Does you computer been attacked by a virus?

@Fulltank (2882)
Philippines
October 8, 2009 10:10pm CST
I had several computer virus attacked since I first used the computer years ago. Computer virus is a daily treat us. One of my hard disk was wipe-out and erased all the data stored in it. The only way to prevent this is installing the best available anti-virus software with latest updates and features. But the problem with mine is that, my anti-virus software did not even notice the virus who so much damage to mu hard disk. And its a good anti-virus and I had upgraded it every now and then. My question is, have you have similar experience on virus attacks even if you have installed and update your anti-virus protection very often? As a user, how can we prevent this malicious attacks in the future?
3 people like this
26 responses
@taztheone (1721)
• India
9 Oct 09
My PC was never attacked my virus for the last one year. Thanks to a powerful anti-virus I use, which is kaspersky. Happy Lotting
1 person likes this
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
9 Oct 09
Kaspersky requires yearly updating of your user license which requires extra payment (i think).
@taztheone (1721)
• India
9 Oct 09
Ya, it's very true but it's worth it.
@rdsantos (320)
• Philippines
9 Oct 09
the thing is even if you have the most sophisticated anti virus but then again you allow the virus from accessing your computer system then it won't still work and you are still going to be infected. nowadays most viruses are packaged in a way that they disguised as a legitimate software or system patch like what mostly happen to windows users wherein viruses came from system patch updates.so to avoid this just make sure you download and install programs from a legitimate sources, if your aren't sure about a program then don't install it. sometimes anti virus gets mistakes too. i don't think there is really a best way to avoid or best anti virus to use when it comes to this since everyday more and more virus are being created with higher probability of undetection. so what i can recommend to you is use a virtual machine program like sandbox or vmwares, it will emulate your system it's like having an operating system inside your operating system. you can do things inside virtual machines like you normally do. on this way you can try out programs first without affecting your real system if something bad happens. this is what i do so i can avoid real pain due to virus attacks.
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
9 Oct 09
"Sanbox? Vmwares? are this downloadable on the net. How much will it cost me?
@rdsantos (320)
• Philippines
9 Oct 09
yup they are, just search for them. having more than 1 antivirus on the system is a big NO NO! for me, there are antivirus that are not compatible with others, they all have different features, most of them has real time scan, if you have 3 anti virus and all of their real time scan are running do you think it wouldnt affect the processing speed of your pc? i'd say yes there's an effect to it, and it may lead to system being slow, i have avast pro, it has real time scan, web scan,p2p scan,script blocker, network shield,instant messaging, internet mail, and outlook/exchange shield. the virtual machines are just for testing purpose only, i use SANDBOX to test programs.
@shajerrl (309)
• China
9 Oct 09
I have used 3 ways to protect my computer from malicious attacks: Avast+windows firewall+360 security guard (the Chinese firewall sofeware). this combined method is very effective to stop virus attack, my computer haven't been attacked for many years. and another points you should care is DO NOT open some unknown websites or adult websites...
1 person likes this
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
9 Oct 09
good for you, try to follow your advice. but will three computer software running at the same time have effect on your computer programs at all (say make it slower)?
1 person likes this
@shajerrl (309)
• China
9 Oct 09
No, this 3 ways will be effected at the same time, but don't worry, this method haven't any effect on your computer program. you can use avast home edition for free from http://www.avast.com. also 360 security guard is also free for user, I don't know if you can find the english version for this, the following link is their Chinese website: http://www.360.cn. Good luck.
@pals101 (2010)
• Philippines
9 Oct 09
Three things to consider to have a well-protected computer: 1.) Install an anti-virus with its latest updates 2.) Install an anti-spyware with its latest updates 3.) Setup a Firewall software, aside from using windows firewall.
1 person likes this
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
9 Oct 09
Do I need to install all of these software? But i guess you would say "YES". I'll try to follow your lead. Thanks.
@bettydeng5 (1822)
• China
9 Oct 09
My computer often was attacked by the virus, I think the virus easily to come our computer though we install the anti-virus software. So we need to be more careful for it, we don't should download any attachment from other website, and don't open the unknow website, which will let protect our computer.
