Why do I (you) still keep using older (v12) version?
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blackbird71 last edited by... And I am not worried about any kind of risk. I suppose by risk we talking about some hacker getting our banking passwords and taking all our money, right?
By "risks", most knowledgeable people refer to all the collective kinds of digital security risks that go with a browser flaw becoming an avenue for a successful malware attack against just the browser, the host computer, or the entire local network (if any) the computer might be connected to. For example: key-loggers, file- or drive-destructive viruses, file stealers, spyware, adware, scareware, dns hijackers, password/log-in stealers, bots, malware relays, remote controllers, and countless other forms of malware. Some of these are thieves, stealing data or identity information off the computer and whatever it connects with; others are destructive, damaging files or drives or hardware controlled by the computer; while still others force your system into remote-controlled malware networks that infect or exploit other systems without your knowledge.
Once malware has successfully gotten beyond your browser into the system itself, there is almost no predictable limit to what it can do to or through that system... often, the first thing malware will do is to covertly import still more malware types onto the system. The importance of what is on the computer or what/where the computer is connected to dictates the degree of overall risk to a user of a given software vulnerability that enables penetration into the computer.
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shandra last edited by
joshl: Well, the german computer magazine C't has included with their magazine periodical for some years now a AV Scann CD (Article) with 1 years licences for some ScannEngines (current CD: Avira/BitDefender/Kaspersky/ClamAV)(the CD is based on a minimal Ubuntu).
With Avast you can create a Bootable Media from within the AV Application, and AFAIK some other Manufacturers (like Avira) are offering downloadable isos for such a media on their sites.
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Deleted User last edited by
Ok, thanks all. Still not scared of any risks tho
Then you're very foolish. Anyone reading what blackbird just posted and still saying that it doesn't really concern them is in denial. Denial? Oh... it can't happen to me! I'm very knowledgeable and careful about my browsing habits. I've known very knowledgeable technical writers to have their systems compromised and their identity stolen by just what blackbird described. To continue to run with an old, unpatched browser is foolishness.
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shandra last edited by
Still not convinced - as blackbird has said "once compromissed"... And thats (at this time) more within the type of user and computer usage, then for the browser (presto). Even the best secured system is on the edge of becoming infected if the user just calls for it ...
So far (forgetting about Amiga Times and infected Public Domain Discs, etc.) my PC System (to my knowledge) was just compromissed once and that was in a scenario (win2k times) where I deactivated all security meassures (Firewall/AV Scanner) to test something - and as I was prepared for it, I previously (as one should regularly do) backed up the whole system (partition images for system/program partition) and data (regular copy to removable media), so that wasn't any problem at all... -
donq last edited by
leushino, it is you who are in denial - you have protected your PC with a lot of software (and hardware) and think you are safe. This is called 'false sense of security'.
Did you glue USB ports as well - about half of USB devices are subject to such clever attacks, which cannot be detected with usual tools? Another half may be subject of not yet known attacks of sourse
In other hand I know very well that I'm not safe and what can be happen, using PC in 'ignorant' manner (CIF happened once to me actually, it was quite nasty to recover my single important database afterwards). Quite possible I'm underestimating my risks, but these are my risks; I do not press other users to change their behavior.
Sorry for offtopic, but leushino's "relevant and on-topic" personal insults just need to addressed. Well, this doesn't help of course
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Deleted User last edited by
dong: use what you like. I think one needs to update to the latest version which is PATCHED for security glitches. It's true that one can never be perfectly safe BUT it's also true to try and reduce your risk factor by taking safety precautions. It's known that at this time of year there will be thefts of packages from one's front door. However, it's also true that by having security cameras over the doorway and signs warning would-be thieves away, you will reduce the likelihood of theft. Airbags on the front dash and side curtains will not necessarily save your life in an accident BUT they will reduce the chance of a fatality. In the same way, an updated browser will not guarantee your security while online BUT like the other examples it will act as an aid in keeping you more secure than running with an older, unpatched browser.
