6 ms·

is rutracker relatively secure for torrent downloads?

ndsipa_pomu 4y ago
If you're downloading tv or books, then you should be okay as you won't be executing anything. I wouldn't trust software pirated from there (or other places).
- bogomipz 4y ago
  Are books and video generally low probability as attack vectors then? Are PDFs harder to exploit?
  - majkinetor 4y ago
    Ofcourse they are. Majority of that stuff isn't executable, or if it is, it relies on exploits of viewers, so by using something else you are probably safe. Also, there are sandboxes if you are unsure and you can convert to safer formats. Anyway, I yet have to meet somebody that was fucked up this way, I guess there are numerious easier options. Its way more probably that your country will hunt you, if you live in that lame country in which case VPN is a thing :)
  - layer8 4y ago
    Adobe Acrobat (Reader) opens PDFs from download locations in “Protected View” by default, which disables potentially dangerous dynamic features, and also by default opens all PDFs in a “Protected Mode” sandbox which restricts otherwise possible system access. You want to make sure that those are active. I believe that’s on Windows only, not sure what the implications are on other systems. Without those restrictions, PDFs can execute embedded JavaScript on open, which can access and execute local files.
    - auggierose 4y ago
      Preview on a Mac doesn't execute JavaScript in PDFs. To make sure you are not spreading anything to anyone, open the PDF in Preview and print it.
    - majkinetor 4y ago
      Same thing with Word. Not sure how ebook readers handle js or xml exploits.
DoItToMe81 4y ago
I have used Rutracker for almost ten years without one bit of malware.
majkinetor 4y ago
You can use Windows sandbox or Sandboxie to test it out and do a sanity check, but in general, yes, it seesm OK. You never know though, given the current state of afairs in the world. On the other hand, you can find almost anything there, faaar more then on most other places.

If you're downloading tv or books, then you should be okay as you won't be executing anything. I wouldn't trust software pirated from there (or other places).

bogomipz 4y ago
Are books and video generally low probability as attack vectors then? Are PDFs harder to exploit?
- majkinetor 4y ago
  Ofcourse they are. Majority of that stuff isn't executable, or if it is, it relies on exploits of viewers, so by using something else you are probably safe. Also, there are sandboxes if you are unsure and you can convert to safer formats. Anyway, I yet have to meet somebody that was fucked up this way, I guess there are numerious easier options. Its way more probably that your country will hunt you, if you live in that lame country in which case VPN is a thing :)
- layer8 4y ago
  Adobe Acrobat (Reader) opens PDFs from download locations in “Protected View” by default, which disables potentially dangerous dynamic features, and also by default opens all PDFs in a “Protected Mode” sandbox which restricts otherwise possible system access. You want to make sure that those are active. I believe that’s on Windows only, not sure what the implications are on other systems. Without those restrictions, PDFs can execute embedded JavaScript on open, which can access and execute local files.
  - auggierose 4y ago
    Preview on a Mac doesn't execute JavaScript in PDFs. To make sure you are not spreading anything to anyone, open the PDF in Preview and print it.
  - majkinetor 4y ago
    Same thing with Word. Not sure how ebook readers handle js or xml exploits.

DoItToMe81 4y ago

I have used Rutracker for almost ten years without one bit of malware.

majkinetor 4y ago

You can use Windows sandbox or Sandboxie to test it out and do a sanity check, but in general, yes, it seesm OK. You never know though, given the current state of afairs in the world. On the other hand, you can find almost anything there, faaar more then on most other places.