Ok so I hear a lot of people who, when they buy their first computer, say, "What about viruses?"

I have been in the tech feild for 15 years. And honestly I do not think that Viruses are that big of a threat. Honestly, I mean there are some they can do some damage, but they are not as widespread as the media makes them out to be. Yes, they HAVE, but it does not happen that often.

Viruses are distributed in 1 of two ways. Email, which is very popular, and through installations of programs.

To protect yourself from an email virus:
1) Do not open any email if you do not know who it is from
2) Even if it does have the name of someone you know, look at the title or subject of the message. If is says "Re:" on it, than it is a forwarded email. Do yourself a favor and delete them right away. Forwarded email are so dang annoying.
3) Do not open any email that says you are a winner, you aren't. It's a scam.
4) Don't open any emails offering you great deals on stuff, unless you signed up tp get emails for that stuff. Pharmacy emails are a huge spam these days, and Viagra really isn't worth it.
5) Use common sense. Whether you are new to emailing or not, use your head. You can NOT get something for nothing. And you would never open your house door to a stranger and just let them in because they said they know someone you do or had a great deal for ya. treat them like Jehhovah Winesses.

To protect yourself from Viruses through installation of Applications:
1) If you download pirated software, beware you will get a virus every now and then. If not you are the lucky. These guys do this because they think it's funny.
2) Download software either directly from the firm that makes it, or from a trusted downlaod site. like Downlaod.com, Tucows.com, Fileforum.com, etc. these guys have reputations to uphold, and they scan all incoming applications to their sites. Now granted they may have spyware in the application or adware, but that is from the manufacturer of the website, not the trusted site that is distributing it for them.
3) Don't install stupid game software just so you can get a free version of solitaire on your work computer when you aren't supposed to be playing anyway. Not only could is have spyware, but then you are just casuing havoc for your IT guys by sayin, "I don't know how that got there!" Duh I'm an idiot who made a mistake and don't want to admit it.
4) Be resposible. Don't install stuff just to install it. If you don't need it, don't install it. this does 2 things. Keeps you from getting Viruses spyware and other crap, and it keeps your computer neat and clean and running properly.

These are my safe guarding tips. If you have anymore, just add them on.

I like to make a little correction there are 4 ways to install a virus, you mention 2 the other 2 our websites and Hacking as well. Both follow the stuff you mention. Also a nice liitle quote to remember if its to go to be true then its a virus.

Here Here!!
Websites and their activeX plugins and such. Cookies, yada yada yada. Hate them. Always protect yourself from popups. Use Firefox! Out of 100 web pages Firefox will prevent popups from 90% of them automatically.

Hackers.... ewwww hackers. Luckily most hackers will only attack website because they know the sites address, or company networks, becaus eof the same reason. Individual computers thought are rarely at risk. thouh it does happen, it is rare. Enable Windows Firewall or get one of the many firewalls on the market.

Just try opening GMail without Cookies.

It says "Your browser's cookie functionality is turned off. Please turn it on."

Many major sites need cookies.

Especially if you are in a business website, cookies are the one which help you through the way.

But what are the problems of Cookies? What threat do they cause?

Well cookies can pose a threat if your computer is every stolen or lost. They store passwords and what not. So it can be a threat in that manner. I have heard rumors of malicious java scripting that can steal info from your cokkies, but I highly doubt it.

I don't want to get into this area because i'll take the risk of saying things that's better not saying here so, i just want to say this, there are more ways for you to get infected with a virus, trojan horse, worm or anyother malicious code.

Virus is not everything, usually people name every bad thing by virus, and the differences between the above described are big.

Virus is a litle program wich has the ability of spreading, multiply in two, the two in four, and so on.

There are malicious code that you can insert in a html file, for example, "javascript bombs" made in javascript, obviously, that can make damage on your computer, but those are not virus.

You can also insert virus in html pages on the internet, so, you can catch a virus by simply visiting a website.

Also you can catch trojan horses in html pages on the internet, they install the servers on your hard drive, and when you know it, your drive is beeing formated, or someone has access to your entire hard drive thrue a backdoor.

Now, with worms, things get more serious, you just need to dial-up to your isp server to get internet access to catch a worm, they spread very quickly and smothly, like a snake, like an invisible thing, you don't even know what the hell happened.

Today, virus, trojans and specially worms are very sofisticated, more then the antivirus and firewalls, there are even anti-antivirus wich disable any antivirus and also any firewall on your system giving almost full access to the entruser/attacker/cracker.

Another thing are exploits, a smart hacker, if want to attack a computer, he just trys to get the computer servers versions, then he goes to a website to download exploits for that versions and run them, and in minutes they have admin accounts out of the blue, with just 2 or 3 mouse clicks, that's as simply as this.

Just to finish, today, antivirus only protect you between 60 to 70% from the new virus, worms and trojans, and if you use windows operative systems, man, you are doomed!

All you have to do is get a decent spyware and a decent anti virus program. AdAware will suffice, and is free. I forgot some of the good free anti viruses, but I know there are some decent free ones out there.

i am a viruz

AVG is a great free virus scanner. I have been using that for 2 years now. Awesome app. Auto updates, great deep scans if'n you want em. Just an all around nice app