1984, on Aug 14 2008, 01:17 PM, said:
I'm not sure why there are so many problems with spyware/virus out there. I never ever seem to get anything anymore, probably due to my surfing habits. I simply stay away from questionable sites and don't click links that are questionable and everything seems fine.
Most spyware, malware and viruses comes from the files, that you download and install. And if you use IE, and don't use secure settings (or your brains), ActiveX is a common cause. Real-time AV should help with this, but if it's out-dated, incorrectly set, or in the worst case; you don't have one, well... And of course, one big reason for infections is virus emails, attachments that you should not open... Also some worms & trojans comes through unpatched Windows.
You really should not get infected, if you: Use a proper up-to-date AV, don't download & install any suspicious files, don't open any suspicious email attachments, use a firewall and keep your Windows up to date (Microsoft updates).