Viruses From Porn Sites?

[mattmatik]

Chrome + AdBlock + Flash Block for me. Never had problems.

I use Malwarebytes quick scan daily and full scan once a week along with MSE.

[+Warwagon MVC]

best thing to do is have an up to date virus scanner and do a malware scan once in a while. every site can get infected from time to time, it would also depend on if you are using one or particular sites all the time, or using google to search around for what you wanted, using many sites would be more likely that you come across one that is going to infect your machine.

if you dont have a malware/spyware scanner

Malwarebytes

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

While it is a good idea to do a virus scan from time to time, that is not the end all. Personally I should hope my AV NEVER picks something up. Not because I want an AV that sucks, but because I hope it doesn't find malware on my system simply because I don't have any. I would focus really hard at keeping java off the system and windows / 3rd party software updated. Sure you can still get infected, but now it's of your stupidity running a file rather than getting nuked from an exploit / drive by download.

[Crisp]

+1 for ABP.

Anyone who uses FireFox should have this installed by default. :laugh:

[Detection]

I suppose any site could be an attack site, even genuine clean sites are targeted and infected so that the next time someone visits that site, they will become infected

Adult sites sound likely though, warez/crack/keygen sites too

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

WinRT apps are sandboxed and Flash in WinRT IE is locked to trusted sites...I'm sure it would help.

I don't know how my brother still gets infected, but I'm pretty sure it'll happen again. :p

Nice I did not know that, I installed Win 8 on a partition on my comp, but I keep falling back to 7. I only use my Windows PC for gaming and streaming, so I do not use it much these days. That is definitely a great reason to suggest using it.

I verified with him, he did not install a single .exe, so it had to somehow be the ads from pron sites it sounds like.

So disabling Java, does anyone know if the Zune player relies on it at all? My friend is also one of the last people on earth who uses a Zune (I have offered him a FREE iPod, he has not taken it), so just want to make sure if disabling Java completely would interfere with that. I know I use Java on my machine for PS3 Media Server, so I have to admit disabling Java seems a little extreme to me as I feel it has its uses, but if it really will help stop all of this, I will un-install it.

See, I am my friends default tech support, which is ironic as you can all probably tell, I am not a Windows oriented user whatsoever, I know how to keep Windows running to play games and not much else (okay maybe a little more, but I am not on the level of people here who do it for a living, not even close), so anything I can do to make my life easier, I am all for it. :laugh:

Thanks again to everyone for all the different responses and help. I had a feeling I would grab peoples attention with the subject title, but I also knew more people than care to admit probably have had dealings with such sites. :shiftyninja: :D

[spaceelf]

Zune uses .NET, doesn't touch Java at all.

So disabling Java, does anyone know if the Zune player relies on it at all? My friend is also one of the last people on earth who uses a Zune (I have offered him a FREE iPod, he has not taken it), so just want to make sure if disabling Java completely would interfere with that. I know I use Java on my machine for PS3 Media Server, so I have to admit disabling Java seems a little extreme to me as I feel it has its uses, but if it really will help stop all of this, I will un-install it.

[Glassed Silver]

Uninstall Java (or don't install it if you don't already have it

Make sure (if you have them) you have the latest versions of Adobe Reader, Flash, Java (if you have it install). I would grab patchmypc and run it on that machine and see what out of date 3rd party software it finds. it updates all of them with 1 click.

Make sure you have all your windows updates

Run Firefox with adblock, flashblock. You can use noscript but it's sorta a pain in the ass.

I also recommend running standboxie. It won't prevent you from getting "infected" but if you do it should just infect the samebox. So to remove the virus infection, you just terminate all sandboxed processes and clear the sandbox.

Moral of the story, make sure you don't have java and keep your system up to date.

I should start playing "warwagon java bingo" :laugh:

qft btw... :)

Glassed Silver:ios

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

Zune uses .NET, doesn't touch Java at all.

Perfect thanks. That is my friends #1 reason for his computer, he loves music, and has an incredibly large music collection, so he always has Zune player running, which I have to admit after playing around with it one day at his house helping him do some house keeping, is a nice interface at least. So I just wanted to make sure disabling Java would not disable it at all. Thanks for the fast response. (Y)

[samuelwilliam]

mostly virus comes from Porn websites and saftey from these virus attacks make a browser more sequre and checking upgrades time to time.

[Dan~]

Teling him to stick with the usuals and not go clicking "are you sick of mast...." evidentally not I say!!

Atleast he's being honest to you, so pat him on the back but don't shake his hands

[Jose_49]

I admit i check out the sites now and again for a free viewing and its hard to tell if its the site your on, some dodgy add that pops up or as mentioned before some image that has some bad code hidden in it (ive had warnings saying such and such an image is dangerous but i believe its the site address being flagged).

Anyway here is what i use and dont seem to have any issues:

Chrome

Kaspersky

Adblock Plus

AdMuncher (Premium adblocker)

I do "sometimes" scan for malware and what not using malwarebytes and i probably do that more than a virus scan lol (maybe once every 2-3months sometimes longer)

Things ive tried:

Flash Block - Found annoying

Noscript - Sounds good and can do a good job but can be annoying to set up and configure so it works correctly with sites i normally ended up just disabling it

What I don't understand is that if you have Kaspersky which blocks most of the ads, and have AdBlock Plus, why have a premium Ad Blocker?