And please stop turning this thread into personal attacks. Stay on-topic. Thanks.
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blackbird71 last edited by
As noted earlier, the issue of "security risk" is intensely personal. No two users will look at the situation the same way, as it applies to them.
I liken it to crossing a busy street. One can look both ways several times with both eyes unobscured, walking quickly to the other side. One can do it with eyes half blocked by headware. One can do it with one eye closed (or missing). One can do it with both eyes closed (with or without a white cane). One can do it by crawling across, instead of walking. Or one can elect some combination of the above. In fact, one can even elect not to cross the street at all. What a person actually chooses to do while/if crossing depends on his past experiences with traffic, his estimate of his own crossing speed, his estimate of the nature of traffic flow on this particular day, his habitual attention to personal safety, his tendency to show off his recklessness versus his leaning toward phobia about being hit, and a million other factors.
However, the chances of a browser with demonstrable security vulnerabilities being successfully attacked by some kind of malware are mathematically greater than for a browser with no such vulnerabilities. The web browser is one of the greatest portals to the "outside" and unpoliced world of the Internet. Given that even "layered security" (including 'safe-hex') has finite weaknesses, use of a web browser with known vulnerabilities adds greater security risk to the mix than not using such a browser. Whether that rises to the level of causing a user to abandon that browser is, of course, where the "intensely personal" decision element comes in. It depends on the person, what (if anything) he may be concerned to protect, and whether he has been burned in the past by malware compromise. Suffice it to say: "You pays your ticket price, and you takes your chances."
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A Former User last edited by
Stay on-topic.
Let me put it this way.
I play games. Now it's Neon Race 2 quite frequently...
What I want to say is sometimes, when I "buy" more handling - I accidentally crash more! Due to what?
It's psychological: I 'buy' this handling - then I tend to feel that the car's gonna handle itself to a much more extent, but I overestimate that "self-handling" - it is ME that handles the car, not some "purchased overdrive".Well, that applies to some people - certain people who are skilled enough already (or "feel good"), but when they "overpurchase" some "system automata" ("ultimate" upgrade in our case) - they might tend to overrelax - and miss something*:)*
However, the chances of a browser with demonstrable security vulnerabilities being successfully attacked by some kind of malware are mathematically greater than for a browser with no such vulnerabilities. The web browser is one of the greatest portals to the "outside" and unpoliced world of the Internet. Given that even "layered security" (including 'safe-hex') has finite weaknesses, use of a web browser with known vulnerabilities adds greater security risk to the mix than not using such a browser. Whether that rises to the level of causing a user to abandon that browser is, of course, where the "intensely personal" decision element comes in. It depends on the person, what (if anything) he may be concerned to protect, and whether he has been burned in the past by malware compromise. Suffice it to say: "You pays your ticket price, and you takes your chances."
Agreed*:)*
(Who's was thats suffices guys, by the ways?) -
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Deleted User last edited by
I agree with Sidney. The thread has served it's purpose and now appears to have degenerated into personal attacks and pointless arguing. Please consider closing it.
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A Former User last edited by
Can someone close this thread please?
Why?
The thread has served it's purpose...
"Its".
It's possessive is its. -
Deleted User last edited by
Get a life. And stop your stalking. If I were to go over your posts, Sir, I'm certain I would find far more spelling errors, grammatical errors and errors of syntax than "it's" versus "its". Have you nothing better to do with your time than sit at the computer and inflate your Opera forum's post count?
You ask why the thread should be closed. If you R-E-A-D what I wrote in the previous post you would have your answer. Instead of hunting for things to find amiss with my posts, try reading them with an open mind for a change.
I stand by my previous post. The thread has served its purpose and sadly degenerated into little more than an arguing contest. Both sides have stated reasons for and against updating the browser. What is the point in keeping the thread active?
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