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MG MGA - Internet security

I've been following the comments on the BBS for a few years now and recently McAfee, that I use for internet screening did an upgrade giving sites either a green tick (safe) or a yellow tick (caution). If I Google MG almost all of the sites come up with a green tick but the MG Car Enthusiasts Club and MG Car Club get a yellow tick. They say that this is because the sites have been made availible to spammers. I'm not a computer wiz and wondered what members thought about this, is this a 'sinister' move or is it what you all knew anyway. Does the club get paid for making it availible to spammers and does it mean that we have an increased threat of a viris when we log on?
J H Cole

I believe it refers to the fact that anybody can post here without prior approval or registration, and if you list an email address it is shown in your posts where it can be harvested be spambots. Hence, my email address as listed has to be manually modified by a human being in order to send me email.
Del Rawlins

During many many years of computer use and the use of this BBS I can assure you of one thing. You are not more suseptable to viruses here than anywhere else!
I personally do not use anti virus software and funnily enough I have never been attacked by a virus!

Looking at the sinister side I suspect that this BBS and the sites that use it as their server (MGCC for one) do not pay McAfee a large fee thus it is programmed to say they are "Virus ridden sites" If this kind of software did not alert you to suggest differing files were a virus in the making then you would also believe them worhtless! That would never do. IMO
Bob (robert) yes I own an MG Dwarf!

Bob

Since this site does not support attachments or pictures two of the primary avenues of attack are eliminated.

FWIW

Larry
Larry Hallanger

Personal observation: The few times that I have posted my email on this site, I have been spammed with offers from Nigeria to reap million$ along with health and performance aids ads for several weeks following the posting. And, yes, there does seem to be a direct correlation with the date of the email posting and the subsequent level of spamming activity, otherwise, I would not take the time to mention it in this thread. I suspect that the site might be yellow listed, in part, because it does not effectively block the email harvesting software that these spammers use.

Steve
Steve Brandt

Hi Folks. I used Microsoft operating systems for many years, and got fed up with constantly contracting virus and Trojan malware. I recently converted to a Linux operating system, which is absolutely free of charge, has tons of free software available, and which in essence does not get viruses or trojans. While Linux takes some getting used to, and will require some remedial learning to become fluent, I think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages by a considerable margin. Cheers, Glenn
Glenn

McAfee's "warnings" have nothing to do with whether or not a site contains a virus. They are simply security warnings meant to tell you whether or not a site is secure against certain potential risks. This site is very insecure due to the outdated software it runs. This doesn't mean you will get a virus from visiting it. But the site itself is at risk and any personal information you send is also at risk.

-----

"I personally do not use anti virus software and funnily enough I have never been attacked by a virus!"

How would you know? Most viruses, spyware, malware, etc are invisible and silent. The kind that make themselves known and actually screw up your system are very rare. I have "tuned up" many personal computers which ran fine, yet contained dozens of trojans, spyware, malware, etc. The owners never knew they were infected. Most times they even ran anti-virus software but didn't keep it properly updated. Once infected, even updating your virus definitions may not save you. Preventative measures are essential!

-----

With a reasonable amount of care and an updated anti-virus program, you can virtually eliminate the risk of viruses and other malicious code entering your system. I've been computing since long before the internet existed, perhaps 25 years, and have never been inflicted with a virus.
Steve Simmons

Steve's comments have prompted me to ask who owns the MG Enthusiasts site - is it the MG Owners Club or are they independant. Why can't we ask 'them' to update their software?
J H Cole

It's been asked many times. Not gonna happen. They also aren't willing to require logging in to prevent trolling. The logic behind their decision is that requiring people to log in would be too confusing.
Steve Simmons

The MG Enthusiast site is nothing to do with the owners club or any other it is a private site that sells a server facitity to others and gives us the pleasure of communicating with each other easily! isn't it?I must admit this format is my prefered option and the trolling only adds to the enjoyment found here.

Steve how would I know? good point, if it causes me no problems whatsoever for as many years as I can remember is it a problem, surely not!

