DAMNIT...hacked

[Pent]

Well, I can't comment on Macs because I have never used one, but...

Firefox browser + NoScript + AdBlock + any anti-virus/malware programs others tell you.

I don't EVER see an Ad anywhere I go... not even on IE (when I have to use it), because I use a program called AdMuncher... It isn't free but it saves me so many headaches it isn't funny.

In other news.. I was going to suggest you download and install Microsoft Security Essentials (free), but I really don't think that will work on a Mac.

[Novikova]

I believe Malwarebytes and Kaspersky both have Mac versions and I'm quite fond of them.

[VelkynKarma]

AS FOR VIRUS SCANS: Here's where I need your help.

I went down to our apple store and talked to a number of "genuises" today. I explained the whole situation to them: that my account had been hacked, and that I was looking for a good program for macs to prevent this sort of thing in the future. They basically told me this wasn't possible and to just "get a stronger password." Yeah great. Thanks. So...suggestions, people? Not just names, but where can I find them...is it downloaded online? Is it purchased at a store? Etc, etc.

That's just horrific. I'll stick with PCs, if that's the sort of crap you get trying to protect a Mac. Sheesh.

Yeah...I was a bit stunned myself. I got great customer service when I bought my mac, but maybe that's only because they wanted me to definitely drop two grand into their wallets -_-; By contrast, I got more varied answers and helpful in a couple hours from you guys on the internet than I did while standing next to these guys in person....ugh.

Anyway, thank you all so much for the feedback! I've installed Adblock and NoScript and was almost immediately stunned at how much cleaner everything looked. I also downloaded Kaspersky's trial run after some suggestions here for both PC's and Mac's, and seeing it on Blizzard's "preventing-hacking" checklist. It immediately turned up a pair of trojans that I never would have known about if I'd listened to the Applestore's "geniuses." I'll play with it for a few more weeks and if it seems good enough I'll buy the official version. After I get my Authenticator I should be all set, with luck.

You guys have been great! This was a rather harrowing experience, and extremely uncomfortable feeling, but I'm already starting to feel more secure thanks to your help and well-wishing. Much love to you all

~VelkynKarma

[Raederle]

Yeah...I was a bit stunned myself. I got great customer service when I bought my mac, but maybe that's only because they wanted me to definitely drop two grand into their wallets -_-; By contrast, I got more varied answers and helpful in a couple hours from you guys on the internet than I did while standing next to these guys in person....ugh.

The nice folks at the Mac store get their paychecks from Steve Jobs, who would prefer us all to believe that Macs are secure & do not need any of that antivirus stuff.

It's the Reality Distortion Field at work.

[Adam-Savage]

Yeah...I was a bit stunned myself. I got great customer service when I bought my mac, but maybe that's only because they wanted me to definitely drop two grand into their wallets -_-; By contrast, I got more varied answers and helpful in a couple hours from you guys on the internet than I did while standing next to these guys in person....ugh.

The nice folks at the Mac store get their paychecks from Steve Jobs, who would prefer us all to believe that Macs are secure & do not need any of that antivirus stuff.

It's the Reality Distortion Field at work.

You mean like how they make there Ipad out to be it's simply not.. It's basically a tablet pc and those have been out long before the Ipad came out..

[Cialbi]

The way I see it, trying to be safe on the Web is like trying to outrun a bear - you don't need to run faster than the bear to be safe as long as you run faster than the person next to you

[Slickrock]

AS FOR VIRUS SCANS: Here's where I need your help.

I went down to our apple store and talked to a number of "genuises" today. I explained the whole situation to them: that my account had been hacked, and that I was looking for a good program for macs to prevent this sort of thing in the future. They basically told me this wasn't possible and to just "get a stronger password." Yeah great. Thanks. So...suggestions, people? Not just names, but where can I find them...is it downloaded online? Is it purchased at a store? Etc, etc.

That's just horrific. I'll stick with PCs, if that's the sort of crap you get trying to protect a Mac. Sheesh.

I love Trend Micro and it seems there's a version for Macs, if that's at all of interest.

Sorry, the guys at the Apple store can be just as useless as those at any other PC store.

Kaspersky has a Mac version, and it's likely the best Anti-virus out there for the Mac, as well as dealing with malware.

[Slickrock]

Also for the love of god don't use Firefox.

I was told by numerous people this browser is one of the best in terms of security. IE is one of the worst. With proper addons installed like said before, should be no issues so long as you update it and the addons when prompted by the browser. I use FF with AdBlockPlus, NoScript, and McAfee site advisor. Keep an updated virus scan, firewall, and an authenticator is a MUST. Have the antivirus autoscan, and push quick scans as often as you like. I NEVER use addon downloaders, I do everything manually myself. I bet everyone who has ever logged into wow and anything on the internet other than wow has their info logged by hackers lying in wait. If you take proper precautions, you may never get hacked. They keep your info on hand until they feel the time is right. Always be careful.

I'm sorry Firefox hasn't been the most secure browser for quite awhile now (in tech time). People run tests on browser security all the time. Once upon a time in a land far, far away Firefox was the most secure browser and many people are still stuck in such a land.

http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/58644

For one they did their own type of test. And there are plenty others if you wish to google.


