How do you get malware on to your pc?

I installed my wxph system over about a week or two ago i ran http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ and it found malware on my pc (that connected to mIRC). The thing is I dont d/l any attachments on email nor open random .exes out and ussaly almost never use any form of mass file transfers like kazaa etc. Now is malware network transferable? because my 3rd pc is used by pc dummies and they will click /open anything. If it is anyway to isolate the 3rd pc on the network to do its own buisness and keep away from my other 2 new pcs?

 

some of the stuff that you have might be on your system from the get go.

For instance IE has this thing called Alexa which is classified as spyware
also ad aware and spybot also will track down what they call tracking cookies and report it to you.



some sites will put tracking cookies on your computer and they will be reported by your ad aware and spybot.


To avoid this just delete your cookies and your internet temp files before running the ad aware or spybot or whatever program you use

 

I run adaware and spybot everyday 2-3x a day and ussally i get 'spyware' everytime. I ran http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ right after i ran adaware/spybot so thats what concerned me. And yes if you delete cookies you gotta log in every time.

 

It is true you have to log in again when you erase your cookies. I call it a small price to pay. I dont care if I have to log in every single time to every single website I go to.

I have no problem with cookies for that particular internet session. the problem is some sites will try to put third party cookies in there as well. why should I have to put up with that crap.

Every time I log on the the internet. Everything that can tell them who I am has been erased.

Sometimes I even go as far as to log off erase all the stuff and then go to the next site.

Call me paranoid if you like but thats what seems to work for me.

All that I get on my computer is tracking cookies, nothing else so far no viruses and no spyware. of course I have my weapons to combat spyware and viruses. and yes they are fully loaded(updated)

 

I would think any spyware that goes across a network would lose the classification of spyware, and be a fullblown virus.

With that sad, I've yet to have spyware get installed on my computer, period. The only thing spyware removal tools find are cookies. I delete the IE-Alexa reg entry right off the bat. Not trying to come off as a brag, but if you click no to the popups and stay on legit sites, and install respectable programs, you shouldn't get spyware



Now my wife on the other hand....

She is not too bad, but some get in.

 

I have a question about Adrynalyne's post. Specifically "I delete the IE-Alexa reg entry right off the bat." Where is this entry and what do I change it to? Is it something you guys would recommend everyone do?

 

Use adaware or spybot; youll see Alexa registry files i believe, just click and delete.

 

Now im confused; is Spyware a form of Malware or Malware a form of Spyware?

I've been looking at definitions throughout the net and what i've found is...


The formal definition of malware is "malicious software." The only safe assumption is to treat all unwanted code as "malicious." While viruses and worms are the most visible forms of malware, "unwanted code" describes a broad range of software that potentially violates an organization's security policy. Malware is not always dangerous, but it is irritating.

and...

Short for malicious software. Software designed specifically to damage or disrupt a system, such as a virus or a Trojan Horse.

and finnaly..

• Any piece of hardware, software or firmware that is intentionally included or introduced into a computer system for unauthorized purposes usually without the knowledge or consent of the user

• Includes
  • Viruses
  • Trojan horse programs
  • Worms
  • Hoaxes
  • Logic bombs
  • Joke programs
    
    
    So all in all; spyware is NOT malware correct? then would any procedure to remove spyware not the same as to remove malware?

 

What he said

 

Sorry, I misread it.