How often does your PC get infected?

1. Heavy
2. No
3. Sole user
4. N360 and MBAM Pro.
5. Never.

The only time I have ever had a virus was on a work machine using XP when I opened an infected internal e-mail from a colleague. Just about everyone else in the company did too until the word got out.

1. Moderate use, some days more than others and some not at all.
2. No.
3. Yes.
4. Avast! free AV and MBAM pro. Regular automatic updates on both, with flash scans after MBAM updates. Quick scans daily and full scans weekly with both. Accounts password protected.
5. Never.

It's funny that so many people have never had an issue. I've had some of my coworkers get a drive-by malware thing from time to time. Once I was talking with a guy at work who was searching for a solution to a Microsoft Exchange problem (and he was using IE). We googled the error, clicked a link, all of a sudden a photo of Emma Watson on a toilet popped up on his screen, a bunch of Windows opened up, and he more or less had to power off to get control. He had nothing but problems on boot, and ultimately had to format and re-install. I guess the only common sense here which would have protected me was that I would have NOT been using IE.

pparks1 said:

It's funny that so many people have never had an issue. I've had some of my coworkers get a drive-by malware thing from time to time. Once I was talking with a guy at work who was searching for a solution to a Microsoft Exchange problem (and he was using IE). We googled the error, clicked a link, all of a sudden a photo of Emma Watson on a toilet popped up on his screen, a bunch of Windows opened up, and he more or less had to power off to get control. He had nothing but problems on boot, and ultimately had to format and re-install. I guess the only common sense here which would have protected me was that I would have NOT been using IE.

Sometimes, it's the plugins. I got a Java Exploit virus recently. Luckily, it was just in my temporary files and it wasn't running in the background. It didn't do any harm. The lesson learned? Java is an exploitable piece of crud. Another lesson is that I should be going to the same websites that I trust and to buy Malwarebytes PRO.

IT1 said:

Answer in the following form:

1. How often do you use the computer: (e.g. little use, intermediate or heavy user);
2. Do you engage in 'at risk' activities: (e.g. torrents, online gaming, searching the web for new and interesting sites, downloading wallpapers, etc);
3. Does anyone else use your computer;
4. What is your computer security set up; and finally,
5. How often does your PC get infected?

1.- Heavy User
2.- No, I got plenty of secure sites from which I can get what I need, primarily free software, for music, I got an special site, virus free. P2P and torrents are just too silly for me
3.- Yes, my mom, but is password protected and is the only one that uses it whanever hers is not available (I?m doing some maintenance stuff), she knows my passwords, but she rarely uses my machines, and when she does, she only checks mails, facebook ans twitter, I just trully trust her, no one else.
4.- I just use ESET Antivirus 5, I used to have Smart Security, but its integration with windows firewall and connection mannager sucks, so I use only the AV version now, along with Windows Firewall.
5.- Since I use Windows XP and now 7? (More than 6 years) Never...

Interesting how we all chime in without asking why the OP wants to know, hehe. This for a class paper or something?

IT1 said:

1. How often do you use the computer: (e.g. little use, intermediate or heavy user);
2. Do you engage in 'at risk' activities: (e.g. torrents, online gaming, searching the web for new and interesting sites, downloading wallpapers, etc);
3. Does anyone else use your computer;
4. What is your computer security set up; and finally,
5. How often does your PC get infected?

1> heavy use
2> yes; p2p, porn, programming, gaming, modding - you name it, I've dabbled in it
3> no
4> standard Win7 firewall + MSE, plus an occasional online scan
5> rare, can't remember; probably got hit by the odd 0-day browser exploit or two, but haven't had any issues recently.

Preparation and skill can mitigate risk; many of us here can navigate dodgy websites without picking up a couple extra toolbars (among other things), but I wouldn't ask my barely-computer literate "I use facebook to email the internet!" neighbour to do the same.

Answer in the following form:

1. How often do you use the computer: (e.g. little use, intermediate or heavy user);
2. Do you engage in 'at risk' activities: (e.g. torrents, online gaming, searching the web for new and interesting sites, downloading wallpapers, etc);
3. Does anyone else use your computer;
4. What is your computer security set up; and finally,
5. How often does your PC get infected?

1. Very heavy user.
2. Rarely except for torrents.
3. No.
4. Avast! Free A-V, Comodo Free Firewall, MBAM Free.
5. Hardly ever. Don't remember the last time when it was infected.