I might ask how do you know you have found such viruses running on client machines. The vast majority are alerted to potential risk by a software programs that when a REAL virus comes out everyone who uses a computer is made aware of it because this so called anti viral software will NOT kill it.

I believe it is just a big con. My computer has operated for many many years free of the constant, this file may contain this that and the other plus 10 minutes booting up whilst expensive software does nothing!

Of course I may be totally wrong! :)
Bob (robert) yes I own an MG Dwarf!

If you have a firewall and are careful about which sites you visit, and never open attachments, you may never get a virus even if you don't have a Virus scanner - but your computer may be full of spyware etc.

There's a very good (and free) programme called AdAware from Lavasoft that gets rid of this stuff. I have installed it on a lot of friend's PCs, and have always been amazed at how much of this stuff they have running in the background, slowing up their PC. They have all had Virus protection software (which I always think is a mixed blessing, as the software is always running behind the efforts of the virus boys, and yet the users have a false sense of security). After a scan and clean-up, they have always said that their PC is much much faster at starting up and running programmes.

I, like Gordon, just take the non-windows approach, and after 20 years+ of Mac use, have only once had a (Microsoft) macro virus (and that was more than ten years ago).

If I am correct, the site is hosted by Brown and Gammons (at least the webmaster has a B&G email address), so I do shop there on a regular basis.
dominic clancy

"I might ask how do you know you have found such viruses running on client machines. "

By running a virus scan.

Once a computer is infected, anti-virus software may or may not be able to remove it depending on how the virus operates. Many times it is easily removed either with the antivirus software itself or with a small utility downloaded from various antivirus software manufacturers.

Antivirus software will always be behind the curve for the same reason that medicine will be behind illness. If something has not been invented yet, there is no way to create a preventative or cure!

However, most good antivirus software will be well supported, and within 48 hours of a virus detection there will be a definition file update to prevent infection. This is why it is important to keep your software updated on a regular basis, at least once per week!

When a new virus hits the computer world, most users will never get it because of the quick response of the antivirus manufacturers updating their virus definition files and sending out the updates to their clients.

I remember one of the first viruses to hit the Mac community. They had no experience with such things and it took nearly two weeks for people to figure out what was going on with their malfunctioning computers! A LOT of computers were infected before someone figured it out and came up with a cure. It was kind of funny, actually. :)
Steve Simmons

One more comment, most antivirus software does not handle spyware. I second Dominic's recommendations about Ad Aware. It's free and it works very well. Spyware and malware are common reasons for slow-booting and unstable computers.
Steve Simmons

Adaware is great! It finds stuff that Norton doesn't all the time.
Art

Hey Steve not sure how long ago your Mac virus was around, but that is currently not an issue for Mac users. Only the Microsoft macro infections can bother us (same as on the PC side, they are embedded into Word/Excel documents). But Mac users have no spyware or malware under OS-X, for the last five years or so...of course we are just marginalized and ridiculed by everyone else for our "cute, overpriced" machines :)
Jim P

Glenn has a very effective way by switching to Lunix. Personally, I run Macintosh which have just as many programs, great support, don't crash for any reason and are fast. The only potential security issue I have is with spam because I leave my email address connected and seen on this site- but NO virus potential.

Mac runs the UNIX software, fantastic stuff. Never ever ever ever ever loose to some 14 year old kid who decides building a bug is better then doing something worthwhile.

Spam email? I put up with what we have to but have filters on our system to delete what we can.

This website is one of the most highly used and has been around longer then some webmasters on other sites.

-BMC.
BMC Brian McCullough

The first MAC OS-X virus I was Leap_A which popped up last year (2006). The first Malware I know of for OS-X was discovered a couple months later in mid-2006. There were also nearly 20 security vulnerabilities discovered in January of this year.

Macs are less vulnerable to viruses and hackers than Windows-based home computers, but they are not immune. It pays to be vigilant!

One friend lost everything on his Mac recently because he was over confident that nothing could happen. Some operating systems are more secure than others but still rely on the user configuring, maintaining and safeguarding them properly. Most computers also run the same hardware inside so the same mechanical and electronic failures can occur.

