Will downloading torrents give you spyware/malware?

[Hazir]

Using torrent is not more harmful that browsing net in my opinion. You can be infected with all that shit just by opening some site. I heard that some popular uploads may be special - and include some sort of tracking.

[CEG5952]

Although windows 7 and 8 are considered not so vulnerable to viruses, they still can be infected.

Since when are Windows 7/8 considered "not so vulnerable"? Maybe if you are only comparing to XP or something, but I'd say you have to be especially careful when using a Windows machine.

[josephliton]

The only way you would have spyware on your computer is if you gave somebody physical access to it or permitted shared access over your network. All the malware known to exist that are capable of doing that use vulnerabilities that have been patched for years and have been targeted against small groups (e.g. Tibetan sympathizers). So as long as you keep your OS X and applications fully up-to-date, keep Java disabled except when you absolutely must use it and pay attention to any warnings you get, then you are protected against all currently known malware that can impact your computer.

[1Referee]

If you download using ThePirateBay just download from trusted and vip uploaders, these people will have a green or purple icon connected to their uploaded files.

If some one is not trusted or vip just pick the torrent with the best possible seed/leech ratio.

[PolarPoint]

If your system/browser is not well protected. You could get malware just from visiting a webpage and click on something you shouldn't have. Downloading anything is risky, even image files, documents, pdf...

Torrents can contain any file type. Some are compressed and password protected, so malware scanners can miss them once in a while.

[conteaza]

Although windows 7 and 8 are considered not so vulnerable to viruses, they still can be infected.

Since when are Windows 7/8 considered "not so vulnerable"? Maybe if you are only comparing to XP or something, but I'd say you have to be especially careful when using a Windows machine.

indeed, Linux is the best considering viruses etc.

there are almost none for it

You are sure buddy??

[CEG5952]

Although windows 7 and 8 are considered not so vulnerable to viruses, they still can be infected.

Since when are Windows 7/8 considered "not so vulnerable"? Maybe if you are only comparing to XP or something, but I'd say you have to be especially careful when using a Windows machine.

indeed, Linux is the best considering viruses etc.

there are almost none for it

You are sure buddy??

Well, of course there are viruses that target Linux systems. But statistically, it's pretty true relative to Windows. If you look at Windows' market share, it makes sense too, why malware producers would be incentivised to target Windows users.