Will downloading torrents give you spyware/malware?

CEG5952

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Buy and sell bitcoins,

Quote from: conteaza on July 13, 2014, 02:46:13 PM

Quote from: ?? on ??

Quote from: CEG5952 on July 13, 2014, 01:37:11 PM

Quote from: enhu on July 13, 2014, 06:40:19 AM

Although windows 7 and 8 are considered not so vulnerable to viruses, they still can be infected.

Since when are Windows 7/8 considered "not so vulnerable"? Maybe if you are only comparing to XP or something, but I'd say you have to be especially careful when using a Windows machine.

indeed, Linux is the best considering viruses etc.

there are almost none for it Cheesy

You are sure buddy??

Well, of course there are viruses that target Linux systems. But statistically, it's pretty true relative to Windows. If you look at Windows' market share, it makes sense too, why malware producers would be incentivised to target Windows users.

conteaza

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Quote from: ?? on ??

Quote from: CEG5952 on July 13, 2014, 01:37:11 PM

Quote from: enhu on July 13, 2014, 06:40:19 AM

Although windows 7 and 8 are considered not so vulnerable to viruses, they still can be infected.

Since when are Windows 7/8 considered "not so vulnerable"? Maybe if you are only comparing to XP or something, but I'd say you have to be especially careful when using a Windows machine.

indeed, Linux is the best considering viruses etc.

there are almost none for it Cheesy

You are sure buddy??

PolarPoint

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If your system/browser is not well protected. You could get malware just from visiting a webpage and click on something you shouldn't have. Downloading anything is risky, even image files, documents, pdf...

Torrents can contain any file type. Some are compressed and password protected, so malware scanners can miss them once in a while.

1Referee

legendary

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If you download using ThePirateBay just download from trusted and vip uploaders, these people will have a green or purple icon connected to their uploaded files.

If some one is not trusted or vip just pick the torrent with the best possible seed/leech ratio.

josephliton

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The only way you would have spyware on your computer is if you gave somebody physical access to it or permitted shared access over your network. All the malware known to exist that are capable of doing that use vulnerabilities that have been patched for years and have been targeted against small groups (e.g. Tibetan sympathizers). So as long as you keep your OS X and applications fully up-to-date, keep Java disabled except when you absolutely must use it and pay attention to any warnings you get, then you are protected against all currently known malware that can impact your computer.

CEG5952

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Buy and sell bitcoins,

Quote from: enhu on July 13, 2014, 06:40:19 AM

Although windows 7 and 8 are considered not so vulnerable to viruses, they still can be infected.

Since when are Windows 7/8 considered "not so vulnerable"? Maybe if you are only comparing to XP or something, but I'd say you have to be especially careful when using a Windows machine.

Hazir

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★Nitrogensports.eu★

Using torrent is not more harmful that browsing net in my opinion. You can be infected with all that shit just by opening some site. I heard that some popular uploads may be special - and include some sort of tracking.

fatguyyyyy

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Bitcoin Mixer: https://BitLaunder.com

anything you download these days is a possible malware.

jaberwock

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Quote from: Xiaoxiao on July 13, 2014, 12:03:00 PM

Quote from: Remember remember the 5th of November on July 13, 2014, 10:49:02 AM

Quote from: jaberwock on July 13, 2014, 10:46:47 AM

Disable/Remove java, Read the comments/reviews of the torrent before you download. Don't open .exe, .scr .com .pdf and other executable files. If you find a file suspicious scan it with virustotal.com.

+1. Flash and Java are in the Top 5 that causes infections.

sigh, multibit requires java. also what can u do without flash? can't watch youtube am i right? can't even view google charts or anything.

Try opening the piratebay website using tor. Tor has java and flash disabled. If you only open videos and audios you should be fine. I think the only problem would be the popups they could contain exploits/worms/virus that automatically runs. Just have an updated and powerful antivirus like avast and put the security configuration of your java to high.

Xiaoxiao

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The Golden Rule Rules

Quote from: Remember remember the 5th of November on July 13, 2014, 10:49:02 AM

Quote from: jaberwock on July 13, 2014, 10:46:47 AM

Disable/Remove java, Read the comments/reviews of the torrent before you download. Don't open .exe, .scr .com .pdf and other executable files. If you find a file suspicious scan it with virustotal.com.

+1. Flash and Java are in the Top 5 that causes infections.

sigh, multibit requires java. also what can u do without flash? can't watch youtube am i right? can't even view google charts or anything.

Remember remember the 5th of November

legendary

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Reverse engineer from time to time

Quote from: jaberwock on July 13, 2014, 10:46:47 AM

Disable/Remove java, Read the comments/reviews of the torrent before you download. Don't open .exe, .scr .com .pdf and other executable files. If you find a file suspicious scan it with virustotal.com.

+1. Flash and Java are in the Top 5 that causes infections.

jaberwock

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Disable/Remove java, Read the comments/reviews of the torrent before you download. Don't open .exe, .scr .com .pdf and other executable files. If you find a file suspicious scan it with virustotal.com.

