Truth-- dos DS have viruses?

[coffeegirl]

I'm reading over the virus/malware report thread but not getting any specific info, so thought I'd post the question directly. I was just told on another site that DS has viruses so bad they can take down a computer. I don't want to cause any drama, just want to know if this is or ever was in any way true? If so, is there any specific way to protect ourselves? I SO don't want to leave this place!! Right now we have AVG and Ad-aware, (I think those are the only two-- my husband does all the anti-virus stuff on our PC). Thanks in advance!

[KumfyKozies]

I'm not bashing DS at all, just saying. Truthfully- Yes, it does. My DH is an IT specialist in computer forensics and has been able to track so much malware and viral garbage back to DS's ads, it's not even funny. How I fight it: Firefox AdBlock and being a site supporter(which blocks the ads). It's been flawless since August. I have multiple friends who have said it's ridiculous to PAY to use DS (which is basically what you're doing when you're a site supporter), but I find it's been to my advantage. I get a lot of custom order work for my business from DS members, so if that means paying a fee every six months to make sure it doesn't destroy my computer in the process, I will chalk it up as a business expense.

[coffeegirl]

How much do you have to pay to not see the ads?

[KumfyKozies]

Originally Posted by coffeegirl How much do you have to pay to not see the ads?

Depends. A couple dollars a month, with discounted rates when you pay for more months at a time.

[Crow Mountain Crafts]

I have been here for almost 3 years and never gotten any virus. Im sure they are here, they are on every site, but we use AVG and Spybot and nothing has ever got past them.

[whitejerabias]

Well, of course no one is going to come out and "why yes, this site does have viruses that can totally obliterate your computer." I do hear so much about viruses here though I used to post here when DD1 was in diapers and I was buying up our original stash. I did get a virus when I was regularly posting that did a lot of damage. I came back recently since I will be CDing again very shortly. We got attacked last week Luckily we got everything back. Avast caught a few infected files here and there over the years, but not another destroying attack until the one last week.

Who's to say? We use the internet a lot. We both have forums we go to, DH downloads torrents. It does get suspicious though. It don't think it really matters if DS has viruses or not (well, obviously it does matter, but IMO there is no reason to worry about something if it is a seemingly stagnant situation). What is important is that you make sure to have a really good protection system in place. We're still working on that. DH is getting a new computer from work and once he does we're going to have a rule that this computer is for torrents, social networking and any other 'risky' internet behaviors. We will stop using this one for anything involving banking and b/s/ting. Also, never use a wireless device for money related stuff. I know most banks and paypal are now offering apps, what-have-yous that make it easy to access your money on devices, but wireless connections are NOT secure no matter what 'securities' you put in place.

[skolbut]

You have to be VERY careful, virus-wise on this site. My husband also works in IT and has been able to identify some weaknesses in the vbulletin service that could allow them. I've had very good luck using google Chrome as my browser with adblock plus.

[coffeegirl]

Thanks for the replies. Yeah, I figured it was a long shot to ask this question lol. At least (from a forum search) it looks like the powers that be are trying to fix the problem(s). I just logged into Mozilla/Firefox and it seems to be blocking the ads. I think I'll start using firefox exclusively for DS.

[iluvmyortiz1122]

I have heard many mamas say they got viruses here but I never have and I seem to "catch" things from everywhere else. Besides being really knowledgeable in computers I don't know how you'd know you're actually receiving viruses from here. I have Norton and I don't get any pop up warnings that something is trying to attack me or anything, never have.

[Pampered Mama]

I have MalwareBytes, and every time I get on here, and every time I go to a new page, it pops up telling me it just blocked something. So, yeah- the viruses are out there, just like they are on lots of other sites- you just have to arm yourself.