Instead of playing the file, Windows Media Player tells them that it needs to download a certain plug-in or codec. Many of our customers have been subjected to a common form of attack, when they try to play a media file they have shared, such as a song, or a video clip. This exposes your PC to great risk, as you don’t know where the files are coming from, or indeed, if they are actually what they claim to be.
Many people around the world install this type of software, which is often available for free, and then proceed to share files amongst other users on the network. One of the worst is peer to peer file sharing software. There are areas of great security risk that average users can expose their PC to. This is certainly not recommended, and I advised them to obtain some antivirus or internet security software ASAP.Ĭonversely, there are people who, despite having the latest, greatest, up to date antivirus software, continue to get regularly infected. They use their computers very occasionally, only ever visit low-risk websites like the ABC or The Bureau of Meteorology, and only ever open emails from people they know.
I know of people who have gotten away with not using any kind of security software on their PC and have miraculously remained virus- and malware-free. In a lot of circumstances the most important aspect in keeping your PC Virus and Malware free is the amount of risk it is exposed to.
A common reaction from many of our customers goes something like this - "What do you mean my PC is infected? I use Gumblestump Antivirus!"