- Jun 26, 2020
- 440
When you have an error or a problem with a security application, the support answer you: Please uninstall and install again...
This answer make me sick.
What kind of Security Advice is considered pure garbage?
- Thread starter Ink
- Start date
Please provide comments and solutions that are helpful to the author of this topic.
When you have an error or a problem with a security application, the support answer you: Please uninstall and install again...
This answer make me sick.
That's Norton support's no.1 advise
Bitdefender's advise makes me sick too. Whatever the problem you have they will take logs from your system and they will blame it on other anti-malware solutions remnants. I contacted them recently with suggestion about the profiles function in the product. What I suggested is for the movie profile, it would be great if users can add UWP apps in the players list, e.g apps like Netflix. The agent then went through the same script - he said the lack of UWP apps list is an issue due to other av's remnants. Such a shame for them.
- Dec 23, 2014
- 8,603
The problem with average users is that generally, they have little and diverse knowledge about computers. Many of them can think that Google is something they use to connect to the Internet and do not know that in fact, it is a Firefox with Google webpage. Many of them do not know what antivirus is installed, and some do not know what is an antivirus.
I would risk saying that for average users any security advice related to installing or configuring something would be dangerous. If the average user is left alone, then the best thing is configuring average security for him and advise to ignore other "advices".
Edit.
I have used "advices" in quotes because the exception will be learning (which assumes more understanding about the consequences of the "advice"). Furthermore, some important security advices are not related to installing/configuring something.
I would risk saying that for average users any security advice related to installing or configuring something would be dangerous. If the average user is left alone, then the best thing is configuring average security for him and advise to ignore other "advices".
Edit.
I have used "advices" in quotes because the exception will be learning (which assumes more understanding about the consequences of the "advice"). Furthermore, some important security advices are not related to installing/configuring something.
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- Dec 23, 2014
- 8,603
Let's assume that the average home user has got an already configured computer with one of the popular AVs installed (Avast, Bitdefender, Eset, F-Secure, Kaspersky, Microsoft, Norton, Panda, etc.). Advising him/her to install another one because it will be better seems pure garbage:
So what the average user can do? It is simple, he/she has to get help from a professional service or from a more advanced user.
- There is no proven evidence that the protection in the wild will be significantly better for home users.
- Why would the average user spend time to install & learn another AV?
- Can the average user download/install/configure the new AV?
- What should do the user if the new AV will produce issues? Can the user recognize the source of the issue? Can any AV be easily uninstalled?
So what the average user can do? It is simple, he/she has to get help from a professional service or from a more advanced user.
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I'm sorry, I got busy dealing with ESET's unfriendly support and didn't really follow up on this thread since now. I agree with all of the above, AVs are programs integrated deeply into the OS with DDA, filter drivers, network filters, kernel mode operation and so on and so on... Advising users to top-up their protection or even switch from vendor A to vendor B is a risky operation.
- Dec 12, 2013
- 542
OK...that's my answer:
ad.1 Such apps like HIPS/BB/monitors are very important and useful for many users who want/need to know what is "played" in their system and applications. That allows users to manage all installed apps/processes by allowing them only needed actions and lowest as possible privileges. That is one of the most important rule in security.
HIPS are not a disaster...disaster it's only lack of knowledge and involvment of people who have to use security apps but completely don't carre about it. They always think "Security is professionals' s job, it's not for users to decide what's good and bad."
BTW - how big are your expiriances with such apps?
ad.2 I'm home user - why should I install only one app despite there is no app among apps from "reputable company" what would satisfied me? Nobody is telling about "paranoia" but user should have some choice to use that technology that is undestandable and usable for them even if there is more than only one. And at the end - reputable company? Look at the AV vendors and perhaps you know that a lot of them have had in history "trust incidents"...which one is consiedered as reputable and which one not?
