Register a free account to unlock additional features at BleepingComputer.com
Welcome to BleepingComputer, a free community where people like yourself come together to discuss and learn how to use their computers. Using the site is easy and fun. As a guest, you can browse and view the various discussions in the forums, but can not create a new topic or reply to an existing one unless you are logged in. Other benefits of registering an account are subscribing to topics and forums, creating a blog, and having no ads shown anywhere on the site.


Click here to Register a free account now! or read our Welcome Guide to learn how to use this site.

Generic User Avatar

Antivirus For Chromebook?


  • This topic is locked This topic is locked
25 replies to this topic

#1 paulyjustin

paulyjustin

  •  Avatar image
  • Members
  • 782 posts
  • OFFLINE
  •  
  • Local time:01:41 AM

Posted 05 June 2023 - 02:40 AM

So I use chromebook for web browsing sites and downloading adult videos and files.  I also stream sports, movies and tv shows through dodgy sites with the chromebook.  I do this since I won't do that with my windows 11 laptop.

 

 

The thing is I do not access online banking or any of my primary email on this chromebook.  I have several dummy google accounts that I log in to that is for entertainment use.

 

 

Now let say I want to access my primary email on the chromebook or a financial site like online banking on the same chromebook.  Is that safe or not?  Reason being I downloaded a ton of adult videos and files from forums and obviously they could possibly have malware/virus.  However even if the chromebook has malware or virus, I heard you can powerwash it and then it would be like it is new.  However, I would not want to do this because I have lot of files on the chromebook so I don't want it to be wiped out.  Now, is there any antivirus I could download on chromebook?  I know on the google play store, there is malwarebytes and AVG.  But do those scan your chromebook 100% like as well as kaspersky total or bitdefender on windows?  I always heard people say chromebook doesn't need antivirus and it's already built in.  However, is it safe for me to visit say online banking on a chromebook or my primary google account after doing these things on my chromebook?  



BC AdBot (Login to Remove)

 


#2 thomas25

thomas25

  •  Avatar image
  • Members
  • 2 posts
  • OFFLINE
  •  
  • Local time:10:41 AM

Posted 07 June 2023 - 02:52 AM

I think, using a Chromebook for web browsing and downloading files, including adult content, can potentially expose your device to malware or viruses. While powerwashing can reset your Chromebook to its original state, it would erase your files, so it may not be the best solution for you.
 
Chromebooks are designed with built-in security features, such as sandboxing and automatic system updates, which provide a certain level of protection against malware. However, it's not guaranteed to be completely immune.
 
To enhance the security of your Chromebook, you can consider downloading antivirus apps like Malwarebytes or AVG from the Google Play Store. While these apps can help detect and remove some malware, they may not offer the same level of comprehensive protection as Kaspersky Total or Bitdefender on Windows.
 
If you want to access sensitive accounts, such as online banking or your primary email, it is generally recommended to do so on a secure and trusted device. Given the potential risks associated with your usage patterns on the Chromebook, it's advisable to precautionary steps and consider using a different device for these purposes.

Edited by thomas25, 07 June 2023 - 02:53 AM.


#3 JohnC_21

JohnC_21

  •  Avatar image
  • Members
  • 34,803 posts
  • OFFLINE
  •  
  • Gender:Male
  • Local time:01:41 AM

Posted 07 June 2023 - 06:47 AM

If you are using a chromebook and keep the number of apps to a minimum, apps that only came with the chromebook, and the device still gets security updates it's a very secure device. Chromebooks are based on linux so any of the Windows malware would not affect it. When you get a new chromebook there are a lot of apps pre-installed you can uninstall any of the android apps you do not need. In the Chrome OS you can set Enhanced Protection for browsing. The Malwarebytes app would also notify you if you visited any dodgy websites. 

 

https://www.ricksdailytips.com/chromebook-safety-vs-windows/

 

https://www.security.org/antivirus/chromebooks/#:~:text=When%20it%20comes%20to%20malware,keep%20your%20computer%20running%20smoothly.



