Does this fit?

[ninager]

This does not seem to fit in any of the discussions here. But lemme take a shot. You guys seem so professional. :-) I just downloaded Kazaa. It's great and all..but how do you know if the files that you download don't contain virus? because sometimes certain virus' defy all detectors and POW! your pc is filled. coughing like a 100 year old. any pointers?

[UrSv]

You don't know...

Same rules as always:

1.
Always have your anti-virus software completely updated (live/automatic if possible). That means virus database AND engine/scanner (database is no good without the latest engine and vice versa). Use web and e-mail scanner.

2.
Don't run or open files until you have scanned them the best possible way you can (full intelligence/heuristical/all files as per your risk assessment and will) .

3.
Only download (or as they usually say "open attachments") from sources you trust. Anything looks funny shoudl be treated as bad.

4.
Make backups...

5.
Stay way from places the promote virus distribution (I did not say Kazaa but I could have...).

/UrSv

[cowanrg]

an even better answer for you...

most people dont know this, but MP3's aren't executable, so they cant carry viruses. if your MP3's stop playing, might have an issue, becuase a virus will corrupt and MP3.

p.s. - same applies to AVI's and MPEG's (mpeg video files are actually MP1 and MP2's, same idea.)

hope that helped! as long as you ONLY download media, you are fine.

[schpeltor]

Actually, I just read an article of someone who has created a virus that infects jpg picture files. So media files can carry viruses. Its just that no one has begun to do so.

[Electro]

UrSv is right. cowanrg, is wrong on saying that multimedia files doesn't contain a virus. Multimedia files can contain a virus. In the antivirus programs.

Using one antivirus program is fine although it is best to have two or more antivirus programs to get those buggers.

Don't forget to look in:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Run]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\RunOnce]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\RunServices]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\RunServicesOnce]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Userinit]

OR

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Run]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\RunOnce]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\RunServices]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\RunServicesOnce]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows]

Virus like to hide in these registry entries.

Check at either Norton or McAfee for hoax and virus information.

[ninager]

Wow. thanks. Recently, my mp3s went corrupt and i still don't have a clue Which is why i'm back to downloading them off kazaa. Is there a way of retrieving those corrupt mp3s? making them work again?

[Schaef]

Originally posted by schpeltor
Actually, I just read an article of someone who has created a virus that infects jpg picture files. So media files can carry viruses. Its just that no one has begun to do so.

While it is true that a virus can LIVE inside a data file such as a jpeg image, it can't INFECT from within. If you read the announcements about the virus you mentioned more closely, you'll see that there's a stipulation on the infection, you have to already be infected!

So it goes back to, playing data files do not currently infect systems! (If you're already infected, it can be used to deliver updates or new versions though!)

As to why the mp3's went corrupt, you may have gotten hit by a virus from a different source, or your disk may be going bad, or the player may have updated itself and now its got problems with the mp3's, any number of possiblities exist.

[ninager]

umm..no feedback i suppose. Well, i'll wait. I'm still downloading like shitloadsa stuff off kazaa right now.

[Electro]

Virus only run when the file is executed or opened.

ninager, don't forget to scan for virus.