Can you get infected this way?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dual Trace
  • Start date Start date
D

Dual Trace

Hearing that now you can get infected without doing almost anything, I'm
freaked out. Two questions please:

1. Can you get infected if your computer is connected to internet, but
Internet Explorer is not open? If yes, then I could simply disconnect the
modem when I am not using internet. Is this good practice?

2. Could infection spread from one computer to the other if they use the
same router to get to internet?

Thank you,
Dual Trace
 
Hi
If you are behind a router the probability of getting infected by just
idling on the Internet is extremely low.
When you actually surf the Router is only a partial protection and more has
to be added to the "Mix".
For more see here, http://www.ezlan.net/firewall.html
Jack (MVP-Networking).
 
Hearing that now you can get infected without doing almost anything, I'm
freaked out. Two questions please:

1. Can you get infected if your computer is connected to internet, but
Internet Explorer is not open? If yes, then I could simply disconnect the
modem when I am not using internet. Is this good practice?

2. Could infection spread from one computer to the other if they use the
same router to get to internet?

Thank you,
Dual Trace
Click to expand...

1) Yes, your PC is still connected to the Internet. Some viruses can
actively "scan" IP addresses and find an avaliable IP address to
spead.

2) Yes, every other PC can be infected, as long as the PCs are all
conenected to the same network.

HOWEVER: If you have a router in your Internet access set up, then you
are protected for being "infested" by viruses that are "scanning " for
access. Most router offer some type of "firewall" protection (at
least NAT.)
 
Hearing that now you can get infected without doing almost anything, I'm
freaked out. Two questions please:

1. Can you get infected if your computer is connected to internet, but
Internet Explorer is not open? If yes, then I could simply disconnect the
modem when I am not using internet. Is this good practice?

2. Could infection spread from one computer to the other if they use the
same router to get to internet?

Thank you,
Dual Trace
Click to expand...

You can get infected from using other browsers, like Firefox, Opera, or Safari.
You can get infected from IM programs, like GTalk, MSN Messenger, or Yahoo
Messenger. You can get infected from P2P activities, or even from downloading
updates to popular software. Or, yes, from other computers on the network, even
when you have no Internet connection.

So the only thing that disconnecting the modem will do is give you a false sense
of security. It's simply another version of Security By Obscurity.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/security-by-obscurity.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/security-by-obscurity.html

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.
 
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