Re: Computer Viruses
A different browser might have stopped the malware installing. Internet Explorer uses something called 'ActiveX'. This allows web sites to make changes to (or control) your computer. 'Windows Update' or 'on-line virus scans' are examples of good purposes that ActiveX is intended for. However, it can also be used for malicious purposes. With IE8, even that isn't quite so likely without a warning being given and some interaction being required from the user.
A different browser might have stopped that malware but there is no guarantee that it would have done. I don't think any browser will provide protection if the user gives definite permission for malware to install by way of a mouse-click. The trick comes in recognising what link might lead to the installation of malware. That's not always easy or even possible though. Malicious code can execute by just visiting an infected web page. These pages might not be on dodgy sites but also found on quite ordinary looking ones. This method of infection is known as '
drive-by malware'. All browsers can have vulnerabilities to such things and this is why security patches are constantly being issued.
If it's any consolation, you may have been infected even before you clicked on that 'click here' message but it took a reboot and the click to make the virus fully operational.
If infected, you have to hope the installed security software can take care of it. Norton is as good at that as any other reputable program. Lots of people don't like Norton but I think it's good. However, no anti-virus program has a 100% protection record. It's therefore best to have other security programs installed as well. Then, if one program doesn't detect or clear the malware, another one might. Two popular security programs are the free versions of
Malwrebytes' Anti-Malware and
SUPERAntiSpyware.
The trouble is that, once the computer is infected, it can be difficult for any program to remove entirely. I often read of people formatting the problem away and starting again with a new installation. Stopping the infection happening in the first place is much better (and less expensive) than trying to clear up after the event. Anti-virus programs can help but, as said, none have a 100% detection rate or virus-clearing capability.
A good protection I've always promoted is something known as 'sandboxing'. This is where all browsing activity is isolated from the computer system. If anything nasty is picked up while browsing, it will not be able to get out of the sandbox. The sandbox's job is not to detect malware but to keep it contained within the walls of the sandbox where it cannot infect the computer. Removing the effects of malware is simply done by emptying the sandbox. This method of protection is better than any other because, unlike anti-virus programs, it doesn't rely on known virus actions or detecting unusual computer behaviour. The sandbox doesn't trust anything and so keeps
all browsing activity/downloads isolated from the main computer system. I wouldn't go anywhere using any browser without the protection of
Sandboxie (can be used free but has a nag screen after 30 days).