Surfing for trojans?

[Shamus]

My computer was so bogged down with trojans and viruses that when I put Windows SP2 on, my computer would no longer boot up. Now that I have re-formatted everything, I want to ensure that this problem doesn't happen again. I have taken a number of precautions to this effect, but there is one thing I am uncertain about. I know that you can get spyware/trojans/etc. from downloading and opening bad files, but I was wondering if you can get them simply by surfing the net. Can you get viruses just by going into a website?

[PM Trajan For Name Change]

Yes, you can. I remeber I was just looking through google. Then my computer warned me that I got 21 spyware, 3 critical viruses, 6 viruses,and 1 or 2 trojans. Just give your computer a good scan everyday and check for updates for your anti-virus systems, spyware, firefall, etc.

[Spiff]

frankly yes, but usualy from sites that common sense would tell you to stay clear from anyway.

My best tip is to not use Microsoft Internet Explorer, use Firefox instead. It's much more secure and better supported. Also scan your computer using a handy program called adaware on a regular basis, this will help protect you from spyware and such (but not viruses - theres a free antivirus program called AVG which will help you with that)

[Shamus]

frankly yes, but usualy from sites that common sense would tell you to stay clear from anyway.

My best tip is to not use Microsoft Internet Explorer, use Firefox instead. It's much more secure and better supported. Also scan your computer using a handy program called adaware on a regular basis, this will help protect you from spyware and such (but not viruses - theres a free antivirus program called AVG which will help you with that)

Reading that gave me a bit of a chuckle as I currently use Firefow for my browser, Adaware for spyware, and AVG for my anit-virus.

Cheers for the replies. Guess I will need to tread carefully on the web.

[spence]

Reading that gave me a bit of a chuckle as I currently use Firefow for my browser, Adaware for spyware, and AVG for my anit-virus.

Cheers for the replies. Guess I will need to tread carefully on the web.

i use the exact same, as well as spyware blaster

[Spiff]

Reading that gave me a bit of a chuckle as I currently use Firefow for my browser, Adaware for spyware, and AVG for my anit-virus.

Cheers for the replies. Guess I will need to tread carefully on the web.

you should be fine then for the most part, just make sure you keep them up to date

[PM Trajan For Name Change]

Yea, Internet Explorer is a virus magnet.
Download here if you don't have FireFox. http://www.mozilla.org/

[PM Trajan For Name Change]

I got four spyware programs. Sometimes one misses a something and the another won't.

[fallingsuperspark]

I only have a firewall, i use IE and my computer doesn't have viruses...

[PM Trajan For Name Change]

You probley do have viruses.

[Spiff]

or at least programs stealing your bank details as we speak

[MoROmeTe]

Norton Antivirus and a firewall (I use BlackIce) are good. I don't use antispyware, I just run a check every now and then (last one 3 days ago). I've seen an article that said most antispyware are just for show, they really don't stop nothing...

[fallingsuperspark]

You probley do have viruses.

and i'm sending them to you right now.

[SonofSparta]

I Had to stop useing IE ,it's basicly a gateway to your pc for everything Nasty on the net..Since i started useing Firefox my problems have more than halved with the Illegal immigration problems my pc has been facing

[cunobelin]

Moved.

I use spybot search & destroy you can download it from here: http://www.download.com/3001-8022-10289035.html, plus Mcafee firewall & virus scan, havnt had a single virus at all.

[PM Trajan For Name Change]

Yea thats one of Anti-Spyware programs I use.