Having had more than my fair share of experience with viruses and spyware recently, here's the 2 tips that I give all my customers:

1 - Never click on anything that pops up on your screen unexpectedly. Just right click on the application (usually it's Internet Explorer) in the Task Bar and select "Close" from there. Alternatively, press Alt and F4 simultaneously in order to close the active window. Still another alternative is to use Task Manager (Ctrl - Alt - Del) to close the offending program.

The reason for this is that the "bad guys" can make the window say anything that they want. For example, they can make the little X in the upper right corner of the window (normally used to close a window) actually install the bad stuff on your system.

2 - Don't ever, ever open any email! Yeah, that's a bit extreme - but the bad guys can fake an email from your best friend and you'd never know it until you checked with your friend.

So, always suspect emails with attachments - they're where most of the damage is done. It doesn't matter if it 's just a picture, or if it's a strange file that you have no idea about - they can all be infected with viruses. If you open one, make sure that your anti-virus and anti-spyware programs are running and scanning.

The best way is to "preview" your emails before opening them. Using web-based email, read the text before deciding if the attachment is from someone safe. For email on your computer, use a "screener" like the free program MailWasher (I like this one so much that I bought the Pro version). It'll allow you to read the first 20 lines of an email without downloading it - and you can delete the bad one's by using it's interface.

good point usasma, i know as of late i have been seeing alot of the popus that have an embedded X to close the popup and once you click it will either open a new browser or send junk to your cookies from trackign to even spyware.
Alt F4 is the way to go.

this is a very valid point ; I recently 'worked' on a very badly infected computer ; the owner and the child felt something was wrong when strange web pages appeared on their computer ( needless to say the child had been using P2P stuff); to close the popups' windows they too clicked on the X in the corner; by so doing matters went from bad to worse and worse and worse..........

their delay in seeking help and continued use OF the P2P stuff until I met it , and saw for myself what WAS happening meant that ,despite input and guidance from experts ON getting rid of this rubbish to try to clean it , eventually proved to be impossible and a complete reformat and reinstall was required

so, X marks the spot where preferably NOT to go on pop-ups

I'll definitely keep this post of yours printed up for future reference. Had to take my CPU in as it kept shutting itself off.
Seems I was infected with virus,spyware+a rootkit(whatever that is).

Thank's for all your helpful input here at B.C.

honu1

is it safe to right-click the..er..program on the taskbar to close it?
(just tell me if you don't get what I mean..I dunno how to explain my point).

Hi Turnips,

According to item #1 in usasma's post, that's a safe method. I definitely trust him.

Absolutely fantastic usasma
You always provide terrific advice as well as the other members of BC

Nice post, I like it. Most of that thing we all know but always do the wrong thing, this is good note for future.