Avoiding viruses?

[Sunnyone]

Please help me This is the only site I visit and for some reason I have had to scan my computer 3 times in the last month because I have gotten a virus from something! My husband says that it is because someone posts files from their computers, and I get the virus when I click on it. Does this sound right and how do we get people to not post stuff from their personal files, just links?

[dagwood]

Do you have an up to date anti-virus program? I have McAfee and haven't had a problem with viruses.

[Sunnyone]

Do you have an up to date anti-virus program? I have McAfee and haven't had a problem with viruses.

Yes, fortunately we do- that is what is alerting us to the potential viruses. It still has to scan everything though and when my husband checks into it, this is what he came up with. I have only clicked on links that people have posted (like the smoking gun, or another web site). I can't figure it out, but whenever I leave the Fort and log off, when I log on again a virus (today was 2) has been detected.

[dagwood]

That's strange. Do you actually get the virus or is it just detected? I wish I could help you more.

[Sunnyone]

That's strange. Do you actually get the virus or is it just detected? I wish I could help you more.

Sorry- I guess it is just detected. (is there a difference? They both scare me I still have to scan it and delete it and everything, so I guess I don't know much about them.

[John]

We definitely don't have any virus-infecting stuff on this site. I can't speak for anything people link to, though.

BUT, if you have spyware on your computer, you can get infected from even "clean" sites, because it's doing stuff in the background you're not aware of. You should get Ad-Aware at www.lavasoft.nu or one of the other spyware removers.

[Sunnyone]

We definitely don't have any virus-infecting stuff on this site. I can't speak for anything people link to, though.

BUT, if you have spyware on your computer, you can get infected from even "clean" sites, because it's doing stuff in the background you're not aware of. You should get Ad-Aware at www.lavasoft.nu or one of the other spyware removers.

I'l check into that. Thank you for the help

[AJane]

Sunnyone, download the Trojan Guarder as well...I don't have the link, but Lucy told me about it - just Google "trojan guarder" and you should be able to find it. It kicked out a stubborn trojan virus we've been getting on and off for several weeks now.

[queenb]

Sunny, you could be getting this stuff anywhere. My Mom doesn't even Web surf, uses her machine for email only and still got the Sasser worm (and they have picked up other stuff too) . I told my Dad to go ahead and invest the $40 and get Norton Internet Security, the package that has antispam, virus, and firewall protection. I also told them to do what John said; download adaware (or Spybot Search and Destroy, what I use). I bet they don't do it though, and I'll be hearing that they have computer trouble again!

[dreaminginblond]

What John said. Definately download the spyware scan and you'll be surprised how many places you've been that you can get viri (is that right ) from? Also if you have Kazaa downloaded on your computer, it's probably one of the biggest places besides porn sites to get a virus from. Anything like that which is file sharing is bad, very bad.

Chances are you'll get more viri from email too. You can go to symantec's site and scan your computer for virus as well as security to see how accessible your computer is. I highly suggest the ad-aware John suggested as well as the scan at symantec. If you do have infected files or a virus or trojan, their site will help you get rid of them in language easy enough for anyone.

Good luck