Virus from a website?

[Helpmeh]

A while back my friend told me that you could get a virus, just by going to a certain site. You didn't need to download anything, just by visiting the site, you get a virus. Is this even possible?

[harry 48]

you can get a lot from sex or porn sites and other bad ones

[Helpmeh]

you can get a lot from sex or porn sites and other bad ones

Like just by going to the site, not clicking on any links, not downloading anything...just by going to the site?

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

If you have no (or a very bad) antivirus software installed, you can get infected just by clicking websites.

Some basic information here:
http://askabouttech.com/can-you-get-a-virus-from-visiting-a-website/

[Helpmeh]

If you have no (or a very bad) antivirus software installed, you can get infected just by clicking websites.

Some basic information here:
http://askabouttech.com/can-you-get-a-virus-from-visiting-a-website/

If I have IE6 and McAfee (which get's updated maybe once a year) and Windows Firewall is disabled (I'm not sure if McAfee has a firewall), do you think if I went to an infected site I would get infected too?

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Yes.

First, McAfee has a very low detection rate. Also, updating it once a year? Might as well not have an antivirus.
Remove McAfee with its tool here: http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS100507&lc=1033
Now get a REAL antivirus software. A few free antivirus software include Avira, Avast and AVG Free.
http://www.free-av.com/
http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html
http://free.avg.com/

Any reason why your Firiewall is turned off?

[Karnac]

do you think if I went to an infected site I would get infected too?

Yes ... of course ... I can send you to a nice site.....you'll understand fully as soon as the page opens.  I use it to practice .....you may be in for a shock when you run a decent AV program.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Try downloading this:
http://www.eicar.org/download/eicar_com.zip

What does your antivirus do?


(Note: It is a completely harmless Antivirus Test File by Eicar: http://www.eicar.org/anti_virus_test_file.htm)

[Geek-9pm]

There are many 'experts' who think that if you are very carefully you will not ever be infected by any kind of bad virus, worm or Trojan or something like that.
The truth is that all AV software is based on the premise that we already know what the virus will look like or what it can do. That is a false assumption. Nobody  has calculated how many different ways there are to compromise a PC or any other kind of electronic information transport system.
But this is not said here to discourage you from being careful. No, always be careful. The more effort you take to protect your PC puts the odds in your favor.

[Mulreay]

In beginners terms... Back yourself up with a really good anti-virus software. Dont open any emails unless you regonise the author. Use a anti-virus software that recognises dodgy websites.

[Geek-9pm]

In beginners terms... Back yourself up with a really good anti-virus software. Dont open any emails unless you regonise the author. Use a anti-virus software that recognises dodgy websites.

Exactly. The only thing I would add to that is put your valuable documents, photos and music onto CDs or DVDs for safekeeping.

[squall_01]

   I may not be a "specialist"  but I talked with a guy that had alot of experince and you guys are seeming flakey.  You can go to myspace and get infected, its not a matter of if I go to pornusall.com I'm going to get trojans.  Not a real site only example.

[Helpmeh]

Yes.

First, McAfee has a very low detection rate. Also, updating it once a year? Might as well not have an antivirus.
Remove McAfee with its tool here: http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS100507&lc=1033
Now get a REAL antivirus software. A few free antivirus software include Avira, Avast and AVG Free.
http://www.free-av.com/
http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html
http://free.avg.com/

Any reason why your Firiewall is turned off?

Because if anything bad does happen, deepfreeze just resets...so "It's all good girls"...I love that quote.