Properly protected, any computer running any operating system can be made secure and stable. Not properly maintained, any computer will become a rat's nest of security holes, crashing programs and poor performance.

Occasional Mac user. Multiple PC owner. Just a personal preference.
Steve Simmons

Steve I think the reason Mac users occasionally get prickly is because arguments like yours (although technically correct) give the impression that Mac users are eventually just as vulnerable as PC users which is really a stretch. The Leap trojan horse and following malware were so obscure, and affected so few users, that it is an unfair comparison to the kinds of problems with Explorer and Outlook, which many many people use daily.

Your contention that a modern OS-X machine can become a "rats nest of security holes, crashing programs and poor performance" ... well, honestly I've never heard that before. And I've got four Macs networked together without ANY anti-virus software, don't believe in it. Been on the platform for 16 years, sorry to sound like a fanboy...but I like Linux too, great OS. I just don't care for anything Microsoft makes.

I wonder if Syd Enever would have used a Mac or a PC? Oh wait...definitely PC, the Abingdon factory was always pinching pennies...:)
Jim P

As I said, Macs are less vulnerable to viruses than Windows machines. They always have been. But I still feel it is a dangerous attitude to assume immunity to any kind of attack by virus, malware, hacker, spyware, etc no matter what OS you run. Nearly everything is vulnerable, only in different amounts. Perhaps I'm overly cautious, but I'm happily so because as noted before I've been 100% virus and hacker free for my entire 25 years of computing. And if I managed to make Windows ME run properly then I must be doing SOMETHING right! ;)

You are obviously knowledgeable about your Mac systems, but the typical Mac user exhibits a false sense of complete security just by buying a Mac, and then rants about everything else. That is the type of person my comments are directed towards and they are meant only as educational. Personally I have no problems whatsoever with Macs. They just don't suit my needs as well as PCs.

Also, my comment on improperly maintained computers was directed at all systems, not merely Mac-OS-based ones. I will be the first to admit that an improperly maintained Windows-based computer will become unstable far more quickly than a Mac one. But again, one cannot assume that just because one system is fragile than another, the less fragile does not need to be maintained!
Steve Simmons

Comparing Windows to Mac is like saying "Hitler or Stalin - which was your favorite dictator?" Both Jobs and Gates are too control-freak-ish for my taste. Embrace the penguin. No system is 100% secure, but systems with user interfaces that separate you from the machine keep you isolated from what's going on. Would you drive your MG with a mouse?
David Breneman

Had a mouse in my heater ducting once...Made a terrible smell!

:-)

The only thing I don't like about this site is the inability to post pics, but then, we have otherb sites for that.

Cheers,
Rich
Rich McKIe

Does anyone know a good SPAM filter for Outlook express?
I'm O.K. with shareware and viruses (touch wood)
Nigel Munford

Nigel

The best thing is to use an ISP or hosting company with a good spam filter, and leave them to do all the maintenance.

I switched my domain recently to a new hosting company, because I was fed up with the level of spam. The new one has a great and accurate filter, and I now get maybe two a week instead of 2-300 per day. It costs me about 5 USD per month, but to me that's money well spent (covers my entire family on the domain too).
dominic clancy

I want to thank everyone for the Ad-Aware recommendations. Found 113 suspicious items on my computer, mainly from the PO. One that was my fault was a "rogue" antispyware program, Spyware Nuker. I don't have much trouble, since I use Netscape/Mozilla and avoid MS like the plague.
FRM
FR Millmore

Is it a problem with my home PC and works PC or are all you guys getting repeats of the titles of some threads? For example, Glenn's 'Rear Axle Ratio Question' title is repeated 16 times and Barney's 'sound deadening and Thermal Insulation' title is repeated 4 times.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve

Just those 2 on my machine. It's not your PCs.

Larry
Larry Hallanger

Larry

Glad it's not me. I was thinking my bi-focals were playing tricks with me!

I have reported it to the webmaster. Let's see what he says.

Steve
Steve Gyles

This thread was discussed between 22/02/2007 and 07/03/2007

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