KIRAZ

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On piratebay they have a Title Tag shown by purple or green, means they are a trusted member or Vip.
Download from them you are cautious. Or you can use Private Trackers Like Iptorrents & Torrentday for movies
but you need an Invite for it, they are pretty much safe.

merockstar

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BTS: merockstar420

the answer is yes. but that doesn't mean don't download torrents.

that means first download virtualbox and run Ubuntu in it. use that for your wallets and nothing else.

backup your wallets, then download what pleases ya.

jump4ever

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If you mostly download movies and series you will be safe.

conteaza

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Quote from: cech4204a on July 13, 2014, 06:40:24 AM

Use max protection you can have, and keep on trusted sites and from trusted uploaders, so you will be fine. Make scans every week at least too.

Using the best scanner/antivirus will not help ,downloading from trusted sites are less risky.

cech4204a

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12CDKyxPyL5Rj28ed2yz5czJf3Dr2ZvEYw

Use max protection you can have, and keep on trusted sites and from trusted uploaders, so you will be fine. Make scans every week at least too.

enhu

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its usually the porn sites that hides malware to their files. Although windows 7 and 8 are considered not so vulnerable to viruses, they still can be infected. This is also the reason why i switch to linux since I download movies all the time. If you aren't sure how to avoid it then try linux.

Malin Keshar

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use adblock and watch on live linux?

The spywares, if any, won't self-install if you don't click on them

ranochigo

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Crypto Swap Exchange

Quote from: Xiaoxiao on July 12, 2014, 07:38:54 PM

Quote from: protokol on July 12, 2014, 07:28:51 PM

Avoid any sort of executable files/zip archives etc. and you should be OK. Also avoid pdfs.

One thing I would be wary of are dodgy ads/popups and Java stuff on the actual torrent site itself, basically just don't click anything and have adblock plus installed.

If you have a wallet file on the computer however, I would move it to an offline computer to be safe. I personally use paper wallets, with a small amount in a blockchain.info hot wallet with 2FA. Can't be taking any chances!

BTW- what is adblock plus? that works for a program such as utorrent? or just internet browsers

It only works for Firefox and chrome.
If you do not run the file, you should be safe. Most of the viruses have to be executed to infect the computer.

Kimowa

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Quote from: Xiaoxiao on July 12, 2014, 07:18:49 PM

Such as movies from the popular torrent sites like piratebay and others. I make sure it is only the .mp3 or .wmv etc files and no other files are downloaded.

Using a software like utorrent, is it safe to do that and also mess with bitcoin and other financial stuff? I mean i'm dearly afraid of some keylogger (as we all are). Am I being paranoid?

No if the download file it self is not a virus..

Sydboy

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You will get a virus if the file has a virus, same as if you downloaded it via browser.
Try to avoid rar files if you can.

I have found over the years porn sites seem to be where you pickup a lot of virus and malware.

Ad block plus blocks ad popups and other annoying things of that nature.

Also don't download any thing from emails you get about bitcoin if it sounds to good to be true. Such as a company sending you ANY amount of bitcoins. There are a crap load of these about!

CEG5952

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Buy and sell bitcoins,

If you're careful, you will probably be fine, but as a general rule, anything bitcoin-related (including hot wallets) are on a separate computer. I just don't need those sorts of worries. But if you are careful about file types, and download only from trusted uploaders, you should be fine.

robbyd86

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a lot of sites have a way of marking files or members that are "trusted", whether it be a skull or a crown or something. If you stick with those you should be fine. As another precaution, read the comments if there are any, usually someone will flag it.

Xiaoxiao

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The Golden Rule Rules

Quote from: protokol on July 12, 2014, 07:28:51 PM

Avoid any sort of executable files/zip archives etc. and you should be OK. Also avoid pdfs.

One thing I would be wary of are dodgy ads/popups and Java stuff on the actual torrent site itself, basically just don't click anything and have adblock plus installed.

If you have a wallet file on the computer however, I would move it to an offline computer to be safe. I personally use paper wallets, with a small amount in a blockchain.info hot wallet with 2FA. Can't be taking any chances!

What about a pdf file that a friend (who doesn't know about computers too well) sends you over gmail? You know how u can open via gmail w/o downloading it, does it mean gmail recognize it as legit pdf and therefore ok to d/l?

BTW- what is adblock plus? that works for a program such as utorrent? or just internet browsers

protokol

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Avoid any sort of executable files/zip archives etc. and you should be OK. Also avoid pdfs.

One thing I would be wary of are dodgy ads/popups and Java stuff on the actual torrent site itself, basically just don't click anything and have adblock plus installed.

If you have a wallet file on the computer however, I would move it to an offline computer to be safe. I personally use paper wallets, with a small amount in a blockchain.info hot wallet with 2FA. Can't be taking any chances!

Xiaoxiao

legendary

Activity: 1274

Merit: 1000

The Golden Rule Rules

Such as movies from the popular torrent sites like piratebay and others. I make sure it is only the .mp3 or .wmv etc files and no other files are downloaded.

Using a software like utorrent, is it safe to do that and also mess with bitcoin and other financial stuff? I mean i'm dearly afraid of some keylogger (as we all are). Am I being paranoid?

Topic: Will downloading torrents give you spyware/malware? (Read 6098 times)