I almost got nailed

[udidwht]

Chromebooks are ok if you're in grade school and don't require a need for running software.

Windows 11 runs great and doesn't need a 3rd party virus program.

 

[LarsMac]

I've a couple of friends who also like Chromebook. I've never played with it much.
I've been running full-fledged Microsoft powered Intel machines since MS DOS and Windows 3.
Now up to Win 10 and perfectly comfortable.
All the games I play with grandkids are Windoze compatible, and we keep the security up to date, and have never been seriously affected by viruses, or attempts at hijacking.

Whatever works for you, stay with it, but keep up on security and don't go wandering too deep into the dark places of the internet. There be monsters.

 

[Wasillaguy]

The monsters are all built in to your operating system and IP packet protocols. Anything you might encounter visiting a particular website is very small potatoes in comparison.

 

[John From Detroit]

Windows 11 runs great and doesn't need a 3rd party virus program.

Now that... Is just flat not true. Windows 11 crashes more than 10 (Two different nearly identical computers) won't even work on this machine (I know I tried) has issues with some of the software I use and if you don't run an AV program and firewall you will find hackers are better than Microsoft programmers as they have been since day one.

 

[LarsMac]

Windows 11 runs great and doesn't need a 3rd party virus program.

Ummm, Ya know, I've heard almost the exact thing said regarding just about every release of Windoze since the first release.

I'm keeping my add-on Anti-malware, Thanks

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Now that... Is just flat not true. Windows 11 crashes more than 10 (Two different nearly identical computers) won't even work on this machine (I know I tried) has issues with some of the software I use and if you don't run an AV program and firewall you will find hackers are better than Microsoft programmers as they have been since day one.

That hasn't been my experience with Windows 11, but Windows remains vulnerable to add-on extensions, especially device drivers and system extensions like alleged security aides and cleaner utilities. Different users too often have widely differing experiences. Kinda reminds me of an RV...

 

[LarsMac]

That hasn't been my experience with Windows 11, but Windows remains vulnerable to add-on extensions, especially device drivers and system extensions like alleged security aides and cleaner utilities. Different users too often have widely differing experiences. Kinda reminds me of an RV...

Good point. If you never add anything that is not MS provided, Windows probably does a good job of keeping itself safe.
But, I don't know many people who never add any "Extra" applications to their Computer. All of those non-MS utilities, games, and applications provide holes in the fence that the malware can find and exploit.

After Microsoft abandoned Windows Explorer for the new Edge Browser, their security improved greatly.

On my Win10 system I have several browsers, and use them for different types of applications, and they all hold up to every attack I have exposed them to.

Our Win 11 pc has yet to report any attempts getting past MS security.

Most security breaches we have seen were due to somebody letting a bug in by ignoring a warning that MS security suite posted.
I still keep WebRoot installed and updated.

 

[jymbee]

Some of the most disastrous hacks where for example institutions are entirely shut down by hackers demanding a bitcoin ransom, were not the result of multiple powerful computers being used to penetrate a system.

Rather, much more low tech. Employees are tricked into revealing their passwords by hackers posing as what to them appears to be a legit conversation. Once there're in...

Unbelievable that this could happen these days if you're the guardian of sensitive information, but it happens way too often.

 

[CROSSBOLT]

I have been bragging all my adult life that I could not get a virus on my computer. Well I almost did. I stopped using Windows about 15 years ago when I switched to Chromebooks. I can't even remember the last time I fired up my Windows laptop, at least 5 years ago. I bought a new Garmin GPS and wanted to update the maps and that is one thing you cannot do on a Chromebook. When I tried to fire it up and would not do anything. Undoubtedly a dead battery. So I junked it and bought a refurbished Windows laptop. It was running Windows 10 which surprised me. I hated Windows 8 and 9 but it appears they have corrected many mistakes.

I did not put any personal information on the machine and I did not turn off the anti-virus or do any thing other than play cards and updated my GPS. I tuned on the computer a few weeks ago and was met with big warning signs that told me my computer had been hacked and not to turn off the computer, just call Microsoft at the number below. It was early in the morning and I was cussing MS since I had never been hacked until I tried to use MS. I should have run a simple search on the phone number and discovered that it was not a MS phone number. So I spent an hour and a half on the phone to three different people at 'MS' and finally it dawned on me what was going on. They told me that they have identified 61 hackers on my network. One from China and 56 from Russia. Then he wanted to know how big the cash credit line was on my bank card.

