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Do torrents have a lot of virus even for Macs?
- Thread starter levmc
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yeah you should assume that any pirated software is malware. Either pay for premium software or learn to use free/open-source tools & software.
Further to other replies:
Bittorrent ("torrents") is a perfectly legitimate way of distributing files over the internet - just like FTP, HTTP (i.e. regular web downloads), email attachments etc. all of which can be used to distribute legitimate files/software or pirated stuff infested with malware.
The issue is the trustworthiness of the source - not the download method. Look for sites that are linked from other reputable sources, preferably more than one, do the research, try and find the site of the original author rather than some odd download site.
If you're invited to first install their super fast download utility (adware at best), or if the actual download link is hidden away below lots of big green fake DOWNLOAD some random bit of junkware buttons, then just walk away (some of those sites are actually legit, but they don't deserve anybody's clicks).
And, yeah, that first Flash player window is as fake as a $9 bill - and the only way to be sure that the second one isn't just a good fake by someone who can write English is to download it from Adobe's own site.
NB: The Mac is less prone to viruses than Windows (esp. past versions of windows) but that mainly refers to self-spreading viruses rather than "trojans" that trick you in to running or installing them manually.
Bittorrent ("torrents") is a perfectly legitimate way of distributing files over the internet - just like FTP, HTTP (i.e. regular web downloads), email attachments etc. all of which can be used to distribute legitimate files/software or pirated stuff infested with malware.
The issue is the trustworthiness of the source - not the download method. Look for sites that are linked from other reputable sources, preferably more than one, do the research, try and find the site of the original author rather than some odd download site.
If you're invited to first install their super fast download utility (adware at best), or if the actual download link is hidden away below lots of big green fake DOWNLOAD some random bit of junkware buttons, then just walk away (some of those sites are actually legit, but they don't deserve anybody's clicks).
And, yeah, that first Flash player window is as fake as a $9 bill - and the only way to be sure that the second one isn't just a good fake by someone who can write English is to download it from Adobe's own site.
NB: The Mac is less prone to viruses than Windows (esp. past versions of windows) but that mainly refers to self-spreading viruses rather than "trojans" that trick you in to running or installing them manually.
Run the free version of Malwarebytes if you can. I have seen one bit of malware effectively block the ability to run Malwarebytes but that's not common.
It's a good idea to run Malwarebytes before and after you install anything and probably again after you have actually run the new software.
It's a good idea to run Malwarebytes before and after you install anything and probably again after you have actually run the new software.
honestly if I were you and installed what is probably persistent malware, I would not trust MalwareBytes or any other file scanner to properly clean the system. Nothing less than a full wipe and reinstall would ease my mind.
No, not all torrents have "viruses".
Depends on where you get them from.
User discretion is advised.
And the one thing you should NEVER, NEVER do is "update" flash the way you did.
That's an almost-sure way to get something that's no good.
If you want an up-to-date version of flash player, you can get it from this URL at any time:
But DON'T get one from anywhere else!
Depends on where you get them from.
User discretion is advised.
And the one thing you should NEVER, NEVER do is "update" flash the way you did.
That's an almost-sure way to get something that's no good.
If you want an up-to-date version of flash player, you can get it from this URL at any time:
But DON'T get one from anywhere else!
I don't think anyone said "all torrents have viruses". No one impugned the torrent distribution system. What I did say is to not mess with pirated software, especially when you are not completely aware of what you are doing and what the risks might be.
Finally, almost no one needs Flash anymore. It is a security problem and has been EOLed by Adobe anyway.
Finally, almost no one needs Flash anymore. It is a security problem and has been EOLed by Adobe anyway.
Agreed, full reinstall.. it's the only way to be sure.
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I have been using computers since the 80s, and using Macs since 2014, and I have never purposefully installed a flash plug-in. I've just never seen the need for it. People sometimes install things they don't even need just for the "just in case" moment. I feel it's better to wait until "just in case" arrives and then go from there. Many times "just in case" never happens.
Title of thread: "Do torrents have a lot of virus" (sic).
I don't see anybody disagreeing with your previous comments.
There are NO (known)*viruses for macOS, malware yes but rare, I've been using macs for 2 decades, installed OS X 10 beta right when it was a prerelease, never had any problem...NEVER.
The change is very low to get malware on a mac.
* Look up the definition of what a virus is.
Oh for gods sake. Do you really think the OP will be better informed for this useless and misleading bit of pedantry? That the OP is technically wrong about the definition of virus is completely insignificant next to how wrong the OP was to install Flash from a torrent.
I mean, regardless of PC or Mac, as long as you use good judgement when torrenting software you should be fine. I can't remember ever installing flash on a Mac. A good rule of thumb is that anything like that is fake, similar to the bloatware that gets thrown in with a lot of Windows freeware. 
Now what they should do is make pop-ups saying Java is out of date, cuz it already bombards you with legit update dialogs
Now what they should do is make pop-ups saying Java is out of date, cuz it already bombards you with legit update dialogs
Your "rant" is even more irrelevant, and it's not misleading, you might read upon what a computer virus is.
G'day
The difference between virus and trojan has been given all the discussion it needs in post #4.