[cork1958]

I suggest a HOSTS file along with Firefox protection (i.e. Adblock, NoScript, etc). Also check his Java plugin and make sure it's up to date.

There we go!

Took a second to find a reply that suggests a host file!! #1 protrection tool!!

Get a good one here, http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm and then you don't even need some stupid ad blocking addon!!

NoScript and WoT are both pieces of junk and/or more of a PITA, than anything else.

Porn sites ARE NOT anymore dangerous than coming here. It's all about what has been injected/added to the particular site you're at.

[GreenMartian]

I verified with him, he did not install a single .exe, so it had to somehow be the ads from pron sites it sounds like.

There was a vulnerability in the Java applet runtime a couple versions back that allows attackers to trigger the machine to download a payload executable without the user having to click anything (other than simply visiting a site).

I had to deal with the fallout of one such incident.. The payload exe in this case would run, sniff for a while, then start sending out emails to the user's contacts in webmails (yahoo, gmail, hotmail) with links to similarly infected sites. Oh yeah, as a bonus, it also joins your PC as a zombie in one of the major botnets.

There are other payloads making rounds on the net, but that was one of the nastier ones.

Oracle allegedly fixed the vulnerability in the recent versions, but I still tell people to NOT install Java under any circumstances. And if they REALLY must have it for one of their apps, then I would point them to articles about how to disable the browser applets (which you have to do for EACH browser you have installed. Each of them in slightly different ways. A bloody annoyance.)

See, I am my friends default tech support, which is ironic as you can all probably tell, I am not a Windows oriented user whatsoever.

I feel you. I'm the exact opposite - Windows user with Mac-using friends. I'm lucky to know enough Unix command-line, as I wouldn't know which button to click to, say, disable DHCP on a Mac... :pinch:

[LUTZIFER]

I don't know what kind of porn sites you guys go to, but I've never had any problems with any,

and IE does a perfect job as is without the need to fiddle with the HOSTS file.

I've been going to porn sites on a regular basis since 1995.

[OOOOOOOO]

Getting viruses from porn sites is a myth. If anything, it'd be a virus site disguised as one, but very unlikely.

I've been going to porn sites non stop for close to 20 years now and I've never gotten a virus from one.

Out of all the years running computers, I've gotten 2 viruses which I've had no problem manually removing them myself in no time at all.

Quoted for the truth ...! Not just been going to them, but I worked in the adult industry on web design etc for a fair few years and most hosting platforms are very well protected. The worst thing that could happen to porn online would be the ludicrous suggestion that viruses come from the sites turning out to be a real thing. Doesn't happen.

[Xoligy]

What I don't understand is that if you have Kaspersky which blocks most of the ads, and have AdBlock Plus, why have a premium Ad Blocker?

AdMuncher catches the ones that they dont... I admit i started this counter before adding adblock but it still goes up. Also i have noticed that on two sites it removed the wait time for the videos and on some others removes the video ads that the service adds (bbc, c4, youtube etc). On top of that i feel i got a good deal by saving ?25 or $50 whichever you prefer for lifetime updates. Of cause adblock probably can do what admuncher can if you set it up but there is always something i forget to do and thats back up my settings so i have to start from scratch everytime i format it just makes life simpler.

Statistics for Ad Muncher v4.93.33707/4384

Adverts removed: 70,572

Bandwidth saved: 2,077 MB

Counter started: November 16, 2012

[Technique]

I'll admit - 3 pages, i haven't read through it all so this may have been suggested

But what about doing his porn activities on a virtual machine using say VMWare Player?

From what i read up (whether it's true or not i don't know) it doesn't infect the host machine. Get a virus on the VM & it's on the VM, not the host.

[Dashel]

Most porn sites are quite a bit safer than a Google image search.

[spaceelf]

I'll admit - 3 pages, i haven't read through it all so this may have been suggested

But what about doing his porn activities on a virtual machine using say VMWare Player?

From what i read up (whether it's true or not i don't know) it doesn't infect the host machine. Get a virus on the VM & it's on the VM, not the host.

On certain processors it can actually escalate outside of the VM (though it's probably rare you'd come across one that does that.)

[laz45]

Chrome + Adblock = Years of care free porn or at least for me :p

[Draconian Guppy]

sandboxie? though not sure if it runs on w8

[Technique]

On certain processors it can actually escalate outside of the VM (though it's probably rare you'd come across one that does that.)

Interesting.

Name such processors?

Not an AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Processor by any chance? :shifty:

[brn]

There we go!

Took a second to find a reply that suggests a host file!! #1 protrection tool!!

Get a good one here, http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm and then you don't even need some stupid ad blocking addon!!

NoScript and WoT are both pieces of junk and/or more of a PITA, than anything else.

Porn sites ARE NOT anymore dangerous than coming here. It's all about what has been injected/added to the particular site you're at.

Sorry, but I have to disagree with you about the usefulness of Adblock and NoScript. Adblock is so good that it should be installed by default, but

since it isn't, it's always recommended. NoScript is useful too, but I agree that it's a PITA. Most people could do without it but it's great for the paranoid!

I haven't used WOT in a long time though, so I can't say much about it. Good job mentioning the MVPS site; I've been using that one forever!

[spaceelf]

Interesting.

Name such processors?

Not an AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Processor by any chance? :shifty:

Nope

http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/649219

[+Warwagon MVC]

sandboxie? though not sure if it runs on w8

I can confirm Sandboxie runs great on Windows 8.