Chromebook Malware Questions


newmann

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I have a chromebook and I have multiple google accounts that I use on it. Almost all of these are throwaway accounts that I created to web browse. The big thing here is I download movies and pictures and these are adult videos and visit those streaming sites. The reason I do that on the chromebook is because I don't want to use my main windows laptop doing those things.


The thing is now I have to open some sensitive information documents from someone. Say it's like tax information or financial documents. When I do this, I normally use an old windows 11 laptop that I rarely use. I don't have that with me at the moment. If not that, I would use my chromebook to do it. The thing is if I use my chromebook to do it, I would first powerwash my chromebook first. Then when I open those sensitive files and am finished, I would powerwash my chromebook again. Then after that, I would go on my chromebook and re add most of my google accounts. The issue is doing this is very time consuming and many of the time I can't even get back some of the accounts. The thing is I have to worry about if the person who sends me documents, if they might have malware that is unaware from their point of view, so any files I open could have malware. Is that a big concern?


Now because my chromebook has adult videos and pictures downloaded from sites in many of the google accounts, is it safe for me to visit a site and open financial documents on the chromebook or not?


Now what if


1. I create a new google account just for this? So only on that google account when I sign in, I open those financial documents.


2. Go on incognito mode.


3. Or should I just powerwash my chromebook and have it new before I do this? When I open the documents, it would take me 1 or 2 days to basically look through everything. Then once I'm done, powerwash chromebook. Then go back to what I always do on the chromebook. I did this once or twice previously but wanted to know... is this necessary?




I recall I read chromebook is linux based so that means it's protected sort of like a virtual machine? Like if you have a virtual machine, what you do on one thing isn't going to affect the windows part of the same computer? I don't feel comfortable opening tax information document on the chromebook now but is it safe?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
I heard mixed responses that you could or can't get malware on chromebook so which is correct? The thing is say I have malware on my chromebook. The last thing I want is when I download and open those financial documents, then that person could read my financial documents as it would have tax information and things like that. So is the safe thing to do just powerwash chromebook before I do this?


Now if say I was using a windows laptop and had downloaded adult videos and pictures and have malware on my windows computer that my antivirus program can't find. Well obviously downloading financial documents on the windows laptop isn't good since malware can read that information. But since I'm doing this on a chromebook, is there a concern?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
First, many men (and women) like adult stuff but won't own up to it. I applaud any man who is man enough to admit he watches it and doesn't care who knows it or might object to it. You go, Newmann. What you do is your business. You knew that information was pertinant to the questions you asked. It's not my place to judge what you do so here's my opinion of repurcussions you are likely to encounter from doing it.

Yes, you can get malware in any Android device.

is it safe for me to visit a site and open financial documents on the chromebook or not?
The thing is I have to worry about if the person who sends me documents, if they might have malware that is unaware from their point of view, so any files I open could have malware. Is that a big concern?
Yes, an infected file you received from someone else could infect the Chromebook, but considering your habits on the Chromebook, it should be more of a concern that any file you send from the Chromebook is infected with malware acquired from the sites you visit to watch and/or download from. By sending/sharing such file, you pass the malware to someone else. I would consider this to be much a more likely occurance than you getting infected from a financial document someone sent you.

If it were me, I definitely would be concerned about using that Chromebook and would use it for absolutely no other purpose than your favorite pasttime. I wouldn't do anything with it but that. I wouldn't open files, create files that you share in any way with your other devices,, go to any financial sites, use it for email, or go to any site I have to log into and give any of my financial info for payment or who has my financial information as a preferred method of payment. I say this because a keylogger infection can quietly work in the background without you knowing it, sending your keystrokes to some nefarious character. That type of infection records and sends out into the dark web everything you do. To make it worse, hackers now work in groups, sharing the info they obtain with each other. If they garner this info, your life could become a living hell.

After all that, from a security perspective, it's just a fact that you would still be at a way higher risk than most folks because of your browsing habits. You think because you don't use your windows computer for your purpose that it is safe. You are wrong. Hackers can still get into your network and infect all the systems using it no matter what OS they use. They can even hack a router's software opening all kinds of back doors. But I think you know that. The safest way for your pasttime would be to go back to to the old days of watching DVDs on a DVD player, but I know that won't happen. With what the WWW offers, they probably don't make them anymore.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 2600.1742
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
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    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
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    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme+256gb SKHynix m.2 nvme /External +512gb Samsung m.2 sata+1tb Kingston m2.nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium

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