I was in chat and someone sent me an Im asking me to download a .zip file for him because the website was blocked on his computer. The file was downloaded from rapidshare website. Could my computer be in jeopardy, my passwords ect?
2006-11-16 09:19:10 · 11 answers · asked by Janet 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
Dont know if it helps or not but i did not open the file just downloaded and sent it to him
2006-11-16 09:20:34 · update #1
A Zip file cannot affect your computer if it is not open or executed. So the file did not affect your computer. Now depending what kind of Zip file you downloaded you could be traced as the original sender of a corrupt file. Sending file over the net that is unknown is not a good Idea....Most likely it will not be traced back to you but I would write down where you got the file so if something come up you didn't do it...
2006-11-16 09:32:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You put yourself at risk two different ways. First, by downloading the file, you put potentially malicious software on your computer. USUSALLY, a zip file needs to be opened to release the bug. But this is not always true. Also, by downloading the zip, you could have also downloaded a hidden bug with it.
Second, by e-mailing it to him you gave him your header information, which includes your IP address. This makes it vastly easier for him to target you personally for a hack attack. Further, if his zip file has a remote control agent imbedded in it, you just gave him the key to your castle. Since many remote control agents are not considered either spyware or viruses, it could pass all your scans unnoticed.
Bad, bad, bad mistake.
2006-11-16 11:45:27 · answer #2 · answered by antirion 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is difficult to isolate a downloaded and unzipped file, even running a virus scan may not reveal a potentially damaging executable.
Never trust anything from a chatroom- ever. I would disconnect your PC from the network; run some virus scans and realize at this point that you may have to wipe your entire system clean and perform reinstallations. Never set your browser to remember your passwords and at this point your system has been compromised.
2006-11-16 10:48:04 · answer #3 · answered by RHJ Cortez 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's possible and quite likely. Assume that your computer has been compromised. Disconnect from the internet, back up everything and reformat. Change all your passwords, especially if you do online banking or bill payments.
In the future: DO NOT DOWNLOAD OR OPEN FILES SENT TO YOU BY UNKNOWN PERSONS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY SAY.
2006-11-16 09:29:09 · answer #4 · answered by cornpie jones 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The email has your IP, ergo you can be hacked. The sight the file came from has your IP# ergo you can be hacked. The time you spend in a chatroom, anyone can #ping you and get your IP# ergo you can be hacked.
Will you be, you allready have been, many times, I have been hacked, many times, do I care, no, did it hurt my data, no, it was a hack.
A Cracker will mess stuff up or destroy stuff, but they are rare.
2006-11-16 09:34:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes never accept any file or click any link given in a chat room or on im especially from people you do not know. many virus's can be spread this way.
2006-11-16 09:48:49 · answer #6 · answered by great one 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just because he said it was blocked doesn't mean it was. NEVER download files in that situation unless you TRULY, and I mean TRULY, trust that person.
2006-11-16 09:32:15 · answer #7 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I think so, in case at one point the person was able to get hold of your ip address.
2006-11-16 09:22:57 · answer #8 · answered by alternative_be 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A friend of mine had Norton and got a refund when he found Norton itself had a virus.
2016-03-28 22:49:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can get infected that way. Run a virus scan now.
2006-11-16 09:26:32 · answer #10 · answered by hmmm... 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