Download Sites: Good or Bad 4 ur PC?
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Posted on Sep 18, 2004 11:16 am
tonedef231
I'm scary! Boo!!!
Member Since: Jul 25, 2004
Reading this site and wondering about spyware and viruses. I'm wondering if there are any sites like Kazaa and other download sites, that won't screw up your computer by installing crap and slowing it down? I'm going to be using my new computer for DAW and would like to use the net for stuff too. I would like to be able to download music etc. So what is a good site for that? or is there any that are safe? I would like to keep away from bad sites that could harm my computer. Db mentioned use common sense, so what do you consider bad sites, or good sites? Also if I were to partion my computer, would that keep things running smooth?
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Sep 18, 2004 12:02 pm partitioning will do nothing, and p2p networks are quite often havens for viruses and crap.
As stated before many times, check out www.spywareinfo.com for news, info and discussion regarding this kind of thing. That site is the best source for info anywhere on the internet.
vdalehubbardLost for words with all to say.Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003
Sep 18, 2004 12:24 pm Well, the "legal" sites where you buy mp3's are safe :) But there is Kazaa Lite that doesn't include the spyware that the regular Kazaa installs with it (Bonza, that stupid purple gorilla, Gator, etc.). But that doesn't keep you safe from downloading virus' and such. People love to rename a virus something you want just to mess with you. I used to do Kazaa but not no more, get tired of downloading the opposite of what you want. Plus, it's not being honest getting stuff for free either. What is become popular now, it comes through port 80 so it's a nightmare for IT administrators to block, is Bittorrent. But I won't get into that here :)
Sep 18, 2004 12:26 pm Well, there is more to it than the spyware that gets installed with the app itself. Just the network and the files being shared are sometimes full of much greater threats than the internet at large. When you download something it does not mean it is what it says it is...
tonedef231I'm scary! Boo!!!Member
Since: Jul 25, 2004
Sep 18, 2004 06:23 pm So do you suggest not using those download sites at all or what? I would honestly love to get on there and load songs from bands that I like. So is there a way to do it besides legally paying for the cd. I know you might not be able to say certain things on here, but give me a clue on what you would do in my case.
Thank you for your help so far!
Sep 18, 2004 06:31 pm There is absolutely nothing I would say in private that I wouldn't say here. If you think I am even going to pass any little inuendo to hint that I think it's OK to go on there and steal songs and/or software that you haven't rightfully purchased you are sadly mistaken.
Of course I recommend you buy things legally. SOmebody puts time and effort into something, somebody else that likes it pays for it in hopes that person continues making product that the buyer likes. That's capitalism, and that's how it works. Go to the MS music portal, Apples ITunes, Napster, or any of the other legal channels of music purchase.
As far as I am concerned, if anyone is on those networks stealing music and/or software, I hope they get infected. One turn deserves another...what goes around comes around...
No clue to give, I'll tell you flat out what I do. I buy the friggin music I like. Fortunately for me, most of the music I listen to these days is made by HRC members or other indie artists that give it away freely and safely on this web site, NoWhereRadio, HomeGrownVinyl or any other number of places.
tonedef231I'm scary! Boo!!!Member
Since: Jul 25, 2004
Sep 18, 2004 06:39 pm Ok, good point dB. I guess I'm getting to concerned with catching something for even being on the internet period. Maybe just staying in the well known sites would be a safe bet as far as not catching anything. I have just got friends that use kazaa and their computer is slow. I don't want the same thing to happen on a recording computer.
Those sites you mentioned like napster aren't very expensive or what? I remember a long time ago napster was free.
Sep 18, 2004 06:48 pm Napster has been reborn as a legit music site. There are many out there now that have a small monthly fee for downloads. I don't know any off the top of my head, but I do know a couple neighbor kids use them.
much of the problem of internet hazzards such as spyware can be averted by simply switching to Mozilla for browsing instead of Internet Explorer...as there are better security setting for allowing sites to install crap on your PC.
