Computers, Clients and Viruses

Welcome to CreativeBits. I don 't worry about my clients' computers. That's their problem. I practice "digital safe sex" and, yes, I am exclusively Mac-based. That's all I can do. If you are plagued by viruses, you want to upgrade your virus protection software and discontinue any risky behavior you may be involved in, such as downloading free fonts, pirated files, and other material from questionable sources.

Mac's are prone to viruses just like any other computer. Recently, Apple took to removing that statement even from their marketing on their website for Mac's to just being "safer" and in large part, yes- they are. They don't run on DOS which is what a large quantity of viruses and mal-ware on the market are programmed to attack. If you feel it is that much of a recurring issue and the usage of your computer and the sites you visit can not quell the flow of these attacks then by all means- switch. Be weary however that there are less Mac service centers and programs available to remove viruses if they do contract one. You may have to visit a service center with your computer at inconvenient times.

As for transferring viruses to your clients, viruses latch on to commonly traded files, extensions and important back-end files in system32. I wouldn't put a large stock of consideration of sending your clients viruses and as irresponsible as it sounds at face value, you can only do so much yourself to help protect their computer. They have to take steps to ensure their own safety as well. Car crashes are a part of driving despite our attempts to lower the risks, as are digital attacks in business.

Personally I use Windows still as my home device and plenty of fire walls. I have one mal-ware removal program and it rarely ever needs to be started to execute even a scan. Paranoid as it sounds I don't feel the virus protection systems out there are any use to the general consumer. I'm sure in some back room they're the ones that create the bugs in their systems and the viruses that use them, lest they would be out a job. Fire walls prevent instead of clean.

Side note on dealing with your issue, start fresh. Back up all important files on a drive, quarantine it and ensure that it is virus and mal-ware free best you can before reloading it. Wipe your old drive and cease all activities that typically take place before major attacks.

Thank you for the welcoming and the replies.

I try to use my PC for only graphic design but because I'm interestd in art I sometimes use Google image search for photos that I need. Recently I clicked on a couple images from the Google Search and the website it was located made my AV software pop up with the warning "Trojan Blocked." So I don't click on any images from Google Image search anymore.

Recently I was at an art community site that buys and sells art. When I was looking at some pieces for some ideas that website redirected me to some random other site, and this only happens at this site. I've been to the site for years before and never happened, so it's frustrating that your computer can get attacked or infected even when just going to a well known website.

I guess regardless you can get a virus any time from anywhere so I just need to make sure everything's updated, firewalls up, invest in a good storebought AV as well as sticking with the good free ones (Avast, Malwarebytes), run check ups as often as possible, and doing so in safe mode as well.

Thanks again everyone!

I haven't used virus protection in 20 years. Quite frankly it's more trouble than it's worth when working on a Mac.

I agree with many comments above. There's only so much you can do before it's the responsibility of the client to take control of their security.

I use a PC and have been through all of the antivirus programs. I'm using AVG free at the moment and never had any problems - let alone serious ones. You just need to be diligent. Don't open email attachments from unknown sources - especially .exe's, and AVG will warn you if there's a problem with a website which you're visiting or you can scan any file for viruses. Regardless of your actions however, you will at some point get a virus, and i've had some nasty ones, but they haven't been the result of recklessness - sometimes sh*t happens. I've never had a virus which couldn't be overcome, and the chances are that other people have had the same virus, and you'll be able to find a solution online.

Ultimately though your comment "So I don't click on any images from Google Image search anymore" alarms me. Don't cut you nose off to spite your face. Don't let the terrorists win ;).
You contradicted yourself too in the same comment by saying that "I guess regardless you can get a virus any time from anywhere so I just need to make sure everything's updated". You don't even need a store bought anything. AVG or Microsoft security essentials, Malwarebytes, and maybe, spybot search and destroy, on top of good old sensibility. Again i'll state that you shouldn't just stop using Google image search out of fear and/or paranoia because that's silly and irrational.

These replies are really helpful, thanks.

I'm going to have to make time to back up everything, files and my computer. I've been pretty lazy so I need to make some time to look into that.

In regards to the google image search, I'm wary to click on the results because everytime I use it and also start clicking on the results it turns out the site where the image resides is bad any my AV scanner says, "trojan blocked." Everytime. Normally I'd be content with that and just close the page, but one time my computer got a big virus and supposedly my AV blocked it.

Then again this last one was from a well known website. Ugh! I hate having to deal with this. Your right though. If even websites I normally go to can end up giving off viruses why would I ignore a useful feature like google image search. I've found some really good hires textures through it (although I lost them too). I have to beef up my computer knowledge keep up some preventive maintenance.