Originally Posted by know1

Viruses are bad. No argument there, but to get one on your machine, you must be either downloading something you shouldn't be downloading or executing a file without knowing truly what it is or who is actually sending it to you. Case in point, how do people get viruses?

1. Download shady programs, malware, or media from a less than reputable source
2. Execute programs or system commands because someone said to
3. Make their computer easily connectible to the outside world

The only section of people who get viruses who I truly feel sorry for are the tiny percentage of people whose machines are literally hacked into. That is most often not their direct fault. Everyone else falls into the "trying to get pirated material" group or "will open and/or execute anything" group. Both of which I have no sympathy (Well, I guess I do feel sorta bad for all the grandparents and soccer moms of the world). If someone offered you a free watch, but you just had to follow them down an alley, would you go? The answer should be no, but plenty of people take the digital equivalent to the "free watch" every day....and guess what...they get jacked up.