Rogue AntiVirus

[deanej]

UAC is fairly useless and in fact, a nuisance if you know what you're doing. Linux users dont complain because sudo only comes up when you want to modify system files, or install something important. Windows UAC is a bit too aggressive, and pops up for even the more inane things.

I'd consider Program Files to be important. The only legitimate reason to be in that folder is to mod games, and the solution to that is to install your games elsewhere (this also eliminates the need to run games as an admin).

 

[Genocidicbunny]

I'd consider Program Files to be important. The only legitimate reason to be in that folder is to mod games, and the solution to that is to install your games elsewhere (this also eliminates the need to run games as an admin).

So if you can install programs elsewhere, why's Program Files so special.

I consider stuff important if it has to modify the /Windows folder, or more specifically, /system32. Program Files is just program files, Ill install what I want in there.

Seriously, if you need UAC to hold your hand, then you are better off leaving it on. If you find yourself getting annoyed by it though, its time to turn it off and play with the big boys. Like I said, I have not had a single virus/piece of malware. My strategy is use some common sense (Yeah, antivirus advertisement, lets click on that! *not*), have a good antivirus running and thats it. Works better than any MS pseudo-security protocol.

(Oh yes, UAC can be faked, and can be bypassed, so really...it only stops the minor stuff I could fix by hand)

 

[deanej]

Because that's where your AV software goes and stuff. I'd recommend keeping default install paths for everything EXCEPT games. Games are the exception, not the rule.

UAC can't be faked, as long as you keep the secure desktop (the darkening of the screen) enabled. You can't spoof the secure desktop.

How do you know you aren't infected? AV software won't protect you against anything that isn't ancient by itself. The first thing any piece of malware will do is disable your AV software and start taking over your computer to prevent you from detecting and removing it. Even if your AV software says nothing is there, you can't trust it if you've been infected. By the way, there have been cases of ads being infected with viruses even here on CFC, and they did not require you to click on them to infect you.

The bottom line is, keep UAC on, browse the internet in a sandbox, and have good AV software. Only with all three can you be as secure as possible.

The whole point of UAC is actually to protect users from themselves, according to MS.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Because that's where your AV software goes and stuff. I'd recommend keeping default install paths for everything EXCEPT games. Games are the exception, not the rule.

And everything else too. I want everything I installed in one location.

UAC can't be faked, as long as you keep the secure desktop (the darkening of the screen) enabled. You can't spoof the secure desktop.

Telling the system you clicked yes, or even bypassing UAC in the first place can be done though.

How do you know you aren't infected? AV software won't protect you against anything that isn't ancient by itself. The first thing any piece of malware will do is disable your AV software and start taking over your computer to prevent you from detecting and removing it. Even if your AV software says nothing is there, you can't trust it if you've been infected. By the way, there have been cases of ads being infected with viruses even here on CFC, and they did not require you to click on them to infect you.

I don't know that my computer is not infected. None of us can with 100% certainty. If my AV goes down, I can manually clean out enough stuff to get it back up and running. When I suspect something may be up, I also have a proxy to fall back on, one that will keep me from getting infected any further through off-site means.

And what ads are you talking about? I havent seen any ads on cfc for years now. Same goes for most other sites, exactly because of what you described.

The bottom line is, keep UAC on, browse the internet in a sandbox, and have good AV software. Only with all three can you be as secure as possible.

Havent had the first two and so far my system is just as secure as those who do have it.

The whole point of UAC is actually to protect users from themselves, according to MS.

I dont need protection from myself. Im not a pebkac like most users are.

UAC on Vista is a farce. Windows 7 made it a little better, but its still nigh useless for those of us who know what they're doing. If you advocate against that, its fairly obvious which category you dont belong to.

The only good thing about UAC that I can think of is forcing developers to get their programming practices right to avoid the prompts.

 

[deanej]

I don't see any ads on CFC either, but that's because my universtiy blocks ads (recently a bunch of people got their computers infected through infected ads). But there was a problem two or three years ago.

I follow the lead of Paul Thurrot when it comes to Windows, and he advocates that people leave it on even if they know what they are doing.

You're not going to get everything in one place even with your games in Program Files. If you have a 64 bit system, there are two folders. And some applications, for whatever reason, install in [user]\AppData\Roaming, including Google Chrome and civ in many cases.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Oh and Thurrott isnt biased at all in favor of Windows. Nope, not at all.

Those apps arent installing there. They put the user-based settings there - -preferences, profiles, etc.

 

[deanej]

Apparently civ sometimes installs the whole game there. I've never seen it happen, but sometimes it does. Or are you going to call Lemon Merchant a quack too? I can't find Chrome ANYWHERE in Program Files, and ALL my shortcuts for chrome point to my user folder.

