I've been using computers for almost 25 years, and online for over 10 years, and I've never gotten a virus. Me too, on the first part of that sentence. On the latter, I HAVE occasionally picked up nasty things now and then, which is why I do run a virus scanner (and a personal firewall, and a couple of spyware thingies because spyware is FAR too common!). I used to be very casual about all of it, la la, I know what I'm doing, nothing can affect me... until I downloaded a (legal) file that had a little problem and half my files got infected... I will admit it didn't do anything to the computer, especially, but it kept replicating and it was a big pain in the arse to get rid of. My personal advice to nobody in particular and based on experience and having been a support tech is to do whatever you can to keep these bastards off your system. They're getting more and more sneaky all the time. And DON'T USE IE. Not only are there BETTER browsers, it's the worst thing you can use if you want to keep your system clean. bonni

"When a man gives his opinion, he's a man. When a woman gives her opinion, she's a bitch." - Bette Davis