1 person likes this
• India
9 Oct 09
well i had faced the similar problem when i was new to use the computer. I doesn't know that the updates are available and often used to download from adult sites. During downloads i doesn't scan for any viruses and it harms my computer. My friends suggested me to use some anti-virus program and then i was installing updates regularly. Even though we update some virus affects operating system too. I think virus programs are efficient than anti-virus. We doesn't have any solution,it seems.
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
9 Oct 09
Taught of this also as one reason to my problem before. I taught that my anti-virus software automatically updates, but I really don't know.
@hora_fugit (5862)
• India
10 Oct 09
I am attacked so many times by the viruses that I can't keep count. Well, my computer is, actually. Sometimes these are just the bugs produced by myself! Other time my friend got a virus with real potentials, which blocked or deleted just everything, caused frantic restarts and but for timely intervention, erased all the data. Not that I care for his data, Maybe his Antivirus was not updated, as the 'mighty' virus resides in all our comp labs and his was the first case of its kind (a pendrive transfer caused it). In my opinion keeping your antivirus updated is all you can do. That too doesn't help sometimes, once an antivirus deleted all the executable files in a particular disk, including its own installer! All the same....
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
11 Oct 09
Most of viruses sent through e-mail comes usually from a friends inbox. Because we think that a file attached seems from a trustworthy source, we intend to open it and alas! our computer are infected too.
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
13 Oct 09
Yes, I have encountered such situation before. I have noticed that there was this application who always crops up from time to time. Sad to note that my anti-virus did not discover the problem. I shifted to avira anti-virus and have been satisfied with the it so far. Well, it is really important to have a good anti-virus software for good protection. You must not open any files right away, make sure you scan them first before opening.
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
14 Oct 09
good tip, i'll keep it in mind. thanks for sharing this to us.
@Mac6999 (705)
• India
9 Oct 09
My computers have been attacked by viruses a couple of times since I started to use them. One was a very bad virus and things were just going crazy. So I had to back up all my data carefully and re install windows again. The other ones were simple viruses that were just cleaned up with an Anti virus scan. I changed to Kaspersky anti virus around two years ago and thing are working just fine. No problems so far.
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
9 Oct 09
good thing that I back-up all my files before that incident happens. I have burn it in a DVD and presto, I haven't find any problem restoring them. but I had to bring it back first to the computer shop for them to reformat my hard disk safely.
@bloodsky (69)
• Philippines
9 Oct 09
yes my computer was attacked by a trojan yesterday. my anti-virus did not detect it even though it's always updated, but my windows defender detected it and it's alert level is high. Good thing win defender can delete it. So make sure to run a full scan on your comp at least once a week if you surf the web regularly.
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
9 Oct 09
yeah. regular updating doesn't seems to detect all kinds of virus. several members have advice to install more than one anti-virus software in the system, but I'm afraid it will slow down my computer.
@anurag3786 (6267)
• India
27 Oct 09
Yes many time my computer attacked by virus.. but i remove them by good antivirus.. but i saw ..sometime a virus can corrupt your important files..when you don't protect it by antivirus.. so it is necessary to instal a good antivirus on computer..
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
29 Oct 09
Anti-virus companies are always one step ahead to virus developers and hackers. But sometimes, they slip in the firewall and attacked previous files on our computer. Some say two or three anti-virus will give you the best protection. But with my slower computer specs., I don't think I can install and run them at the same time.
• United States
10 Oct 09
My last computer fell victim to an onslaught of internet bourne viruses. The internet can be a great source of entertainment but you gotta be careful where you look because one wrong site and your stuck with tons of viruses that love to destroy your memory and corrupt your operating system. Only recently i bought an antivirus pack and my computer is working like a charm. You can really prevent these attacks by only going to trusted sites. I also bought a backup hardrive in case my old one got destroyed i can start anew with all of my files there and uncorrupted.
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
10 Oct 09
I learned it the hard way. Now I'm more careful than ever.
• China
10 Oct 09
yes ,my have attacked by a virus ,it made me very troubled ,my computer can not run properly ,then I used the anti-virus software to eliminate ,then the world will calm down .haha . I will give you some suggestions : 1 . please do not visit AV site ,otherwise ,you may be infected with the virus. 2. please clean up junk files computer every month.
