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Still: Cryptolocker isn't exactly common. I support PC's for a living. I also support my network of friends and family. Not one person I know has been hit with Cryptolocker. Even the ones without much common sense. The media, as you are well aware, tend to make things seem much worse then they are.
I've thought about keeping a computer, possibly one being replaced with new model, and reset it to factory condition then not connect it to any network. I could use it safely to keep personal fiances, tax records, and other critical personal information. It would also be nice for games since the computer wouldn't be weighed down with anti-virus, anti-adware, viruses, adware, Trojans, worms, etc slowing down the processors. Can't hack a computer not connected to the internet.
No. Everything is "connected". Albeit I have additional controls in place to protect my information. That said, if you have a need to do what you described (or just have a better piece of mind) - go for it. I personally think the inconvenience isn't worth the risk reduction. But everyone's requirements are different.
Still: Cryptolocker isn't exactly common. I support PC's for a living. I also support my network of friends and family. Not one person I know has been hit with Cryptolocker. Even the ones without much common sense. The media, as you are well aware, tend to make things seem much worse then they are.
An analysis by Dell has a clone infecting 600K+ machines, obviously that is not a huge number but do you really want to be one of the 600K?
CryptoWall has spread through various infection vectors since its inception, including browser exploit kits, drive-by downloads, and malicious email attachments. Since late March 2014, it has been primarily distributed through malicious attachments and download links sent through the Cutwail spam botnet. These Cutwail spam email attachments typically distribute the Upatre downloader, which retrieves CryptoWall samples hosted on compromised websites. Upatre was the primary method of distributing the Gameover Zeus banking trojan until Operation Tovar disrupted that ecosystem in May 2014. Upatre has also been used to distribute the Dyre banking trojan. In June 2014, the malicious emails began including links to legitimate cloud hosting providers such as Dropbox, Cubby, and MediaFire. The links point to ZIP archives that contain a CryptoWall executable.
In other words if people would just exercise some frigging common sense and heed the warnings of the last 25 YEARS...
It's hard to avoid it all, I had guy send me a Word document I was expecting that was infected with something. I even caught myself once clicking a link in paypal email, it was from Paypal but the point is had it been a phishing email they almost got me. You can get infected on any site if it gets hacked. The latest thing I heard was these plug in USB chargers for the car having viruses...
Using a computer is like driving a car, it's inevitable your going to get in an accident at some point.
You can also restrict the sites you can visit on your primary computer to your business sites so that you can stay connected. Usually, the information that's stolen results from usernames/passwords being stolen by visiting other sites where keyloggers or trojans may be downloaded to your computer. If you have a computer that's restricted to your banking and investing companies, you shouldn't have problems. You can probably add major retail sites that you vist often.
1. Home network - computer running firewall/routing based distro like IPFire. Everything connects to the internet through this pc, its only function is to monitor your networks connection to the internet.
2. Any and all web browsing done using computer running linux based distro, windows used only for specific instances that require it.
3. never click links in emails that go to password protected sites, especially banking sites, unless you specifically requested email ( ie a verification email for something)
4 If your ultra paranoid then make a bootable usb from a secure linux distro and only use that usb to access critical sites like banking, etc.
1. Home network - computer running firewall/routing based distro like IPFire. Everything connects to the internet through this pc, its only function is to monitor your networks connection to the internet.
2. Any and all web browsing done using computer running linux based distro, windows used only for specific instances that require it.
3. never click links in emails that go to password protected sites, especially banking sites, unless you specifically requested email ( ie a verification email for something)
4 If your ultra paranoid then make a bootable usb from a secure linux distro and only use that usb to access critical sites like banking, etc.
Could also use a virtual machine in VMware fusion or virtual box(free) if the vm catches a virus just revert to a clean snapshot.
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