QOTD: Has a Virus Ever Infected Your PC?
Once in a while, there's always a major outbreak of computer viruses. This year, the Conficker virus is making the rounds.
Simply put, computer viruses don't play on vulnerabilities of the operating system, they play on the inexperienced. This is of course, unfortunate. Several years ago, viruses were the only hot news in terms of malicious software. Now, spy-ware, ad-ware and other forms of malware are the hottest topics.
Even if you're experienced and savvy with computers, there are always going to be friends and family members that are not so experienced with how to handle themselves around a computer. It's always easier to trust people we know, and virus writers know this. I personally hate receive emails from anyone that asks me to check out a cool or funny slide show. It doesn't even matter if it's from my family--the email goes into the trash right away.
Then there's simply normal email. Not enough people know how to use the BCC (blind carbon copy) field in their email client when sending out emails to multiple recipients. This frustrates the heck out of me.
The question of the day is: Has a virus--or other nasty adware--ever infected your computer?
Let me know what you use to protect yourself, if anything.
Personally, I haven't used an anti-virus for nearly a decade. It all boils down to knowing what to keep an eye out for. But sometimes, just sometimes...

I know ad-block is bad for the sites I visit, I wish there was a way to just block the annoying flashing or slow loading ads instead of everything.
I Use Panda's Antivirus since then.
A funny story, the computer that got infected was a dell, with a free brief subscription to McAfee Antivirus. When I got the virus, I called McAfee for support, the tech I talked to, recommended That I switch to either Panda or Trend Micro's PC-cillin. Never had a problem since. So, at least, if McAfee's product was completely ineffective (and it was) at least their tech support is good.
in my opinion you really have to be (if not a novice) an idiot to get a virus. i don't get all the security/insecurity buzz.
in fact, i just install an antivirus from time to time to see how things are going, and get the same false positives of always about some keygens (oops! never said that!). no more security measures and i'm no genius (well, maybe that is false modesty).
just download everything from official sites, or renowned sites. in my case betanews, softpedia, or filehippo. and that's the magic formula. security BS panic over the web is just business.
I usually use Super Anti Spyware Home edition to remove my threats, but I would refer NOD32 in the pay environment.
I just reformat my windows partitions every few months with an few discs I've slipstreamed.
jk, but seriously, a large majority of viruses are self inflicted. Most people just need to take more care about where they go and what they click on on the internet.