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
10 Oct 09
Sorry, but whats an AV site? I do clean junk files every other day, but still my computer was hit by a virus.
@Fireheart (683)
• India
9 Oct 09
Well, one thing that is common nowadays is those virus things that still haunts any computer,i mean those people who must have made these virus must be high programmers, I think people who has this skill is misusing it for virus attack,i think in near future this virus would become more of high danger,where no antivirus can catch it,anyway my pc is safe as long as avg antivirus is updated in my pc..
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
9 Oct 09
remember the one who release the "i love you virus" several years back. it created a havoc amongst internet users all around the world.
• India
10 Oct 09
Yea that what we call the danger online, even here is not safe..who know even more latest viruses maybe released just like that to create panic among internet users, i must say precaution must be taken at all times..
@cheenlly (3477)
• Philippines
9 Oct 09
I have tried similar experience and its really annoying. Well, what can i do, the anti-virus i had is a free version so its a limited features. My computer that time had totally crashed so the only solution i had is to reformat my computer which i do now every time i had problem. As for your problem, in order to resolve that you have to change your anti-virus a better one.
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
9 Oct 09
free-version do have limited features, buying security code for an upgrade is like these anti-virus software company is making a business out of it. but i guess its worth it.
@gmkk1986 (471)
• India
9 Oct 09
I never experienced with this kind of problem like wiping of whole hard drive due to virus. May be happens some times. Its totally depends on the executable files attacked to you pc. Yes Even if we use good antivirus with updates.. its generally happens to our systems in very normal way. Its due to hard deployment of virus or while we accept these viruses unknowingly at firewall level. I use avast and its working fine with me.
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
9 Oct 09
I don't even know what was the virus was. I think its a powerful one as it erases all files on my hard disk. I had to bring it back to the shop for reformatting.
1 person likes this
@Ruby722 (796)
• China
10 Oct 09
Hi Fulltank Of course i have..and i hate the virus very much..I still remember last year my moveable disk i stick in my computer everyone..One morning when i open the computer and open the moveable disk and i find out it's clean..Nothing in that moveable disk..the data was gonne..i am so sad..i sent the moveable to the repair company.but they said it was buy a strong virus.and can't repair any more..so i hate virus...
• Spain
9 Oct 09
Yup, I have a vast experiences regarding this virus attack. I have several PCs on our internet shop and it cannot be prevented however measure I implement because some of our customers are really ignorant when it comes to scanning their USB drive. They always ignore the prompt whenever the installed anti-virus software on our computer asked them to block or delete the files infected from their flash drive. The worst part is that when a computer is really hit by a new virus and then my antivirus is not yet updated. It will resort me to reformatting and reinstalling Windows which is I really hate. There are 4 things that should do to prevent virus attacks on your computer: 1. Make sure it is updated. Always update it whenever you turn on your computer. This will download new antivirus files to protect your PC from new viruses. 2. Scan it every time you turn on and turn off the PC. 3. Scan any removable drives that is being inserted on your computer. 4. Scan all downloaded files to make sure that it is free from viruses. That's all I can think from now. Have a virus free day and happy myLotting!
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
9 Oct 09
And hows your computer shop business? I'm sure its booming, many Filipinos are really into the internet thing. I'm sure its "games" thats keeping them or your shop for lots of hours. thanks for the advice.
@450052 (8)
• China
9 Oct 09
I also had same experiences on computer virus attacked, but it's not worse than yours. In my opinion, It's important to update anti-virus database latest and install windows firewall. second, scan your computer ofen and removable drive connecting your PC every time. thired, don't scan unknown website and install software infected by virus. last, bakeup your OS, it may be convenient to reinstall OS.
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
9 Oct 09
worse than mine? my hard disk was wipe-out, whats worst than that?
• India
16 Oct 09
Hi Fulltank, s even i was facing the same problems as you were facing, even i had the latest legal verion antivirus, but the problem was still there, so i uninstalle the antivirus and i was free from antivirus.