Virus?

Well, I've downloaded Second Life, but I just want to make sure I can't get viruses from this program. If I watch videos inside the Virtual World, can I can something bad on my computer. People have random videos laying around that I sometimes watching, or clips or something. Is this game safe, or what? Thank you very much. Sorry if this is wrong place to post.

I don't think it's completely impossible for there to be a security problem playing videos in SL, just as it's not completely impossible when viewing videos through other video players.

I personally don't worry about it. I keep quicktime up to date and run an anti-virus program and an anti-malware program.

I've never had any problems.

I don't see how it's possible that anyone could pick up a virus from SL once the viewer is installed. Of course it's possible to pick one up by installing a rogue viewer just as any other program one might get off the internet but if a good viewer obtained from a reputable thrid party or from SL is installed on your computer you have nothing to worry about. The videos are played through Quicktime which is a separate program on your computer.......if it's clean then no video can harm your computer. The SL server software could be infected I suppose but even then it can't be transferred to your computer....because nothing further is installed once the viewer is installed. Clicking on links or URLs posted in chat or notecards could, of course, direct you to malicious sites......but that's the same as any link anywhere on the internet.

Anti maleware software, firewall, well maintained/updated system and common sense applies as with any online experience.

Funny question... Only thing you need to worry about is if you download a custom viewer (which if you stick to wide known viewers, such as Emerald you wont have a problem), or some other third party program. Other than that, I see no way to obtain a virus unless you go to an area that opens up an internal or external web browser to a malware/spyware infested website that may have trojans on it, but I've never heard of such activity on SL.

I'm fairly sure, correct me if I'm wrong, that the SL viewer hooks Quicktime to play videos. Out of date versions of Quicktime are known security risks and playing any malformed content from the web presents a risk of infection.

When you play any media, video or sound, you are pulling in content that lives in the dirty world of the Internet and not under the control of LL. Good virus protection and keeping software up to date is paramount.

To help keep your PC protected check out the free version of Secunia PSI for home users. It can detect vulnerabilities and provides information and direct download links for rectification and updates.



http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/

Rime