#4 TheEnby

TheEnby

  •  Avatar image
  • Members
  • 3 posts
  • OFFLINE
  •  
  • Local time:01:41 AM

Posted 27 June 2023 - 04:27 PM

malwarebytes



#5 paulyjustin

paulyjustin
  • Topic Starter

  •  Avatar image
  • Members
  • 782 posts
  • OFFLINE
  •  
  • Local time:01:41 AM

Posted 13 July 2023 - 01:44 AM

Malwarebytes is the best option then?  Anything similar to kaspersky total for chromebook?  



#6 JohnC_21

JohnC_21

  •  Avatar image
  • Members
  • 34,803 posts
  • OFFLINE
  •  
  • Gender:Male
  • Local time:01:41 AM

Posted 13 July 2023 - 08:02 AM

I would stick with the Malwarebytes browser extension.



#7 paulyjustin

paulyjustin
  • Topic Starter

  •  Avatar image
  • Members
  • 782 posts
  • OFFLINE
  •  
  • Local time:01:41 AM

Posted 15 July 2023 - 12:33 AM

So that is the best option?  So there isn't a really detailed anti virus to scan chromebook similar to like a paid antivirus like kaspersky total for windows?



#8 JohnC_21

JohnC_21

  •  Avatar image
  • Members
  • 34,803 posts
  • OFFLINE
  •  
  • Gender:Male
  • Local time:01:41 AM

Posted 15 July 2023 - 01:11 PM

No, because ChromeOS is based on the linux OS so malware that is written for and infects the Windows OS does not affect ChromeOS.



#9 paulyjustin

paulyjustin
  • Topic Starter

  •  Avatar image
  • Members
  • 782 posts
  • OFFLINE
  •  
  • Local time:01:41 AM

Posted 22 July 2023 - 08:38 PM

So are you saying the chromebook that I"m using where i have streamed from sites and downloaded adult video and pictures on forums... my chromebook has no malware at all?  Or it can have?  But if this was a windows laptop, then it could?  I ask this because I want to do some financial things on my chromebook now such as use online banking and few other things but is it safe to do that now currently on a chromebook where I use it to visit dangerous sites?  Now I would not go to dangerous sites on a windows laptop and do financial things on it.



#10 cryptodan

cryptodan

    Bleepin Madman


  •  Avatar image
  • Members
  • 34,434 posts
  • OFFLINE
  •  
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:USA
  • Local time:05:41 AM

Posted 22 July 2023 - 08:48 PM

If you want to do financial things on it wipe it clean and stop viewing porn.

US Navy Veteran from 2002 to 2006

Masters in Computer and Digital Forensics Expert - Stevenson University Alumni 2015

Arch Desktop - https://termbin.com/epij

Arch Laptop - https://www.termbin.com/dnwk

Ubuntu Server - https://termbin.com/zvra


#11 paulyjustin

paulyjustin
  • Topic Starter

  •  Avatar image
  • Members
  • 782 posts
  • OFFLINE
  •  
  • Local time:01:41 AM

Posted 28 July 2023 - 02:44 AM

So powerwash it and then do the financial things on it.  Then after that, powerwash it again and then go and do the view porn and everything else I normally do on it correct?

 

 

I only have to do a few financial things on it now but I won't be doing it every day on the chromebook.

 

 

But can you get malware on chromebook though?  Again I download movies/pictures from sites and forums so not sure if it is malware or virus free or not.  Now if I do this on a windows laptop, then you should not do financial things on it.  But since it's a chromebook, it's still not safe because I downloaded files right?  



#12 Bauhaus68

Bauhaus68

  •  Avatar image
  • Members
  • 71 posts
  • OFFLINE
  •  

Posted 10 August 2023 - 05:15 PM

So powerwash it and then do the financial things on it.  Then after that, powerwash it again and then go and do the view porn and everything else I normally do on it correct?

 

 

I only have to do a few financial things on it now but I won't be doing it every day on the chromebook.

 

 

But can you get malware on chromebook though?  Again I download movies/pictures from sites and forums so not sure if it is malware or virus free or not.  Now if I do this on a windows laptop, then you should not do financial things on it.  But since it's a chromebook, it's still not safe because I downloaded files right?  

