busting the myth about myspace and viruses

I'm not exactly sure where to post this, but I'm looking for input, and approval(basically to make it so more computer illiterate people will believe it). I'm sick of people that know so little about a computer that if the cables weren't color coded they wouldn't know what to do, saying that myspace gives you viruses but yet they'll download all day on limewire, and i could use the computer for 10 seconds and tell them they have viruses that they never knew about. So last night I wrote this, I need any correction, links, signatures etc. make it so I can pass it around in myspace bulletins and show to all my friends and tell people that myspace is has no more viruses that google. so here goes:




I'm sick of every1 dissing myspace cause it's supposed to have viruses or w/e so... the truth:

Visiting ANY web site WILL NOT give you a virus, in order to get a virus you have to download and run it.


ActiveX:
http://sunnybrook.unsquaredesign.com/images2/activex98.gif

Here's a very good way to get a virus. If you click yes to one of these and it turns out not to be legit, the best that could happen, your could slow down, porn popups will start showing up etc. the worst? I clicked yes accidentally once, and in 10 seconds the computer was unusable. So make sure to read them or at least where this one says Yahoo! Inc. make sure it's the web site you're using not some 3rd party site.

Ads: they're anoying, rarely helpfull and if they tell you to download something, you can put money on it 9 times out of 10 that it'll be a virus.

Downloads:
always scan for viruses on an install for a program that's not exactly common(i.e. you found it in a google search).

believe it or not, limewire is one of the easiest ways to get viruses, but it's simple enough to spot them. like any music file that's not approximately 1Mb per minute(i.e. 5 minute song, 4-6Mb is normal) or if it seams to download faster then normal check the file size before opening it, usualy viruses you download are really small but then they can download hundreds more in a few days, or even hours.

Any time you're downloading cracks or keygens NEVER open them before scanning for viruses. only about 10% of them are virus free, and usually keygens carry the nastiest ones.

A good way to keep away from viruses is ether have a virus scanner that costs money and scans every new file that comes onto you're computer, or a cheaper way is use the new firefox 3.0. It scans every file you download for viruses as you download them(one downfall, have to go back to internet explorer for netflix).

And what if you already have viruses?

Check out this malware removal guide. It's 100% free and if it can't fix your pc, it's got a forum to back it up(also free).

Limewire:
Seriously, if you're gana pirate do it right. don't stick with the free version of limewire, ether download the pro off the free version or look up frostwire, it the same as limewire pro. Also my preference lays with ares as far as p2p software:

viruses: of course if you're sharing files some idiot hase to share viruses
files available: pretty even
search: limewire has mostly the same columns for all types where ares has screen reselution if you're downloading videos, lenght if its videos or music, etc.
built in browser: only on ares
watch videos: only ares
chat: pretty useless on both
speed: because limewire is java based it's crossplatform, but also runs slower and slows down the computer more because the instructions go cpu->windows->javavm->limewire where ares is just cpu->windows->ares and because java is a virtual machine windows can't directly check up on limewire it has to allow javavm all the resources it needs to take care or limewire itself. and good luck trying to run any other java prrogram at the same time.
memory: pretty even unless you surf the web on ares in which case it inflates the same way any web brouser would.

 

I can take out the thing about limewire, but the point is people wont allow their kids on myspace just for viruses(i.e. my gf) but will use limewire all day long, and at the same time be completely oblivious to the fact that they already have viruses.

 

Theres a lot of other more important reasons parents shouldn't allow there kids on myspace, viruses being the least of em.

 

and for the record, its not a valid arguement, laura is correct in that statement. You can get virus's from visiting websites, more so if you dont keep updated and good protection type software.

 

no support here? thanks alot. I don't have a problem with myspace, or anywhere else on the web. Infact i just took a bus 800 miles to meet a girl I'd meet on imvu a while ago. All this fuss about internet predators, but it's more dangerous walking down the street. I've never had a problem on the web, but around town I've had people follow me for 2 or 3 miles, people try to jump me, 3 bikes stolen, an employee of a gas station tried to steal a 20 i just wanted change for, but not yet 1 problem related to the internet.

 

Theres no support for sloppy work here. Honestly if you wrote a good well thought article, id host it my website myself. Just a tuff crowd here, and you need to make your research is bullet proof to present stuff here. You wanted opinons on your article, well your getting em.