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Xanthe · 01-30-2011, 12:47 AM

And don't touch the Dark Net if you don't know what you are doing, especially since a lot of the public sites that carry ebooks also carry other type of files/programs that you might be tempted to try - not to mention that some of the sites themselves are causes of infection. Research the site you intend to download from, research what could happen if your computer security isn't up to date, and always be aware that you don't know who you are downloading from and/or where that file orginated. And if anything odd starts happening with your computer after you've opened a file from a potentially dodgey source, disconnect from the internet and start running the security scans (which is also why you need to have up-to-date security hardware on your computer).

Knowing what you are doing doesn't guarantee protection, either; it just may reduce the odds.

~slight digression~

If you are running Windows, you should have an antivirus and a firewall program running. You should also have some sort of anti-spyware/anti-trojan program running. For a good unbiased and reputable recommendation of various security programs check out these polls results:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r238...nti-Virus-Poll
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r240...wall-Poll-2010
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r24260668-AS-Poll-2010

Personally-speaking, on my computer I'm currently running real-time:
Norton Internet Security
SuperAntiSpyware Pro
Mamutu
Zemana AntiLogger
Ad Muncher
Spyware Blaster
WinPatrol Pro

with Spybot Search & Destroy and Malwarebyte's AntiMalware as on-demand scanner. I've hardened my browsers as much as is reasonable and still allow usable functioning of them. I do this not because I go on the Dark Net, but just for my everyday protection. And most important of all, I pay attention to what I am doing and where I am going on the Net.

01-30-2011, 12:47 AM	#131
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	And don't touch the Dark Net if you don't know what you are doing, especially since a lot of the public sites that carry ebooks also carry other type of files/programs that you might be tempted to try - not to mention that some of the sites themselves are causes of infection. Research the site you intend to download from, research what could happen if your computer security isn't up to date, and always be aware that you don't know who you are downloading from and/or where that file orginated. And if anything odd starts happening with your computer after you've opened a file from a potentially dodgey source, disconnect from the internet and start running the security scans (which is also why you need to have up-to-date security hardware on your computer). Knowing what you are doing doesn't guarantee protection, either; it just may reduce the odds. ~slight digression~ If you are running Windows, you should have an antivirus and a firewall program running. You should also have some sort of anti-spyware/anti-trojan program running. For a good unbiased and reputable recommendation of various security programs check out these polls results: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r238...nti-Virus-Poll http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r240...wall-Poll-2010 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r24260668-AS-Poll-2010 Personally-speaking, on my computer I'm currently running real-time: Norton Internet Security SuperAntiSpyware Pro Mamutu Zemana AntiLogger Ad Muncher Spyware Blaster WinPatrol Pro with Spybot Search & Destroy and Malwarebyte's AntiMalware as on-demand scanner. I've hardened my browsers as much as is reasonable and still allow usable functioning of them. I do this not because I go on the Dark Net, but just for my everyday protection. And most important of all, I pay attention to what I am doing and where I am going on the Net.