Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dereklee003]

I am heading over to the big K land next week and was wondering about the internet there and what the risks are for viruses.

I guess what i mean is, if i use my laptop to find some unsecured broadband connection, is the risk pretty high that someone will hack my computer or share a virus with me?

[aphase]

risk would be the same as anywhere else. The internet is international.

[Hindsight]

Not exactly.

In Korea more people use pirated Windows and don't do the updates. Some don't even know that they need to use anti-virus software, and don't realize they can get legit anti-virus programs for free.

And after using non-legit Windows, which may have been installed directly on their new computer, and some months later having the system crash, they then blame Windows.

I have actually had this conversation.

"Oh, you need to do updates? And install anti-virus software?"

So, if you then use a USB flash drive on a computer in Korea, you may pick up a virus that could be transmitted to your home computer.

Another part of the equation is a) how good is the Korean anti-virus software on the computer at work, and b) if the computer has Korean Windows, is there a Korean who makes sure Windows is being kept up to date and the anti-virus software is working.

Plus, it is well known that there are common Korean websites that google has labeled dangerous.

But if you use anti-virus software on your computer and keep your Windows up to date, you will probably be alright.

[Leslie Cheswyck]

Way better in Korea, because kimchi cures it.

[poet13]

Much better...or worse here....cause if it's an English virus, you can just cure it....and if it's a Korean virus, you can just hit send and 9it's gone....don't worry, if it's bad, you can just blame the world that watched.
DON'T WORRY. GOOD NIGHT.

[Ukon]

I did notice automatic updates was often turned off on some korean computers......I haven't caught a virus since I've been here....

[poet13]

Gotta stop PWD (Posting While Drunk).

[Jeff's Cigarettes]

WHY WOULDN'T YOU BE ABLE TO USE UPDATES W/ NO-LEGIT OS?

[man_of_words]

But the computer at my hagwon is suffering from something.

[Hindsight]

The computer viruses in Korea are far better.

In fact, I read in a Korean newspaper recently that a college professor did a study and found that Korean viruses were among the smartest in the world, second only to Hong Kong.

[aphase]

He was asking if he would be more at risk if he connected his laptop to an unsecure broadband connection, and the answer is that no, he won't be more at risk. As long as his computer is patched with the latest updates, the only way he is going to get a virus is if he runs an executable program, or some file infected with a virus. A virus isn't going to just suddenly be on his computer from connecting to a broadband connection.

There was a virus like that once for WinXP before the first SP1 patch, but since then I haven't heard of anything like it.

So OP: don't worry about getting a virus just by connecting your computer to a broadband connection/network. Just don't run any unknown files you don't trust.

[Xuanzang]

The Korean public school computers are cesspools for viruses. Always scan your USb after plugging it in. Use protection

[aboxofchocolates]

[Francis-Pax]

[Chuvok]

You'll be fine. Just keep your anti-virus program running.


AVG Free is a good one. It updates daily, automatically. And you can set it to scan daily. Mine scans at 5 am, and my system has been virus free since I bought my laptop 5 months ago.

http://free.avg.com/