The Ten Most Dangerous Things Users Do Online

You guy's have some pretty good top 10's. I have 1, which I have all too much seen in the past and not necessarily online and that is
Just turning the computer on is dangerous for some people.

OK, I stand corrected, it seems that very few people have ever tried or used pirated sw, I am the rare exception and I am dutifully standing in the corner with my head hung low.

Hey, you're not alone. Up until last year, I did the same thing. However, two things helped stop that trend:

• The absolute annoyance of constantly being spiked by Viruses, Worms and Trojans.
• The fear of the FBI commin' to my doorstep.

I've learned that it's really not worth the risk. If the constant spiking doesn't get you, the fear of getting [technologically] shot hopefully will. If you want music, or a movie on your PC, either buy it, or see if your friend will be generous to allow you to rip the footage from his collection to your PC. Same with Software.

As an officially 'Lazy Blighter', I'll use the original list and just add my dos and donts


1. Clicking on email attachments from unknown senders I never do it, nor do I open their emails
2. Installing unauthorized applications It's my own PC so everything's authorized
3. Turning off or disabling automated security tools Just download and use something better than MS'es ones.
4. Opening HTML or plain-text messages from unknown senders As per line one. ^^^^ up there.
5. Surfing gambling, porn, or other legally-risky Websites I don't gamble! As for the others,
6. Giving out passwords, tokens, or smart cards Definitely not, unless you're in love with the recipient.
7. Page 8: Random surfing of unknown, untrusted Websites
8. Attaching to an unknown, untrustworthy WiFi network Ainta gotta Wi-aFi-a.
9. Filling out Web scripts, forms, or registration pages Well I registered on here.
10. Participating in chat rooms or social networking sites Not my scene. But posting on forums is safe, and non fattening by the way.

I don't think I've ever used pirated software.
Oh yes, and I have even changed from some the above opinions too, since I went over to Linux Ubuntu 18 months ago. No real security issues at all now! And you can't really pirate open source software.

I'd say the most dangerous thing to do is to intentionally infect your computer.

I know there are valid reasons for some people to do this, I am talking about the average user.

My GF binned her laptop with a cup of coffee, losing two years of uni work in the process. Luckily I'd got a copy of the folder on my external HD. I don't let anyone near my system with a drink, ever.

thanks for the nice info, quiet!

it's really not worth the risk. If the constant spiking doesn't get you, the fear of getting [technologically] shot hopefully will. If you want music, or a movie on your PC, either buy it, or see if your friend will be generous to allow you to rip the footage from his collection to your PC. Same with Software.

1. Doing anything with Email from unknown senders OTHER than hitting delete
2. Downloading and/or Installing applications from someone OTHER than the manufacturer
3. Believing that any individual “anti-virus” program will protect a system by itself (none of them are comprehensive)
4. Turning off/disabling/ignoring automated security tools and/or Trusting that AV will protect a system without user invonlvement at any level (infallible auto-scans, auto update, etc)
5. Visiting gambling, porn, P2P, or other legally-risky Websites (Page 8: Random surfing of unknown, untrusted Websites) *you wouldn't visit a stanger would you? Only go to sites that can reasonably be trusted (like BC ;) )
6. Giving out passwords, tokens, or smart cards and/or allowing multiple users on a computer
7. Downloading music, videos, pictures, etc from the internet
8. Connecting to an ”open” network simply because you can.
9. Filling out Web scripts, forms, or registration pages and/or Participating in chat rooms or social networking sites (although MySpace has gotten better, LinkedIn and FaceBook are currently under attack - Dec 2008)
10. Not reading EULA or TOS notices - sometimes they do actually say that the program will be installing malware; blindly click accept and get screwed. EULA/TOS are legally binding contratcs and should be treated as such. Would you sign a loan agreement without reading it first?


**Copying music from a CD to a computer is Unauthorized Distribution under the law and has been successfully prosecuted in England and USA. Appeals are ongoing in both countries. Initial copyright lawsuits Pending in Europe, Japan, and Australia.

If you have shared the copied music track by email or with an ipod, each individual copy is a seperate offense (WMP = 1, WMP+Ipod = 2). The people in receipt of such emailed copy are also in violation regardless of whether they asked for it or not . You rip and email it to 1 person and it's 3 seperate violations (1 for your rip, 1 for your email, and 1 for their email), if they save to system then that adds another, they copy to I-Tunes and it's one more...and so on.

Same is true of using a single-use disk (as stated in EULA) to load a program on multiple machines just beacause it lacks MS-type encryption; it's still piracy. Usually one user can load onto any machine they own and can reload in case of recovery issues, but loading it on a friend's machine is commonly not permitted without multi-use license.