I check in on these things because it's what I do I'm a nerd and a PC Tech and I have both my A+ and Security+ certifications from CompTIA.

http://comptia.org/

But that's also a test on a PC, doesn't address it on a Mac.

On a Mac, it's infected banner ads and pdfs that are your biggest threat. Anything that can execute Javascript. So you need ad blockers and no-script. When I got hacked, I got Kaspersky, but the only thing it ever found was the garbage in my spam mail that I would not have opened anyway.

FF on the Mac is more secure IF you get the addons for it.

[Kalliope]

How does Chrome run on macs? Or is it not an option?

[Slickrock]

How does Chrome run on macs? Or is it not an option?

It runs ok, I'm just not a real fan of the layout.

[Moore]

Slick it doesn't matter what OS it addresses security of the browser itself. It's a comparative test based more geared towards companies. On a larger scale you don't want to have to mess with rolling out firefox then rolling out another set of addons for firefox for protection when time is money you can just as easily leave IE on and roll out updates for it internally from a server.

IE was found to be more secure and the tests prove it. You can go out and download 20 different things for Firefox to try and bring it up to the level of IE it's just a preference over how valuable your time is.

http://www.nsslabs.com/research/endpoin ... -2010.html

[Novikova]

But do consider that your average IE user rarely updates and/or uses the security features. IE takes a lot of fixing before it's very secure too.

[Moore]

Well your average user wouldn't no about no-script addons for firefox either. It's all about ease click one button and update your browser or updating your browser then updating addons. Like I said personal preference but IE is still more secure.

[Lisaara]

Moore, I hate to say this but that seems to be just a personal opinion from you, not an absolute fact. I have family and friends that work in the computer industry and they've all said Firefox is much safer for the average user.

IE Gets an F while Firefox gets a B+

But either way, I'm gonna quote a site that said it best....

I don’t really think you can win-no one will ever be completely safe while surfing the Web, and staying clean depends as much on common sense and keeping your patching up to date as it does on which particular browser you use.

and I agree 100%. Whether you use IE or FF or even GoogleChrome, it doesn't matter. None of them are 100% safe and it's our responsibility to keep them up to date on our computers.

[Royi]

I'm sorry to hear about this Vel,

My friend had his account completely wiped out and they were able to restore just about everything (except for a lvl 20 or so alt he had that he forgot to include in the "ticket"). They are usually pretty good about that kind of stuff, it just sucks to hear about this happening especially to people you "petopian-know". My friend personally logged in to find that all his characters were gone and there was a bunch of lvl 1 alts on 10 different servers.

Whenever you see Ioijwdfn talking in trade chat, they are unfortunately probably on someone's hacked account

Authenticator works great! Also if you have a Ipod Touch or a Iphone, you can just get authenticator right on it!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/battle-n ... 62897?mt=8

[Kalliope]

Whether you use IE or FF or even GoogleChrome, it doesn't matter. None of them are 100% safe and it's our responsibility to keep them up to date on our computers.

Heh, I only asked about Chrome because I had browser freezing errors with FF and eventually swapped.

Seriously, though, Trend Micro. <3

[Lisaara]

Whether you use IE or FF or even GoogleChrome, it doesn't matter. None of them are 100% safe and it's our responsibility to keep them up to date on our computers.

Heh, I only asked about Chrome because I had browser freezing errors with FF and eventually swapped.

Seriously, though, Trend Micro. <3

Chrome isnt bad. it's identical to Firefox in all ways, except in my opinion, it looked...bland. hehe. So to each their own.

[Miraga]

I can't browse the site well on my phone but something I use is Super Anti Spyware and I like it a lot (but I don't know about mac compatibility!) anyways, huge hugs to you. I got hacked a while back and all my characters were deleted except my hunter who was being used as a leather farmer! I got a ticket response in 15 minutes and everything was good (complete luck, I think). hopefully everything turns out okay! I know that when I relogged and saw that the hacker had made me roughly 7k gold I didn't feel AS bad! and yay cute corehound puppehs!

[Moore]

Moore, I hate to say this but that seems to be just a personal opinion from you, not an absolute fact. I have family and friends that work in the computer industry and they've all said Firefox is much safer for the average user.

IE Gets an F while Firefox gets a B+

But either way, I'm gonna quote a site that said it best....

I don’t really think you can win-no one will ever be completely safe while surfing the Web, and staying clean depends as much on common sense and keeping your patching up to date as it does on which particular browser you use.

and I agree 100%. Whether you use IE or FF or even GoogleChrome, it doesn't matter. None of them are 100% safe and it's our responsibility to keep them up to date on our computers.

Article is a year old.

Also you're more the one stating personal opinion, and then you posted another thing stating some guys opinion and he never mentions his tests. But then I provide you with an NSS report complete with a .pdf explaining their tests and their results and I'm some how stating the opinion >.>.

[Lisaara]

Those tests aren't always accurate. It's a set of random data collected by one person. I'm sticking with the quote of no one being 100% safe rather than shoving my opinion down anyones throats. We only just started 2011. So a 'year' wasnt that long ago. We get it....you think IE is better. Not all of us agree. Some like Firefox. Some like Google Chrome. Let them use what they know how. IE gives me nothing but trouble so I stick to Firefox.

Not trying to be mean. Just tryin to say let people use what they want. No single browser is safe from everything. All of them have their strengths and weaknesses.