# Turning off computer vs. malware, etc. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 28, 2016, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-off-computer-vs-malware-etc/761132 "2016-07-28T18:59:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AllShookDown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2016, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-off-computer-vs-malware-etc/761132/1 "2016-07-28T18:59:50Z")
Since I only use my desktop for work, and to update my ipod a couple of times a month, I shut it down when I’m not using it. That makes me wonder, am I reducing my chances of getting malware or having other bad things happen to it through the internet, or would I also have to unplug the phone line that goes into it? Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2016, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-off-computer-vs-malware-etc/761132/2 "2016-07-28T19:10:32Z")
I don’t think there is anything that can enter if the power is completely off from a wall switch or one with surge protection and an on/off switch like are used everywhere now. Unplugging the other wire, phone or router wire is maybe overdoing it but if you turn off the router, if you have one, it will be more secure from lightning strikes. Both can be done in 2-3 seconds so if the peace of mind helps, do it. I do several things that others laugh at but since I don’t ever have to whine about bad stuff happening, it is worth it if I can stay like that. Do what makes you comfortable, it won’t hurt and might help… YMMV ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2016, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-off-computer-vs-malware-etc/761132/3 "2016-07-28T19:12:42Z")
No, you are not significantly reducing your chance of getting malware. A computer sitting idle is not much of a target these days. Most malware comes from email links and malicious websites. If you are not surfing the web, then there is no difference between idle and off. As for email, well, you are going to download all your (potentially dangerous) emails the next time you turn the computer on, so that also makes the computer being off no safer than it sitting idle. However, if you are not using it, having it off or asleep saves energy. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2016, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-off-computer-vs-malware-etc/761132/4 "2016-07-28T20:49:02Z")
Basically, all you need to do is just close your browser when not in use, right? ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-off-computer-vs-malware-etc/761132/5 "2016-07-28T21:44:54Z")
I used to shut off the PC every night, and then I remembered I had set up the auto updates for my anti-malware programs to happen in the dead of night. Now, I restart every night to wipe the browsing history, and I don’t worry about it. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-off-computer-vs-malware-etc/761132/6 "2016-07-28T22:38:14Z")
What’s a “phone line”? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-off-computer-vs-malware-etc/761132/7 "2016-07-29T05:55:03Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > No, you are not significantly reducing your chance of getting malware. > A computer sitting idle is not much of a target these days. Most malware comes from email links and malicious websites. If you are not surfing the web, then there is no difference between idle and off. As for email, well, you are going to download all your (potentially dangerous) emails the next time you turn the computer on, so that also makes the computer being off no safer than it sitting idle. > > However, if you are not using it, having it off or asleep saves energy. I did not think anyone still used that old style email client? Should have one that does not download anything until you request it. IMO), there should be nothing that auto downloads on a computer. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-off-computer-vs-malware-etc/761132/8 "2016-07-29T06:46:38Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > I did not think anyone still used that old style email client? Should have one that does not download anything until you request it. > IMO), there should be nothing that auto downloads on a computer. > 🆒 Almost everyone I know uses an email client. Web-based email is for email dilettantes. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-off-computer-vs-malware-etc/761132/9 "2016-07-29T15:26:22Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > I used to shut off the PC every night, and then I remembered I had set up the auto updates for my anti-malware programs to happen in the dead of night. Now, I restart every night to wipe the browsing history, and I don’t worry about it. Restarting doesn’t wipe your browsing history. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-off-computer-vs-malware-etc/761132/10 "2016-07-29T15:51:54Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > Restarting doesn’t wipe your browsing history. Depending on how “Restarting” is defined, it might. Set options on browser to dispose of browsing history, empty cache, etc. when exiting. Exit browser manually in the course of shutting down computer. Alternately, turn off exit confirmation prompt in browser so that shutting down computer successfully exits browser without hanging on prompt. Restart wipes browsing history. Q.E.D. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-off-computer-vs-malware-etc/761132/11 "2016-07-29T15:53:26Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Almost everyone I know uses an email client. > Web-based email is for email dilettantes. Thunderbird on all my Windows and Linux desktops or laptops. For both a gmail account and an ISP-provided email address. Webmail is for situations where you don’t have a configured client handy. OTOH, I don’t run the client continually in the background, so it’s not constantly downloading emails either. It runs only when I check mail. Since I’m not receiving hundreds of emails a day, the delay between starting the client and reading any new emails is imperceptible.