every Malware are the worst , the one are more and the other are less but all of them danger.
If you get the right one it just takes 2-5 Minutes and you are compromised fully and a hack maybe is done already.

5. Which type of virus/malware you have on your pc would basically compromise your software wallets on your windows pc?  

There are so many , mostly the Malware and Virus install something in the background you dont see or notice that are looking for keywords ,
and password proteceted files on you PC and other usefull stuff like backups , seeds and and and ......

Say you use electrum which is a hot software wallet.  When you open it, you will enter your electrum password to get your account.  I heard of the clipboard malware virus where you copy and paste an address and if you don't check, you would be sending your coins to another address.  

Yes that can be happen , take a look here : Clipboard Hijacker Malware Monitors 2.3 Million Bitcoin Addresses

But if you catch a virus, is your electrum pc compromised or not?

It depends on the Virus and what kind of you are Infected , but its possible yes.

Now let say you have a keylogger.  They can see what is your password for electrum since they detect your keystrokes.  You need this password to get into electrum and when you want to send coins. Does that mean if you have a keylogger, someone could access your electrum anytime to log in and send the coins?  

Yes its possiblee the Hacker can see or know your password then and they can access it when they want.
Mostly if they know it or have it already its just a few Minutes and the Coins will be moved from there to other address where only the hacker is using.

When they do this, can the user see their mouse start moving on their screen?  Does your pc need to be turned on?  

When they do this you dont see anything on your screen or a mouse moving.
This will be all happen in the background.
Your PC need to on and connected to the internet that they can things there.

So hopefully this answer the most your questions as your post is a massive textwall and there are so many questions.
A little research on google or using the search function would be helped you for sure to answer the half of your questions .
Hope you know now a little bit more .

[tranthidung]

I use windows.

Best to use Linux, not Windows.

1.  Now if you click on a link but not sure if it is dangerous or not, you should be using the AV immediately to scan it right?

Think? Why do you click on links from strangers at beginnings? Do you know there are hidden risks from such links potentially?

Protection is better than cure so let's be careful and never opening links from strangers. You will be safe even without any free or paid Internet Security or Antivirus softwares. Another thing, such softwares can not completely protect your devices and there are false negative so you should never totally rely on them.

[cabron]

6.  If the moment you catch malware/keylogger/RAT, if you no longer enter your sensitive information on this windows pc and go and clean reinstall it... as long as your files and software wallets are not opened from then on... are you safe?  Example you scan and detect infections with kaspersky or windows defender and then remove it and then eventually clean reinstall windows.  I assume as long as your important files are encrypted with a password, then even the keylogger/RAT cannot do anything to it?  Thus imagine not going to enter your electrum password because the moment you type it, then keylogger detects it?  I assume those malware cannot see what you typed in previously right?  Or can they still do it?

7.  If you use a VM or Linux or Mac, what are you protected against?  If you catch nasty malware, I assume you have to do a clean reinstall of your VM or Linux or Mac correct?

8.  I heard people say they get a separate computer for crypto.  Do most suggest this?  If so, linux?  What about chromebook?  Also when you talk about separate computer for crypto, you mean software wallets and crypto trading as well?  Is using the same pc to do all your crypto and everything with streaming from those tv/movie sites a recipe for disaster?  Imagine wanting to stream a football or soccer game.  Those have tons of ads that you have to close before you can view it.  Also I'm sure many of you watch porn for example and download it even.  If you ever download videos and files like that, your windows pc will most likely be compromised right?  I always heard those main porn streaming sites... those are safe.  Is that true?  It is only when you use not mainstream streaming sites, then it's dangerous?  So you use an android tablet to watch then?  If you were to use a pc... what would be the best option?  Chromebook?  Windows pc but make it a virtual machine?  But could you use the other part of the VM for your important things on the same laptop though since I heard a VM separates your computer into multiple parts?  Thus could you have one windows laptop and make it a VM but have one part for your main stuff... one part for crypto... then the other part for movie streaming and downloading pictures which might have malware?  But could one part infect the other?  I heard some malware is very nasty where you have to do a complete clean reinstall.  Is that true/false?

I have no idea about RATS but as far as I understand it, they are activated when the computer is connected online and will connect to servers to download stuff in the background which is needed to access your computer.

I did a lot of installation in my Linux box, it didn't get any viruses or malware at all. But having a VM like the WINE, the windows inside the VM will get the virus and not the Linux system. So while you are using Linux, make use of it entirely to not depend on windows sofware.

[jerry0]

What antivirus do you all who use windows use then?


Using kaspersky total but is it lot better than the free microsoft defender?


i meant what if you accidentally opened a link on your email on your pc or your iphone?  Or you accidentally visit a phishing site but did not enter anything on the site and just left the site?  What if you accidentally click on those youtube link comments that is most likely virus or malware?  what happens?  do you get malware or virus or keylogger?  What if you have paid antivirus like kaspersky total compared to free microsoft defender?  Hear cd is more than enough for windows users if you use common sense and web browse safely but what if you accidentally visit a dangerous site or downloaded a file or opened a file or preview open it?

[jerry0]

Anyone else have input on this?

[jerry0]

Anyone have insight on this?