Which is more important, PORN or FINANCIALS?



#13 U_Swimf

U_Swimf

  •  Avatar image
  • Members
  • 226 posts
  • OFFLINE
  •  
  • Gender:Male
  • Local time:09:41 PM

Posted 29 August 2023 - 05:48 AM

it is possible to get malware on any device.

Ever try NOT using Chrome for everything?

It has a funny way of showing you how much it cares and respects your wishes.. not too unlike a stalker
/ ex significant other..

i would think having downloaded porn is a no brainer for thing NOT to do.
Chrome does a decent job at filtering bad stuff from you saving and uploading to the cloud. Iirc a lot of files get sanatized in some way.

Why would someone DOWNLOAD free porn? is it going some place ? that you cant readily access it later? lol

#14 paulyjustin

paulyjustin
  • Topic Starter

  •  Avatar image
  • Members
  • 782 posts
  • OFFLINE
  •  
  • Local time:01:41 AM

Posted 04 September 2023 - 07:44 PM

So what do you suggest if I have to use the chromebook for a short while to check some pdf documents that are sensitive?  You recommend powerwashing the chromebook now.  Then use it to open up some pdf files that are sensitive... then once I'm done with that... powerwash again?  Then go back to what I do with my chromebook?

 

 

The thing is I have to visit a financial site and open file and download file that are sensitive.  Or you are saying it's safe to do this on my chromebook right now?



#15 paulyjustin

paulyjustin
  • Topic Starter

  •  Avatar image
  • Members
  • 782 posts
  • OFFLINE
  •  
  • Local time:01:41 AM

Posted 05 September 2023 - 01:17 AM

Want to add to this right now. In a week or two, I have to visit a site where I normally visit it on my primary windows 11 laptop. I usually visit it once or twice a year.



I log into this site to send/receive financial documents like tax documents and things like that. Now whenever they send me a document, you always have to enter the password to open it before you can open up the document. You know what this password is because it is related to you somehow. Now previously I always just visit that website on my main windows primary laptop and send/receive documents from it and open the PDF file and send back whatever is necessary. However... my concern is in case their laptop has malware/virus... I don't want me opening that PDF file on my windows primary laptop to get malware/virus. Would you say this is a smart action to take or not? Now last time I had to open a PDF file from them, I had a really slow spare windows 10 laptop to visit that site and open the PDF file and then send whatever back was necessary. At the moment I only have my primary windows 11 laptop and my chromebook. So because of this, whenever the other party sends me documents to look at and send back, I want to do this on another computer just in case their computer/laptop has malware.


Now... would it be safe to do this on my chromebook at the state my chromebook is right now or not? I do have lot of adult videos and pictures I downloaded from forums. So obviously there is a chance these files could have malware/virus. But since it's a chromebook and not windows, does it make matter? Does it make any difference if I log into my chromebook as a guest? Or that makes no difference at all if your chromebook has malware/virus? But say 2 or 3 of your google accounts you use on the chromebook are ones you use primary for web browsing/downloading adult videos/streaming etc. And say you have 1 google account on your chromebook that is just regular web browsing. Does any of this make a difference or not because it's still the same chromebook?



So the safe thing here would be powerwash my chromebook first? Only then... go to that financial website and receive and open an PDF files and once I'm done with that... then powerwash my chromebook again? Then finally... go log in with my few google accounts and continue to do what I normally do on it?


The thing is after I visit the website and open some PDF files and then send it back, I won't have to do this again for at least 6 months or longer. Thus this isn't like something I have to do weekly. So based on this... safe thing to do is just powerwash it but make sure you save the videos and pictures to google drive or external hard drive first? Then powerwash it. Then go do any financial things on it and once you are done... only then you power wash it one more time? Then go log back into your 2 or 3 google accounts you use for the chromebook? I use a chromebook strictly for entertainment purposes and wouldn't do these things on my main laptop. So would like your advice on this. Also during the process of visiting the website and receiving PDF file and checking it and sending it back, that would take probably 2 days max. Also, can anyone here confirm that with a chromebook... you can open adobe PDF files? Thank you.






1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users