Where are these coming from when I visit this site. I also got some from e-pattern.com, too. Thankful Norton finds them and removes them before they damagae or lock down computer.

Do I need to watch out for anything or what is necessary, if anything?

I have had the same concerns. Two months ago, my computer locked up due to several trojan viruses I picked up from some of the Quilting sites. My computer guy came and cleaned it up and installed some additional antivirus protection. Since then, I have attempted to log onto some sites which my virus program advises me to GET OUT right now! Don't know what is going on, but I am not very excited about surfing all the quilting sites, as I used to do. I had been tempted to bring this up with the board members to see if anyone else is having problems, but had not given myself time to do so. I continue to have one or two viruses everytime I run my antivirus software scanning (at least once a week), but nothing as serious as before my additional program was installed.

They are not coming from THIS site, they may be coming from links that have been posted here.
You should always be cautious when clicking on any link, anywhere.
I have had my antivirus program go off when searching the net for quilting info and clicked on a link found during a search. The people who are responsible for these virus's can plant them anywhere, on any site.
Keeping your antivirus program updated is your best strategy to keeping your computer safe. :D:D:D

I did get hit a couple months back and I put on www.malwarebytes.com. Its a free download, it actually cleaned things up that Nortons didn't.

Viruses can come from just about anywhere. I don't think there is an antivirus program that catches every one. Sometimes you need more than one program. More importantly, just because it's installed in a pc doesn't mean it's running when it needs to and updated as it should be. I know there are many people who think that just because it's installed they don't need to do anything. You need to be sure to stay on top of updates, keeping it set to automatic is best. Don't open suspicious emails - delete without opening. Even some emails that look legit aren't. Try a Malware program too. Take turns running them. I hear that Macs don't have nearly as many virus issues as PCs do.

Another thought, be cautious opening ads from some sites. We had issues at work from ads on CNN and the local newspaper's webpages.

We have had several discussions concerning this , but I will reiterate what has already been said. Admin has programs in place to protect this site . But once you click a link that may be listed on this site, you leave this site and go out into the unprotected .

Emails are notorious for sending out virus' . Facebook recently had problems and we won't even discuss what MySpace does to my computer ! I have stopped going to MySpace it was so bad

I have this site up all the time and have had it on several computers and never had a problem :lol:

I've been "online" since 1995 and have never once gotten a virus or any sort of Malware. . .of course Mac users are probably the only ones who can make that claim. The thing about the ads here . . .is they pull in advertisers on the web based on the topic of the thread. For instance . . .this thread about viruses . . .I'm seeing a google ad for Malware & virus remover. These ads cover the administrative costs incurred from running this forum and keeps it free for us all. Without the ads, we'd have to pay. It's something of a catch 22 because we don't want to discourage clicking ads. Since the ads are placed by Google . . .they should be responsible for checking content.

Come to think of it...i been having this problem since after i open up some links from here and have nothing but "internet error" or Detection error or can't download patterns anymore!
How about ph calls? I had one today about quilting book and need to order as they have a backlog & i did not give anybody my ph # so where did that come from? Anybody else get this msg?

I don't think it is the ads on the board that are the problem, it is the links that members post. When you click on those links, you may be going to a private site that may or may not have malware/virus's/trojans attached to them.

This is where my antivirus alarms have been set off... when clicking on a random quilting site, blog, or other websites, that members have posted here, or during internet searches on my own.

I have been a member here for 3 years, and never once has anything thing that Admin has placed on the board set off my antivirus, malware, or antispy programs :D:D:D

When you open an email, even from family or friends, if they do not have a good antivirus program, or keep it updated, you open yourself up to a whole host of issues.

The same with unsolicited emails. You are better off deleting them without opening them, rather than chance inviting in a computer risk. :wink:

No, I did not suspect that my viruses originated on THIS site, but based on the warning messages I sometimes get from my Malware program when I am attempting to get onto some quilting links, I am supposing that I have picked the viruses up during my "research". This is not to say that the quilting resources web sites themselves are to blame; as mentioned above, "these viruses can be planted anywhere, on any site". My Malware program (free) has been very good; I update and scan on a weekly basis.

I've never gotten a warning but I have adblock plus so I didn't even know there were ads on this site. lol

This is exactly why I do all my web surfing using Linux. I don't even have to run virus protection. It took some getting used to, but I will never go back to using windows for internet activity. Unfortunetly, you can't run any sewing programs in linux. :cry: :cry:

I have a degree in Computer Networking and Security Management, I also manage my network and can say that I have not found any viruses or trojans on this site. As many have said, when you click a link another has posted, you run the risk of the link containing or directing you to a virus, trojan or worm. My suggestion to all is to keep your computers antivirus up to date, and if you think you are having problem, don't send e-mails or links to anyone else. Stop the spreading of viruses, trojans and worms.

Also, if you think you have a virus, trojan or worm, go to google, type in a antivirus website, what ever website you prefer, www.avg.com or www.trendmicro.com if you get redirected to some other crazy website, then you most likely have a virus, trojan or worm on your computer.Then you need to remove the virus, trojan or worm with help if you can't do it yourself.

Another also, www.trendmicro.com has a "housecall" feature. It is free. If you think you have a virus, trojan or worm you can go to trendmicro and click on housecall then they will connect to your computer and scan AND remove any virus, trojans, worms, or malware.

Best advise....keep your antivirus updated!

That is my $200.00 an hour tip of the day.

I get cookie threat warnings every time I play in this general realm. Never knew cookies could be bad - bad FOR you Yes - particularly the Maccadamia nut and white chocolate - but simply bad....... lol

I use Google Chrome Browser and no virus at all gets through. I use AVG email and computer anti virus/ scanner (free) and it cleans up any email that has a virus attached. I had a friend deliberately send me a bad Trojan virus and AVG stopped it cold. Of course you have to have auto update every day or no virus program will be any good.

Thanks for all the tips !!

Like machines when they work, hate them when they don't, and tech gurus are my heros when strange things begin happening. But this is true for all machines..... never hurts to talk nice to them (the machines ), just sometimes not too loud. :)

Yikes. With friends like that...