Viruses on the Web
Rules of thumb you can use to avoid picking up a virus while you're surfing the Web:- Set your browser to ask you each time a cookie or script attempts to install itself. Accept cookies and scripts only from sites you trust.
- Do not download and install software from the internet unless you are absolutely certain about what it is going to do.
- Most unsolicited pop-up windows with buttons to push are masking executable software that wants to download itself to your computer and do who knows what. Don't click on the buttons; just close the window.
- Make sure you are not set up to use a proxy server or to perform automatic proxy configuration,
or, if you are obligated to use a proxy, - Make sure that the proxy server that you are configured to use is one of your choosing, or your employer's choosing.
There are a few web-based scams that reconfigure your proxy setting to access the internet through their system, so that they can snag important personal data, such as credit card numbers.