Thing is, I need the security for more than just my wallet. As a trader, most of my bitcoins are on various exchanges, so I need a secure computer in any case. Plus two-factor auth, which has proven its worth nicely for me in this case.
On the topic of virusscanners: Many of them report false positives on things like cracks. Having a few false positives makes your virusscanner completely useless, since you won't know if a report is a false positive or an actual risk. Someone whom I told about my problem suggested microsoft security essentials, which sounds really counter-intuitive, but apparently it comes out on top in comparisons. Of course, when I get my netbook, I won't need a windows virusscanner...
Anyway, in the meantime, I need to have some virusscanner scan my infected harddisk to find the source. Preferrably I'll scan from ubuntu, since I don't want to risk any autoruns or whatever. I am not too familiar with ubuntu. I'll google myself, but maybe someone has a suggestion?
Virusscanners are useless, sorry to be that harsh but i can crypt any virus undetectable for at least a week. Its not hard to modify a crypter source or buy a crypter for a few bucks.
Getting to know how viruses are spread is a great step in prevention as you know what to look for.
A firewall is only useful before an attack occurs, a trojan/bot dont cares if you run a firewall as long there is internet access, you always have something open, even if its port 80.
One way to extend the firewall is a VPN, this indeed can make a hardtime for trojan/bot.
Most viruses get detected after one week but it very much depends if it submitted and how much vics it has.
And yeah, things like cracks are perfect for spreading, because them noobs turn off the scanners.Bottom line, a virus can only be detected if its in a anti virus database or fits in heuristic.
Scan every file where you i doubt on virustotal or jotty, both submit the sample to a ton of av vendors, they probably dont detect it from the start but at least after 1 week the same file is detected.
The below text is just copied from a skiddy forum, they sell these crypters for example....
Features:
Unique Features:
- Limited Copies.
- Custom Process Name *Hot
- Registry Persistence *Hot
- Process Persistent (Anti BotKill) *Hot
- Multiple stubs for long FUD Time *Hot
- Advanced 4 Worm Functions *Hot
- Unique Personal stubs available on Demand*Hot
Advanced Features:
- Working on : XP/VISTA/7 [32/64 BIT]
- 2 Private Encrypted Fud RunPE
- 5 Custom Injection
- 9 Different Polymorphic Encryption
- File Binder
- One Time execution Binder
- Custom encryption Pool
- 32+ Antis
- 2 Start-Up Methods
- Custom Start-up Name
- Custom Install Path
- System Hide File
- 4 Disablers
- NT Header
- File Persistence
- Melt File
- Bypass Firewall
- Bypass UAC
- Assembly Changer
- File Cloner
- Icon Changer
- 5 Different Output (.pif, .scr, .com, .exe, .bat)
- Extension Spoofer
- Build in AV Scanne
- Auto-Update
- Updated almost twice a week
- Dynamic HWID
- Private Version Starting From 21€ (Special Discount of 30%)
- 28€ for 40 days 21€ for 40 Days under 30% discount
- 50€ for 120 Days 35€ for 120 Days under 30% discount
- 65€ for 180 Days 45€ for 180 Days under 30% discount
On a PC with important/confidential data just dont surf nasty porn, dont load warez and dont visit useless flash gaming sites, dont download docx or PDF (there are exploits) from warez (for example ebooks).
+1 If you use linux
+1 If you use a virtualbox
Dont get me wrong, its not like the whole net is infected but there are standard ways how viruses are spread and you should know them.