drewfx1

bitman
Actually, it's you!
 
There is no software that can prevent malware if one constantly clicks on the same sucker stuff over and over. I have made a living from cleaning machines since 93 and they all have every flavor of this and that to "prevent" bites in the shark tank that is the internet.
 
It's always the same two or three people in any office and walk-ins are becoming what we call frequent flyers. For those the only remedy is disconnect. Other that that, quit having "fun" on the net. It's no "fun" anymore.
 
This doesn't sound "cool" but it is the absolute truth man.
 

^^^^^
This
 
Most of the really bad stuff is from people blindly opening attachments or popups you get while surfing telling you it detected this or that needs to be upgraded so click on "I'm just an updater not a trojan.exe". Most of the big corporate hacks started with someone clicking on an executable and letting them behind the corporate firewall.
 
I suppose you could hire a bouncer to look over your shoulder and smack you if you try to do something like this.
 
 
Basic rules:
1. Never open an attachment from anyone you don't know or aren't 100% sure they are who they say they are. Real companies don't send you attachments out of the blue. They also don't send you to insecure sites to deal with login problems and whatnot. If you get an email that there's something wrong with your account, don't click on anything; instead go to the site directly on your own where you will likely find that there is no problem. 
 
2. If a friend sends you an email with a "funny" or "You must see this!" attachment, don't bother. Friends who know anything about security don't send friends unnecessary attachments. And it isn't safe because a friend sent it - it may have been sent by a compromised machine or your friend doesn't know they've been hacked yet.
 
3. Never click on popups. Set your browser to prevent popups and if you're on a legit site that actually requires one you will get a message from your browser to allow it. If you get a popup while surfing, close it with Ctrl-W or the tab bar, not by clicking on the popup itself. Real companies don't need third part sites to keep you up to date.
 
 
It's ridiculously easier for hackers to use human engineering to entice people into allowing them in than it is to spend huge amounts of time exploiting holes over many layers of security that will only work on a percentage of machines and be closed fairly quickly as soon as they are discovered.

Totally agree!! If a friend sends you a picture, make sure the friend knows that they sent it and that they meant to send it and that it isn't something they got offline before you open it.
Be careful about Facebook too.
Phishing emails are slick. They make a page that looks just like AMEX, your bank, or the IRS. The IRS will NEVER contact you by email. Don't open ANY email and click on ANYTHING involving ANYTHING. Call the company to see if they actually sent you an email but I know for a fact that the IRS never contacts via email. No credit card company is going to send you an email asking you to change your login.
I never click on anything unless I am downloading something and I know for sure where I am downloading from, like Cakewalk. Then Norton scans the download before anything is processed.
 
Bitman is right on, be sure you are sure that you know who you are dealing with and you are sure about what you are opening. If a friend sends anything other than a picture that they took, which don't happen very often.. it usually comes in a phone message, then to the trash it goes. If it is something financial, they can call me or I will call them. Same with the state and anything to do with my business, have a phone for that stuff.