Posted by DRD #37 at 68.215.143.189 on December 11, 2003 at 18:48:23:
In Reply to: board is back for me. and a question posted by shitty speller...DEAL WITH IT! on December 11, 2003 at 18:27:53:
If spyware was causing your computer to run slower (which it often does), it can come from just about anywhere. If it was a virus, that's a bit trickier, but from porn and Real Time/Quicktime movies you can get it. Opening a spam message alone wouldn't cause your computer to get a virus unless you opened/downloaded an attachment to a spam message.
Your credit card and person info are usually safe on secure websites such as Deep Discount, Tickmaster, and Amazon because they're well-protected by some of the best webmasters around and they have the cash to file a suit against anyone who steals information from their respective sites.
But also keep in mind that every time you go to a website, that counts as a download, as your computer is downloading information and uploading it onto the screen (that's where cookies come from . . . . mmmmmmm, cookies . . . . ). So be wary of certain websites, especially porn sites that often cause a load of pop-ups to occur. You could be getting a load of system-slowing and web-deterring spyware on your computer. It'd be best to dowload a program like Ad-Aware and use it at least once a week to help ensure a clean computer, and especially be sure to check the website hosting the anti-spyware program regularly for upgrades, as more new spyware is made all the time.