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Do Viruses still affect offline computers?

Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 6:20 am
by lucasfart
As the title says, do files with trojans in them still affect computers that are not connected to the internet? at my house i'm not allowed internet on my pc so i have to do all internet stuff on a mac laptop with wireless. i just downloaded a program for it and all the people commenting on it say it has a trojan in it. i'm not really worried about it affecting the mac as mac are virtually invincible when it comes to viruses but i don't want to run it on my pc with the chance of totally wrecking it.......i've tried installing antivirus stuff on the pc but they all seem to need a connection to the internet to install. i havent been able to find the file on any other sites so no chance of re-downloading...

Re: Do Viruses still affect offline computers?

Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 7:55 am
by DarthHamster
Yes, if the virus is bad enough it can completly destroy a computer and in some cases the person who gave you the virus can take control of you computer. If you ever get internet I recomend getting avast! antivirus. It has never failed in stopping a virus for me and I am pretty reckless when it comes to going to safe sites.

Also if the file you want to download may be a virus then its possible thats all it may be. The actual file you want may not be there at all. All that would be there is just the virus.

Re: Do Viruses still affect offline computers?

Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 9:30 am
by Teancum
Definitely a bad idea. A trojan, virus, worm -- offline or not can wreck lots of things. Most times though somethings classified as one or the other they usually do multiple things. If its infected in any way I'd do without. Rebuilding, repairing, or restoring Windows sucks.

Re: Do Viruses still affect offline computers?

Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 8:28 pm
by lucasfart
ah ok. thanks for that guys.

Re: Do Viruses still affect offline computers?

Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 9:05 pm
by VF501
Contrary to popular belief. Macs are not invincible to Viruses/Malware, et.al., in fact with the lack of protective programs on a good majority of Macs, many are quite vulnerable. The reason why Macs have few existing Malware, is because of its lack of market share and its usage profile compared to Windows based PCs and Linux based PCs (Linux has lower market share, but its more likely to be used for financial businesses then Mac, with Windows still in the lead).

A quick search of Malware on the Mac;

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&clie ... f&oq=&aqi=

;yields results and evidence that Malware does exist for Mac, and although limited, it is possible for systems to become infected. Most Mac based vectors for attack though, also seek to target Dual Boot users that also have a Windows install on the machine. Macs can also still fall prey to exploits, both software and system level, by either remote access or physical access.

Re: Do Viruses still affect offline computers?

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:08 am
by Clone Captain
VF501 wrote:Contrary to popular belief. Macs are not invincible to Viruses/Malware, et.al., in fact with the lack of protective programs on a good majority of Macs, many are quite vulnerable. The reason why Macs have few existing Malware, is because of its lack of market share and its usage profile compared to Windows based PCs and Linux based PCs (Linux has lower market share, but its more likely to be used for financial businesses then Mac, with Windows still in the lead).

A quick search of Malware on the Mac;

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&clie ... f&oq=&aqi=

;yields results and evidence that Malware does exist for Mac, and although limited, it is possible for systems to become infected. Most Mac based vectors for attack though, also seek to target Dual Boot users that also have a Windows install on the machine. Macs can also still fall prey to exploits, both software and system level, by either remote access or physical access.
Couldn't have said it better myself, thank you VF.