Does not compute..!

[oldhermit]

Well, I have my limits, and I'm not willing to drop my security just to get an online virus scan. I'm at stealth level, but the two sites I visited want me to drop my level of security so they can peep inside my compyutere. Does this make any sense?

With no security, anyone is bound to pick up some type of virus within a very short time, and I suppose the online scanners will be happy to report that a virus has been found. However, it makes better sense to me to remain at stealth level, and avoid picking up a virus, thus bypassing the need to abandon good security just to get an online virus scan.

No doubt I will probably receive a lesson from someone about this...

[usil]

I assume it is refering to lowering your Firewall security. I guess it would be one or ther other. Either Firewall and security, or less security and virus scan.

[oldhermit]

They are not for everyone. In my opinion, they really serve no purpose, or shouldn't. That's a very long step between the online scan and the disconnect button.

[fink]

It could also mean that you need to allow java or java script to get the scan. ( In fact that probably is what it means... a firewall should not interfere with an online virus scan) You could put the address of the website in trusted sites in internet options/security. That will lower the security level to allow active content.

[oldhermit]

Trusted sites must be secure sites or you get this error:

"Sites added to this (trusted) zone must use the https:// prefix. This prefix assures a secure connection."

Enabling Java, enabling scripting, and enabling activeX all at the same time does not set well with me at all.

My intentions to get a second opinion from an alternative virus scan is going to have to be less risky than using an online scanner. Even an online scan site is not all that trustworthy. Just reading the FAQ for the site I received three alerts of trojan attempts. Had I lowered my security, I would likely be chasing down a fix for it right about now.

Despite there being a following for services from these sites, someone who has spent the time and effort seeing to the security of their system will likely find this service to be contradictory to their better practices.

[fink]

You have to uncheck the option that says "require server verification..."

If you don't trust the site to run active content then you shouldn't trust their opinion on whether or not you have a virus. You're wasting both their and your own time.

Personally, and I'm far more security concious than most, I would and don't have any problem at all lowering my security settings to get an online scan from any of the better known scanners such as Panda, Housecall, RAV etc.

To get an online scan they HAVE to install a java applet on your computer. You have to lower your settings for that site. There's no option. Thousands have done it with no ill effects.

Any alerts you were getting were either false positives or you're alert program not knowing the difference between a legitimate java program and a malicious one.

[oldhermit]

There have been many efforts to keep that sort of program off the computer (firmware and software alike). It really makes no sense for someone to approve of something that has proven to be a source of hacks into their system.

[fink]

What sort of program? Java? Java is just another "language" used to write computer programs. Any kind of program can be written to cause harm in any "language".

If you extrapolate further what you just said then nothing should be run on your computer including the operating system itself.

It's not just "safe" computing it's "smart" computing and knowing what and where unsafe programs might come from.

[oldhermit]

Better computing is on the horizon. These clunky model A's are too vulnerable.

[AlaricD]

You might just want to purchase good AV software, if using online scanners does not suit your needs.

My Model A is only as vulnerable as the person using the Model M...

[oldhermit]

Yeah, that was the whole point of this post.
Unfortunately it might have been a little troublesome for some.
Where accusations begin, a productive discussion ends.

[AlaricD]

The thread ceased being productive when you were offered a) explanations for the necessity of lowering your security settings and b) methods for lowering it for that particular site without compromising the rest of your security, but rather than follow them, you instead chose to become argumentative.

The suggestions have been made and still stand. Either lower the security settings pertaining to that particular site, or purchase and install AV software on your machine. I would suppose a third alternative is just to take the risk that you are, in fact, infected with something and blissfully unaware of it.