ad.3 Shortly
All the Mac malware we know about
Wondering how many viruses exist for the Mac? Here is a list recent Mac malware attacks, viruses for Apple computers, and security threats that Mac users have suffered
www.macworld.co.uk
ad.4 And similar
A Heimdal MXDR Expert on Incident Response Best Practices and Myth Busting
Heimdal MXDR expert reveals personal incident response best practices checklist and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
heimdalsecurity.com
- Dec 23, 2014
- 8,603
Hi @ichito
I think that @McMcbrad did not have in mind such experienced users like you, but rather average or inexperienced users. That is how I understand his answer to my post:
https://malwaretips.com/threads/wha...is-considered-pure-garbage.104791/post-910961
I think that @McMcbrad did not have in mind such experienced users like you, but rather average or inexperienced users. That is how I understand his answer to my post:
https://malwaretips.com/threads/wha...is-considered-pure-garbage.104791/post-910961
Yes, I mean inexperienced and novice users.Hi @ichito
I think that @McMcbrad did not have in mind such experienced users like you, but rather average or inexperienced users. That is how I understand his answer to my post:
https://malwaretips.com/threads/wha...is-considered-pure-garbage.104791/post-910961
- Jan 28, 2018
- 2,464
■ Let's install security software
■ Introduce anti-spyware software as a countermeasure against spyware
■ Anti-ransomware software is required for ransomware countermeasures
■ There is a terrifying information exploitation software called keylogger. Use an anti-keylogger
Each sentence is correct. Detailed users understand that protections overlap, but the average user obediently and faithfully implements them one by one.
A sequence of correct phrases is not always understood as a correct sentence.
■ Introduce anti-spyware software as a countermeasure against spyware
■ Anti-ransomware software is required for ransomware countermeasures
■ There is a terrifying information exploitation software called keylogger. Use an anti-keylogger
Each sentence is correct. Detailed users understand that protections overlap, but the average user obediently and faithfully implements them one by one.
A sequence of correct phrases is not always understood as a correct sentence.
- Aug 21, 2018
- 505
- Sep 10, 2015
- 901
it's very convenient when you need to do several tasks that require root access, but as always with great power comes a great responsabilitySudo su
- Aug 27, 2020
- 446
This Registry Cleaner Will Tune Up Your Computer
Or Not!!
Or Not!!
Yeah... snake oilThis Registry Cleaner Will Tune Up Your Computer
Or Not!!
I never use those.
- Jul 25, 2020
- 117
Artificial intelligence and automation will keep me safe. It's wrong to disable stuff (attack surface reduction).
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klepto
Level 2
- Jun 14, 2020
- 77
I hear this 100x a day on the radio:
Use ExpressVPN to secure your computer and keep it safe from hackers.
Perfect security and privacy with only one step.. lool!
Use ExpressVPN to secure your computer and keep it safe from hackers.
Perfect security and privacy with only one step.. lool!
- Apr 9, 2020
- 667
Seen on Reddit lately:
"You cannot get infected by simply clicking a link"
"Mac OS is safe, there are no exploits for Mac" --> similar things are said about Linux
My all-time favourite advice (\s): "Don't use Anvirus."
And after asking how they keep safe without it, it is something most people could never implement because it would need expert level knowledge and takes far too much effort. E.g., someone said they only use open-source software and compile it themselves, to make sure it is not malicious.
Blaming people for being "dumb" to divert from bad design or security is very common.
Imagine medical doctors expected the same level of expertise in their fields from their patients as some people in the IT industry are doing. "Just check that MRI scan yourself, buddy!"
"You cannot get infected by simply clicking a link"
"Mac OS is safe, there are no exploits for Mac" --> similar things are said about Linux
My all-time favourite advice (\s): "Don't use Anvirus."
And after asking how they keep safe without it, it is something most people could never implement because it would need expert level knowledge and takes far too much effort. E.g., someone said they only use open-source software and compile it themselves, to make sure it is not malicious.
Blaming people for being "dumb" to divert from bad design or security is very common.
Imagine medical doctors expected the same level of expertise in their fields from their patients as some people in the IT industry are doing. "Just check that MRI scan yourself, buddy!"
- Apr 9, 2020
- 667
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