I've always been curious if visiting a website can actually lead to getting malware on my computer without downloading anything. How does that happen?
3 Answers
Many people might challenge this idea, but you're technically downloading something anytime you browse a webpage. That said, the chance of getting infected from a reputable site with an up-to-date browser is pretty low. But, if a site has been compromised, you could still be at risk.
I get what you're saying! It's all about being careful and keeping your software updated to reduce those risks.
Yep, it's possible! When you visit a website, your browser downloads the content of that page, which includes code that could potentially be harmful. So, while you're not manually downloading files, the content is still being downloaded to your device. Browsers and antivirus programs work hard to protect you from malicious code, but it's a constant battle against new threats.
Exactly! The browser does its best to isolate potentially harmful code, but there are always people trying to find ways around those protections.
I still think that sounds exaggerated. I don’t believe anything harmful is really downloaded unless I specifically choose to.
It might sound surprising, but yes, websites can contain harmful instructions that may run when you visit. While most modern browsers have security measures to help protect you, there are still risks, especially with zero-day vulnerabilities that haven't been patched yet.
But if it was that dangerous, wouldn’t everyone be more cautious and we’d see more outbreaks? It seems like there's a lot of fear-mongering around this.
Exactly! Staying informed about online security is key.