SneakyStephan
Banned
You don't need to click anything to get malware these days
you can get it through banners or any javascript executed on any website, just by opening the page
That's why you want to use noscript, it'll block most javascript code from running when you browse which reduces the chance of getting malware while browsing.
There's also constant security holes in browsers and windows that can be abused to send you a virus or trojan
Rules every computer user should know and respect:
-if you have any files you don't want to lose, back them up outside of your computer
(consider all your non back upped files forfeit and accept that sooner or later a broken or corrupted hard drive or a virus WILL make you lose them)
-don't click email links, don't click links on skype or other messaging programs without asking the other person what they are, so you know they sent it and it's not automatically sent
-never ever open files sent through email unless you expected both the email and the file
-mouse over links on forums and gaf to see the adress before clicking on them
www.google.com (click this and see why)
-if anything you see on the internet seems too good to be true, it is too good to be true
-keep java, your browser and windows (security updates) updated : every time there is a new vulnerability or exploit, sun/google/firefox/MS will patch it out within a few days, so if you keep these 3 updated your pc won't be vulnerable for long and you're statistically much less likely to get infected even if you are the kind of dumbass who clicks on every link , file and pop up they see
-never (seriously) post your email adress on a public forum or anywhere else on the internet, unless you want to be bombarded with phishing mails
-use at least two email adresses:
one for your work/school, bank and other important stuff
one for social crap, forum registrations and other useless crap, this is the one you give to your friends and family
It only takes one small forum database being hacked or an idiot relative getting a virus that sets his contacts on an phishing mail list to start the spam and phishing mails on an email adress
Virusses don't mean shit if you don't have anything they can take from you, so back up your important stuff and don't save your creditcard info anywhere online or on your pc.
I've never lost anything and think I've had a total of 3 virusses over a 15 year period by following the rules above.
If you can't set your computer on fire right now without losing anything of value, you need to make backups.
lol, probably
