Can I get a virus if I do sane things ? Possible scenarios ..

Can you get a virus if running in user mode in XP64bit ?

I dont run anivirus programs, (but I use windows sparingly). I am wondering if its necessary.

 

If you can get one?
Definitely.

How much harm does it do? No idea - also XP 64Bit was more s test OS.

 

This is for XP 64 bit

Can I get a virus if I browse in a sane fashion, eg., say:
I am in user mode.
Autorun,autoplay are disabled.
I plug in a thumb drive, full of mp3s, some of which contain viruses.
I open winamp/windows media player, and from there try to play some of the infected mp3s.


Or say I try to open infected JPG images from firefox or any other picture browsing program.

Can I get a virus in these cases ? How ? Why would malicious code in an infected mp3 get executed if a player is just rtying to play the file, or if a program is tryign to display an image ?

 

if you are deliberatly doing this then you just might get a virus. granted i know next to nothing about code executing and what not.

 

The simple answer is - yes. You can get infected if u open an infected jpeg or mp3. Simplest way to avoid this is to have your AV updated so it will detect if any virus runs from you infected file. Or run media files sandboxed.

 

I've been looking at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_virus
And from there I gather, its improbable I'l get a virus by opening an mp3/jpeg if I set the execute disable bit... by open I mean using a program like winamp etc to open the file, and not double clicking it directly.

Now, documents that contain macros like MS office document are another matter.

 

I'm no code expert, but it seems to me that trying to "beat" a virus at its own game is asking for trouble, especially with the rate at which viruses evolve. I'd rather leave it to an AV scanner that is updated daily or a sandbox.

 

I'm just trying to operate in the safest possible way --- if I can prevent the virus from ever executing, all the better.
Any recommendations for a sandbox ?

 

To greatly reduce your chances of infection, you can play/view the media file in a relatively uncommon program. iTunes or WMP may be exploited... who's going to bother developing an exploit for foobar2000?

The sandbox thing is another option, and maybe a better one, but I don't know much about that.

 

Sandboxie seems to be popular but is only for 32-bit systems. I did read somewhere that 64-bit OS have some sort of sandbox built-in but I don't run x64 so have no idea if or how it might work. Best bet might be to ask on a security-related forum like Wilderssecurity.com

 

If you have mcafee you should be fine. I'm not sure about other antivirus, but I never got a virus ever using mcafee.

 

Hmm. This is the first time i'm hearing that. I dont think x64 has a built-in sandbox; but do u have a link?

Cheers.

 

Yeah, I'm 100% sure 64bit OS doesnt have that built in, at least XP64 bit.

 

And neither does Vista or 7.

 

I think what you are looking for s "Data Execution Prevention" - and drivers need to be siged in the 64Bit OS.
There is some Kernel protection built into it, but that doesn't mean its virus safe.

If you check my 32vs64 Bit thread (sig) - I've got a couple of links at the very bottom of the post - that may help

 

To answer the OP's questions, if you do "sane things", use an alternative internet browser and an ad blocker, you will not get viruses. Oh and disable AutoPlay to protect you from those pesky USB stick worms.