Re: Possible maleware
Malware no longer needs to be executed like in the good ole days renaming a exe to .jpg and trying to trick someone into opening it. Today's threat vectors consist of things known as cross site scripting, cross site request for forgery, SQL injection, malicious embedded java, malicious embedded flash, the list goes on and on. Attackers are clever, they like to compromise trusted sources, this is helpful do to the trust relationship. Not long ago a major antivirus retailer had there site compromised. An attacker compromised a portion of the site and uploaded a program, the end user thought they were getting an actual program from that AV company, in fact they downloaded a malicious scare ware antivirus program that basically held their computer hostage until the end user paid for a release code.
Keeping an up to date AV that includes spyware scanning is a must these days. Another option is a sand box. Several programs are available, I like one called sand boxy. It basically creates a reserved space that your Internet browser will operate in, once you close the sand boxed Internet explorer all temp files and memory spaces are purged.
Cyber crime is one of the most lucrative illegal activities among criminal elements. Staying safe and secure on the Internet requires the end user to have at least an idea of the risks and have some amount of self taught training on how to conduct activities safely while online.
