# How can I infect my computer?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 4, 2005, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971 "2005-03-04T21:13:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2005, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971/1 "2005-03-04T21:13:36Z")
How can I infect my PC with viruses and spyware? Okay i know this is a silly question, but I have found a new method of removal. Well, it is just a process that I’d like to be able to use to demonstrate how well my method works, which would be a good way to get a job I think. The system would work with BartPE and various versions of antivirus software. What I want to do is to infect my laptop and then try to clean it with my BartPE boot CD. Since I’d like to be able to repeat this, I’d like to be able to get my computer infected pretty quickly. This is strange, I know, but it would help me out a lot, I think to be able to show a completely screwed up computer, and then fix it on the fly with my method. Anyone here know of a reliable way to get infected with lots of crap?
I was thinking of connecting to the internet with no firewall, but then I want viruses too! I know where to get viruses from shady sources, but I’m not looking to have one in a sort of “weaponized form” I don’t want to get something that can infect someone else. I’d ideally like a website or something that wold infect my machine badly.
I hope this isn’t against the rules or anything, but I really think this idea would really be helpful with getting a job, to be able to show, in concrete terms how I’d be of use and could probably help someone give a same-day turnaround for viruses and spyware. That would be a benefit, I believe, and I think my system could offer that!
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### Author:  [@JerH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerH)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2005, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971/2 "2005-03-04T21:18:33Z")
Do a web search under “hot naked blondes with big tits” and click every link that comes up - that’ll get you your spyware. I can’t help you with the virii.
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### Author:  [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2005, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971/3 "2005-03-04T21:19:57Z")
Install Kazaa. More crapware than you could ever wish for.
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### Author:  [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2005, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971/4 "2005-03-05T00:36:35Z")
Once you get it good and infected, burn a disk image so you can re-load the same infections each time.
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### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2005, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971/5 "2005-03-05T00:40:34Z")
A good way to get a virus would be use a P2P program (like Kazaa as previously mentioned), search for files that end in .exe (executables) and run 'em.
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### Author:  [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2005, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971/6 "2005-03-05T05:45:44Z")
haha that’s a good one
I’ve got an old laptop that will be the victim. I gotta back it up first, but after that, its fair game!
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### Author:  [@Gorgonzola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgonzola)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2005, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971/7 "2005-03-05T05:49:28Z")
Google “screen savers.”
Download all your favourites.
Sit back and watch.
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### Author:  [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2005, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971/8 "2005-03-05T05:57:12Z")
Wow, it’s like one of those AOL commercials come to life.
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### Author:  [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2005, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971/9 "2005-03-05T06:11:35Z")
Just remember to use Microsoft Internet Explorer when visiting the porn sites or googling for free screen savers. It’s the prostitute of browsers. It will do _anything_ to open up a web page and become infected.
😃
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### Author:  [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2005, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971/10 "2005-03-05T06:20:14Z")
Just remember to use Microsoft Internet Explorer when visiting the porn sites or googling for free screen savers. It’s the prostitute of browsers. It will do _anything_ to open up a web page and become infected.
😃
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### Author:  [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2005, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971/11 "2005-03-05T06:24:24Z")
> [@Duckster](#):
>
> Just remember to use Microsoft Internet Explorer when visiting the porn sites or googling for free screen savers. It’s the prostitute of browsers. It will do _anything_ to open up a web page and become infected.
>
> 😃
It even duplicates posts. 😃
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2005, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971/12 "2005-03-05T08:04:41Z")
Porn sites used to be the source for Spyware, but now you can find it anywhere. But I do agree, if I wanted spyware, that’s likely the best place.
Of course, if you download some of the “free anti-spyware programs” advertised on Google, you’ll get some rad Spyware. :eek:
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### Author:  [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2005, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971/13 "2005-03-05T08:13:19Z")
Ha, this must be the first time someone has asked on a Message bord how to become infected by spyware.
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### Author:  [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2005, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971/14 "2005-03-05T09:43:20Z")
You might want to email some of the spyware removal folks and ask them if they have any programs they’d be willing to share. After all, they must test their products somehow.
And don’t forget email. If you have an unfiltered address you can stand to subject to some spam, people are more than willing to send the crapware to you.
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### Author:  [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2005, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971/15 "2005-03-05T09:47:31Z")
> [@Derleth](#):
>
> You might want to email some of the spyware removal folks and ask them if they have any programs they’d be willing to share. After all, they must test their products somehow.
>
> And don’t forget email. If you have an unfiltered address you can stand to subject to some spam, people are more than willing to send the crapware to you.
Okay,
So far, I am thinking of this:
Use Outlook Epress to open my least protected email address and just open random stuff
While I open .exe attachments in Kazaa, and while doing other silly things.
Of course, you know, I don’t want my demo PC to be unfixable either!
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### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2005, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971/16 "2005-03-05T11:51:47Z")
> [@Merkwurdigliebe](#):
>
> Okay,
>
> So far, I am thinking of this:
>
> Use Outlook Epress to open my least protected email address and just open random stuff
>
> While I open .exe attachments in Kazaa, and while doing other silly things.
> Of course, you know, I don’t want my demo PC to be unfixable either!
Once you get it infected to your liking, back it up again. That way when you fix it (and you KNOW you can fix it and you KNOW the exact steps to fix it) you can ‘restore’ it back to the previous state.
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### Author:  [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2005, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971/17 "2005-03-05T12:37:19Z")
Let my brother use your computer (but skip the part where you threaten bodily harm if he doesn’t use Firefox).
Failproof.
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### Author:  [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2005, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971/18 "2005-03-05T13:46:45Z")
Well, if you are using WindowsXP, just make sure your firewall is off (Service Pack 2 turns a firewall on by default when it is installed; other versions have the Windows firewall turned off by default) and that you are not behind a router.
Then all you have to do is wait 20 minutes or so; that is the average time for an unprotected Windows machine to get infected.
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### Author:  [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)
#### Post date: [March 5, 2005, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971/19 "2005-03-05T13:52:57Z")
Also make sure your windows security & privacy settings are at the least secure settings, accept all cookies, no notification for installing software, remove old windows patches/fixes manually etc. That ought to catch your computer a cold or two.
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### Author:  [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)
#### Post date: [March 6, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-infect-my-computer/292971/20 "2005-03-06T17:32:56Z")
Remember this a thread about doing bad things to your computer, so use these w/ that in mind.
visit these places:
69.50.168.147
195.178.160.30
213.159.117.133
b00gle.info
coolsearch.biz
newiframe.biz
pizdato.biz
from here: [http://www.vitalsecurity.org/2004/11/major-hack-attack-discovered-8mb-of.html](http://www.vitalsecurity.org/2004/11/major-hack-attack-discovered-8mb-of.html)
Where they caution, “Fair warning: do NOT visit any of these domains unless your box is well defended and updated, and you are prepared to deal with the unexpected.”
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