Run your anti-virus app now and then, scan for spyware with adaware now and then and you should be pretty well off...
tonedef231I'm scary! Boo!!!Member
Since: Jul 25, 2004
Sep 19, 2004 07:26 am Ok thanks for the info, I will do that.
tonyd1970The fat one always watches us.Member
Since: Nov 08, 2002
Sep 19, 2004 08:32 am i just woke up, but this caught my attention. When im in town, (i travel alot for my job) but when im in the office i get atleast 1 pc from co-workers homes that are so jammed up with spy/adware that they just dont function. these folks arnt stealing software/music- there downloading "fish screensavers" or clicking on the "you have virus's" popups, ect ect. nothing is truly "free" I HATE GAIN. it serves a purpose, but its waaaay to sneaky in how it goes about things. i have been forced to lock out 50% of the users at the office from installing anything on thier work machines for the same reasons. no matter what, the internet is 2-way, so many people think that thier machine is like a 1-way mirror.... the best advice is read up, be careful of free, and dont steal anything anyway. If youre having problems with ad/spyware...I've got ad-aware on my site for downloading- it's free, and pretty tight- remember to do its little update thing 1ce a week
members.cox.net/tonyd1970
the links page
Sep 19, 2004 09:04 am Yeah, that's a very good point tonyd, so many of those cutesy screen saver sites, font sites, wallpaper and desktop themes sites are ruthless with spyware and virus infecting ads and even their installers are virus laden.
And yes, a good number of the ads, that are made to look like Windows dialog boxes trick a lot of people...the ones that say "speed up your computer" or "Spyware has been detected...". My dad calls me every now and then to ask about an add he sees...I'm glad he calls, otherwise I'd end up going over there to innoculate...an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure...
Every now and then for certain jobs I require a font that I don't currently have so I have to go find it, I absolutely dread those times, cuz it's always scary...
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Sep 26, 2004 10:38 pm Good points all. And dont forget about the little weather bug, time and temprature icons, and mostly the little stinkin smiley face guys. My son has been hit 6 times by the stupid stuff and he is getting them at sites such as Nick.com and kid related websites that should protect themselves and their users better form that crap.
Sep 27, 2004 06:04 am I seem to just get trojaned with or without the damn "professional" apps from just being on b/band and being on the web.
Norton and McAffe - both are suseptable...its just nae gid. There is NAE safe way to browse the web 100%....other than OFFLINE :-) !!
Darn little getts who do this - I'd love to kick their *** I tell ya. PC's have had to be reimaged etc just cause some little sodd wants to write a virus.
Im reliably informed nobody writes viruses for Linux so Im a heading over there :-D !! heehhe
End of rant.
Coco.
flame...bringing sexy backMember
Since: Jul 01, 2002
Sep 27, 2004 06:14 am im gonna use my old atari from now on i reckon...noone makes viruses for them either...
Sep 27, 2004 06:48 am Viruses for Linux are starting to come out in the mainstream...as Linux gains popularity they will more. Windows gets them for one reason, because it's the leader and everybody wants to topple a leader...fortunately for them, Windows sometimes makes it easy for them, for it's getting better.
I wanna know where you guys go and what you do cuz I have had one virus (spyware actually, no virus) in the last 5 years or so...and I just run AVG anti-virus and scan with Adaware every now and them...no special measures...
flame...bringing sexy backMember
Since: Jul 01, 2002
Sep 27, 2004 06:51 am Quote:
I wanna know where you guys go and what you do
note : this is a family oriented site, so perhaps best you dont tell us...
Sep 27, 2004 07:09 am The last one I got a trojan on was from one of the sample sites I wis on...
Which reminds me...it wis a link on HRC too (tho I didnt find it there) and it mustve done a sly download (or one of the pop-ups did) and dumped the netskybb thingymajig...dunno.
I too have used Spybot and Adaware rigerously for the last 2 years and still get some stuff. I download next to nowt other than VST plugs from K-V-R and a few other daft wee things...no kazza (NEVER EVER WOULD I TOUCH THAT JUNK) and no other p-p stuff.
So, I dunno either guys. It seriously bugs me tho cause they can also get thru via spam email which I can do NOWT to stop...as I say, Id love to catch one of these punks,,, :-(
Grr
Coco.
Sep 27, 2004 07:17 am Quote:
It seriously bugs me tho cause they can also get thru via spam email which I can do NOWT to stop
dude, at home we get spam email with viruses daily and we never get infected...a decent AV app should never let an email infect you if you have it config'd properly.