I really hate to be the bearer of such dismal news as I happen to love my ipod, but that's the way the laws currently stand. Napster has significantly cleaned up its act (across multiple incarnations -- Best Buy is the new owner as of xmas '08 btw), but as a rule music DL sites only charge because the courts say they have to. They do not in any way guarantee the “virus free” status of ANY files they host access to. (avoid ShareBear/BearShare/whatever-else-it's-calling-itself-these-days and Kazaa at all costs as their servers are known to be heavily infected with Zlob/Zotob, Conhook, and Vundo/Virtumonde malware)

As far as my #10 -- there's a promotion on a gameing site I'm in where we get free stuff by doing surveys. One of the recent surveys stated that it was going to be installing an active x control to log my most commonly visited sites and report back to them -- Data Miner and Trackers anyone? O_O I'm afraid to think how many people actually clicked yes....I've also come across a few “free ware” DL's that actually do tell you they will be tracking your web browsing, not to mention logging and transmitting your system specs, as part of their EULA's. Thanks, but NO THANKS.


just IMHO of the Top 10


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The preceding information is believed to be accurate as best as can be independantly determined at the time of the original posting. Information concerning specifically named parties was obtained from publicly avaialable media sources both online and paper-print (in some cases the party's own website). The preceding information is provided as "Good Faith" as defined under USA Federal guidelines. This poster assumes all liablity for claims herein and indemnifies "BC" as such.

December 2008

Visiting news magazine show sites to download recipes or craft projects; using the internet at all during very heavy use dates, especially going to very popular sites at those times; visiting legitimate vendor sites without purchasing anything to see what is currently available, even when you have ip address verification add-ons to your browser (these sites are under constant attack, too); downloading anything from or even visiting local government sites, when you don't do that at your local library, which will have multiple scrubbers; all of the above, especially if you don't update your Java frequently, even when you use "no Java" and other Firefox java-squelching add-ons. It seems Google just LOVES Java and will keep adding it whether you want it or not, and many sites still require you to have it enabled. URRRGGGHHH!!!

Also: entering contests or answering surveys on "sponsored" health sites, such as Diabetic Gourmet or Real Age (the latter is by Mehmet Oz and Michael Roizen, and heavily promoted by Oprah Winfrey). Not only will you waste a lot of time on the surveys, but you will get spam that is only tangentially affiliated with the legitimate survey sites or product tester sites. There are legitimate sites, but they will sell your names like crazy, and even if you do decide not to sign up, you will get spam from the sites themselves forever. Even if you desperately need extra money, do not believe the t.v. news shows and sign up for these things.

Edited by fuzzywuzzy6, 07 December 2008 - 10:09 PM.

OK, I stand corrected, it seems that very few people have ever tried or used pirated sw, I am the rare exception and I am dutifully standing in the corner with my head hung low.

I've been in the "computer" biz for over 25 years and I have NEVER found anyone who can HONESTLY say that they have never accepted and used a "pirated" or gifted piece of sw....

your not the only one I have used pirated software myself-and am not proud of it. however, most of what i pirated I did because I wanted to try it out b4 wasting money on it, and in 9 cases out of 10 I purchased the actual product in the end, and in the 1 case it was cuz i didnt have the money. not a good reason or an excuse, but that was my logic at the time. not the most honest thing to do-I admit that, and it is something that I have ceased to do, am saving up the money to purchase the software i havent bought yet, and have no plans to do it again in the future, especially in todays economy, the only reason i am saying this is because I just wanted you to know your not the only naughty boy in the corner-and it should never be endorsed by any sort of online community. It really is bad cuz it does raise the price of the merchandise, and while ive done it im not proud of it.

Being too open about yourself on any forum (a naked posting style), and accepting IM except from trusted physically known friends and associates. Especially when at your pc.

the most dangerous (stupid) thing is visiting porn sites with random names which make no sense

Visiting a illegal or underaged website with strange names or strange features is probably one of the stupidest things people have ever done.
Besides that, is accept random software from random sites.. Don't some people have common sense? *Not insulting anyone. I'm just guessing blandly.*

Old thread, but hey, I just got here . I'd like to add a bit to the email issue: I won't open forwarded emails from people I do know either since whatever's in it could've easily slipped past their AV/AM/AS/AT/FW too (if they use any).

On the top of my list is Banking. I never go to the webpage of my bank. Sure, it is convenient and quick, but I can get the same info over the telephone that I can get online.

Visiting a illegal or underaged website with strange names or strange features is probably one of the stupidest things people have ever done.
Besides that, is accept random software from random sites.. Don't some people have common sense? *Not insulting anyone. I'm just guessing blandly.*

i think some people just don't care. with kids they know that if they break it mom will fix it, when they get older who care someone will either fix it for them or they'll still beable to look up phone numbers and write word files and thats all they really need the resume for.

my mother uses a computer!!! my mother, she's 70 years old, she browses through googles, clicks the first thing that comes up in google, if it's not what she wants she clicks on the second she doesn't care what happens aslong as she can find it and if she can't "well the internet just sucks sometimes"

lol god bless her