Is it possible for a 3600HGV gateway to get a virus?

Why do you think that you have a virus?

I don't know if I do or don't have a virus (I don't know how to check).    The reason that I'm asking is because I'm about to rearrange my internet requirements.    I have both general internet needs (e-mail, browsing, file/program downloads, etc), and some "secure" internet needs (financial data, secure data, etc).     I'm currently using the 3600HGV for general "non-secure" needs.

If I start using the 3600HGV for "secure" access, I need to know how to make sure there isn't any malware in the chain (starting with the gateway).   So, the first question is:  Can a virus be glummed onto the gateway?   If so, how do I find it, and kill it?

I used to do financial transactions on machines that I would now call "unsecure", until my identity was stolen.    Since then, I have become really picky.   The virus that stole key data from me was picked up at a Reuters News site (a supposedly safe site).    I had enough anti-virus stuff on my end to catch it right after it happened, but it still happened.    I had to live through a real pain in the tail to clear up the problems that that breach caused.

After some digging around and talking with enough IT people, I've decided that the only way for a connection to be "safe" by my standards is to have a machine on my end that starts off "safe" and never visits anything but a "proven secure" site on the other end (no e-mail, no browsing, nothing but the transfer of secure data).    I realize there's an issue with machines that have micro-processors made outside the U.S., but there's a way to get around that problem.

Anyway, if I use the 3600HGV as a "secure" connection, I want to do what I can to make sure it's safe.   I'm asking here just in case it has come up.

I doubt you got it from the Reuters news site. Most likely picked it up through a email or other site. If you are worried about protection on your computers, use a layered form of protection. That includes only running from a Standard User account, not a Administration account if you use Windows.

Also if you use Internet Explorer, stop and use an alternative browser like Chrome or FireFox. Also using the Web of Trust add-on for either of those two.

Depending on what A/V or Internet Security software you run on your computer, most of them are garbage and not worth using. We mainly use Microsoft Security Essentials and use Chrome on one laptop, and Firefox on the other, and have never had an infection on either machine.

Also to add, a secure connection, is when you have a https connection, or using encrypted VPN.

The infection did come through Internet Explorer.   I now use Chrome.   When it comes to a Web-of-Trust add on (for Chrome), is this the one you were describing?

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/wot/bhmmomiinigofkjcapegjjndpbikblnp?hl=en

And, is this the Microsoft Security Essentials that you mentioned?

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/security-essentials-download

My existing A/V software did a good job of finding the infection, but it didn't stop it from happening.    I know it sounds strange that the infection came from a Reuters News site, but that's where it came from.    That hole was open on a lot of sites until it became too much of a problem to ignore.   Since then, the hole has been plugged (and it wasn't just Reuters).   My guess is, that site would have passed any web-of-trust scan, so I would have gotten infected regardless of what A/V software I was running.

Anyway, I have some security questions about the gateway's wireless connection, but I'll ask that as another question.

gregzoll_1,

Thanks for the help.   I still have a lot of checking/testing to do before I trust this gateway as a "secure" connection, but so far so good.   I'll check out the "Layered Security" links.