You are missing something...I dunno what, but something...
tonedef231I'm scary! Boo!!!Member
Since: Jul 25, 2004
Sep 27, 2004 09:55 am So if you get spam email and open them thinking they are something important you can get infected? And by the way what is an AV application DB? And how do you config it properly?
Sep 27, 2004 08:53 pm The one I use is AVG www.grisoft.com and it configures itself perfectly by default.
Yes, if you get an attachment and think it's important and you execute it, yes, that is when you get infected.
NEVER open an attachment if it's from someone you don't know. Even if it IS from someone you know, many viruses go into people address books and email themselves to everybody in it, so they may not even know they sent it to you.
Sep 28, 2004 06:03 am this is true dB,,However, I do use Norton and set it up to catch all emails and check em...
Some, however, just seem to slip thru. I may be slightly guilty with Windows updates right enuff,,,I reckon there;s more holes in Windows than in a t-bag
Still...we can but plug away. I'll check that link oot for sure tho - cheers
Coco.
Sep 28, 2004 06:53 am Also know that you not only have to run updates to Windows, but you have to to Norton (or whatever AV you are using) as well. They need updating so they are aware of the newest viruses and how to deal with them. If on broadband always-on internet like I am AVG updates itself every night (rather than the once a week updates of Norton) and I haven't had a virus sneak through since I have been using it. Plus, AVG is free.
I used Norton successfully for years, it should be fine, but I know virus' have gotten past it before for others...same with McAfee.
There is another cheap AV app I have heard is really good called NOD32 (or something like that).
BleakA small pie will soon be eatenMember
Since: Aug 26, 2004
Sep 28, 2004 11:05 am All good points.
I would suggest imaging your HD just after a rebuild just incase everything goes completely FUBAR’d.
Try and stay away from Pirated Software/music, Download demo’s and decide what to buy is the best bet.
And partitioning wont help for virus' as mentioned
Regs
Blake
Sep 29, 2004 06:50 pm Aye dB..I always do the above but unfortunately, I still seem to get the odd thing slip thru.
Ack, since I moved my studio pc upstairs into its own home, I dont care too much for this machine anyway....its just for WP, Excell and the web so its no that bad anyway.
Was worse when ma studio pc was doon here...
Coco.
riffgodwww.charlienaebeck.comMember
Since: Apr 10, 2004
Oct 01, 2004 11:41 am The one way to guarantee that you don't get spyware stuff on your machine or viruses is to not download it in the first place. lol in working for an ISP we get the million dollar question every day of: "how do I get rid of these pop up ads, or why is my computer so slow?"
The following are some guidlines that help:
1. Don't use any of the file sharing networks where you don't know who and what you're downloading from (i.e. Kazaa, Limewire, Morpheus, WinMX..etc..etc..)
2. Don't ever open an e-mail from anyone you don't personally know or know who they are.
3. Even if you do get an e-mail from someone you know, make sure it is a legit e-mail. You can usually tell by the subject line if it is a legit e-mail or some form of spam that has infected their computer and is trying to send out to everyone in their addy book. Usually this trick targets Outlook and Outlook Express users.
4. Stay off the websites that look shady on the net or that have known pop ups like pogo.com, incredifind.com, downloading emoticons.etc.. (no porn, no casino sites, gambling, hate sites..etc. basically)
5. Don't always believe security updates from Windows updates and security program updates. Sometimes things like Service pack 2 for example will exploit your machine even more than it was already til Microsoft works the bugs out. It is a good thing however to download virus defenition updates for Norton, Mcafee...etc..etc..
If you do get a virus or spyware bug, you can try the spyware removal tools that everyone brags and boasts so much about, but they do not remove all bugs from your machine and sometimes it is nessecary to scrub your drive and wipe everything clean or take the system into a professional to get rid of things that have infected your computer.
As a tech and an avid recording person, if you really want to keep your machine clean that you record audio on, the best way is to use the machine for nothing but recording and get a seperate machine for other purposes also. I know not everyone can afford that option, but if you are serious about audio and recording that is the #1 way to go.