Now I can see how easily one could end up giving these clowns money. Since then the only problem has been Mcafee sending emails every day telling me that my anti-virus has expired. I have gotten three days of them telling me my computer was at risk, final notice.

I still don't know how they got into my machine. My best guess is that it was on the hard drive when I bought it.

Close one! I have a Walmart china laptop I use for ham radio stuff. I have successfully STOPPED all MS updates. I connect to the internet only when neccessary and disconnect when I am done. I use Duckduckgo for search and no MS apps if I can help it.
No doubt eventually I will get bit by something but so far it has been bliss not to be interrupted by Bill Gates updates that barge in the middle of something I am doing.

73
Karl
KI4ZUQ

 

[RayIN]

Good point. If you never add anything that is not MS provided, Windows probably does a good job of keeping itself safe.
But, I don't know many people who never add any "Extra" applications to their Computer. All of those non-MS utilities, games, and applications provide holes in the fence that the malware can find and exploit.

After Microsoft abandoned Windows Explorer for the new Edge Browser, their security improved greatly.

On my Win10 system I have several browsers, and use them for different types of applications, and they all hold up to every attack I have exposed them to.

Our Win 11 pc has yet to report any attempts getting past MS security.

Most security breaches we have seen were due to somebody letting a bug in by ignoring a warning that MS security suite posted.
I still keep WebRoot installed and updated.

Your comment lit a light for me. When I do a CCleaner scan it asks if I want to scan Windows Explorer on my W10 computer?? What's up with that?

 

[John From Detroit]

Chromebooks are ok if you're in grade school and don't require a need for running software.

Windows 11 runs great and doesn't need a 3rd party virus program.

If all you need is a browser I agree Chromebooks are low cost and work well. One to my right currently has 4 browser windows open monitoring 4 different systems (Communications systems two of which are "local" and two of which are "Remote"
It also controls 3 of them.

(or I can do it from this windows box)

Windows 11.. crashes frequently doing the very same things this Wni-10 box does without complaint.

 

[Tulecreeper]

Your comment lit a light for me. When I do a CCleaner scan it asks if I want to scan Windows Explorer on my W10 computer?? What's up with that?

My CCleaner does the same thing. Since it's only been a year since they stopped supporting it, I'll assume there are enough people still using IE that it is just a default.

My desktop came with MS Edge and I cannot uninstall it, only disable it...supposedly. Every once in a while I'll try to run an anti-virus or cleaner program and a pop-up comes on saying I have to disable Edge first. Then I have to go online to find out how to again stop it from running in the background because I can't remember from the last time I did it.

 

[Tulecreeper]

If all you need is a browser I agree Chromebooks are low cost and work well. One to my right currently has 4 browser windows open monitoring 4 different systems (Communications systems two of which are "local" and two of which are "Remote"
It also controls 3 of them.

(or I can do it from this windows box)

Windows 11.. crashes frequently doing the very same things this Wni-10 box does without complaint.

Interesting, I've never had my Win 11 crash in the year and a half I've had this PC.

 

[Firstime RVer]

Some time ago I got a panicked call from my wife saying that she had this blue screen that said it had been hacked. It said the notice was from microsoft and to call the number displayed for help. She was running windows 9.5 at the time.

We tried getting out of the blue screen with no success. So I called the number and they tried everything they could to get personal info from me.

I eventually got tired of messing with these guys, hung up the phone, unplugged my wife's computer, pulled out the battery waited a minute or two.
I then re-installed the battery, rebooted and voila! no more blue screen. She apparently clicked on a link that she shouldn't have. Thats the last time I have had any problem like that.

safe travels and all the best.

 

[Firstime RVer]

My CCleaner does the same thing. Since it's only been a year since they stopped supporting it, I'll assume there are enough people still using IE that it is just a default.

My desktop came with MS Edge and I cannot uninstall it, only disable it...supposedly. Every once in a while I'll try to run an anti-virus or cleaner program and a pop-up comes on saying I have to disable Edge first. Then I have to go online to find out how to again stop it from running in the background because I can't remember from the last time I did it.

I have the latest version of CCleaner and it automatically shuts down MS edge on my machine.