Sure, Thurrott is a Windows guy, but I'm sure he's better than the Apple-biased press. I guess the fact that we're all biased for civ makes it so we can't talk about it too. Congratulations, you just made CFC vanish in a puff of logic.

 

[cardgame]

Civ BTS installed mine in AppData/Roaming...

It's annoying as hell because it's not a findable folder, you have to manually type it all in to display it.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

It's annoying as hell because it's not a findable folder, you have to manually type it all in to display it.

I turned on the show hidden files then I unhide the Appdata folder.

 

[deanej]

Does it stay unhidden? I know in XP if you unhide stuff like that, Windows will re-hide it, but Vista and 7 might have changed this.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

Does it stay unhidden? I know in XP if you unhide stuff like that, Windows will re-hide it, but Vista and 7 might have changed this.

So far mine is still unhided.

 

[plarq]

My Linux box is free of virus, at least now.

For Windows, I'm currently using avast! antivirus (Home version, free of charge). Dunno it is safe enough, I'm using most recent Firefox browser.

 

[civ_king]

NOT A GOOD IDEA!!! UAC is there for security reasons. Your best bet is to not install games in Program Files. If you're seeing UAC all the time, YOU are the problem. You shouldn't be changing settings and installing programs every single day. Mac and Linux have had this feature for YEARS now and I don't see any on their users complaining.

Vista is far more secure and reliable than XP ever was. It's also the first OS designed by Microsoft where security was on the agenda. For XP and earlier, MS never cared about security, and it shows.

I'm positive that SecuROM destroyed the reliability of my XP desktop. Had to reformat the drive before it would start to work properly again. There have also been many cases of problems with SecuROM. Getting an actual virus is probably better for your computer than letting SecuROM touch it. By the way, the first thing any good virus will do when it gets on your system is disable parts of Windows and your AV software so it can't be detected and removed. Once you get a virus, you can never trust your computer again without a reformat, and even that isn't always enough (if the virus infects your BIOS).

1) Program Files is so programs aren't all over the place and in a simple place for all programs to default install to
2) Mac Security is no where near as intrusive as Vista, MS copied it half-hearted half-assed
3) Vista is a dominatrix who enjoys pegging the user roughly
4) IMO XP is more reliable because of years of effort put into it
5) Vista was the first one that didn't initially act as a drunk whore
6) MS still doesn't care about security
7) SecuROM IS malware though StarForce gives me nightmares
8) there is no such thing as a good virus, however there are competently written ones
9) you can always flash your BIOS
10) if you think you need UAC you probably do

It's not about deserving, its not a good/evil issue.

Honestly, I support extreme punishments for intentional virus spreading, possibly capital punishment (It can cause a lot of harm, and as they are nearly uncatchable, it would be a potential deterrent if they are caught.)

It depends how computer savvy you are though, I'm not, so I clicked on it. Not everyone is computer savvy. This was a long time ago now, and I now know not to do it.

If you do it AGAIN after finding out, yes, you deserve it. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

LOL at nearly uncatchable

I'd consider Program Files to be important. The only legitimate reason to be in that folder is to mod games, and the solution to that is to install your games elsewhere (this also eliminates the need to run games as an admin).

The point of Program Files is it's where you should install a program's files hence the name

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Apparently civ sometimes installs the whole game there. I've never seen it happen, but sometimes it does. Or are you going to call Lemon Merchant a quack too? I can't find Chrome ANYWHERE in Program Files, and ALL my shortcuts for chrome point to my user folder.

That is in fact a problem with the installers for the programs. Ill give you the chrome one, but then again, Google doesnt have too much experience with desktop apps.

Sure, Thurrott is a Windows guy, but I'm sure he's better than the Apple-biased press. I guess the fact that we're all biased for civ makes it so we can't talk about it too. Congratulations, you just made CFC vanish in a puff of logic.

I really couldn't care less for the Apple press. Not to say that I care for Windows, or Linux, or any OS-centric press. I prefer it when the author writes from a more unbiased pov.

And no, it doesnt make cfc vanish in a 'puff of logic'. I never said you shouldnt follow Thurrott's advice, but that you should make sure that you're not following it simply because he seems authoritative.

 

[Maniacal]

I have never had any problems, that I am aware of, due to Starforce or SecuROM, although I strongly dislike both.

Also lol at saying that we shouldn't install programs in program files xD

 

[LastLegionare]

That is fairly ironic. But it's true you can't mod a game half the time if it is installed there.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I like to keep my games in C:/Games to keep it more seperated and organized.

 

[Maniacal]

That is fairly ironic. But it's true you can't mod a game half the time if it is installed there.

Er no I don't see why its install location would matter. Some games are so hard coded however, that you can't mod very much without cracking the .exe file which is not legal.

 

[LastLegionare]

Vista won't let me mod civ 4 because it's there. If modding civ 4 is illegal, then we need more jails.

 

[civ_king]

Vista is a poorly done big brother