How can you tell if the links posted in CE (or anyway) Have a virus?

Question

I can't afford a new lap top.Or the hassle

Thanks

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080816034825AAkxsYG

Answer 1

I reported this link a week ago, as a thank you yahoo gave me a violation of email

Answer 2

I came across 1 yesterday but was was wise enough not to click on the link. Do not click on any links that are presented on any of Answers pages, if you are curious about them use a different route to the site they mention. Switch on your pop-up blocker as you could get the message that your software is not up to date so it gives an option of downloading a codec from their suspect link.This wasn't in CE it was in Religion and Spiritulally it was from a shower of extremists who have been bombarding me with emails of utter hatred, not just for me but for anyone who stands up to them or critisizes them in any way. Oh to be as 'perfect' as these folk. They say and do as they like with no redress, but other people can't do that as it's not politically correct. Sad isn't it.

Answer 3

Don,t click on anything without checking that the poster is not a new account.As a rule of thumb the more established that an account is the less likely that it will be posting links to viruses. Hover your cursor over their avatar to check the date when the account was opened,if it is very recent do not open it.

Answer 4

I clicked on three yesterday which froze the browser unless I downloaded a "codec", which I know I don't need. The only way I could close my browser was with the Task  Manager. If you look closely at the link you can sometimes tell, but most of us are likely to get caught out once in a while. I report them, what else can you do? Your security should protect you but if the link asks you to do something ...don't.

edit: Auld Git, sent you a mail, it was easier.

Answer 5

If it doesn't say "youtube", some news organization I'm familar with, or yahoo, then don't click it. This has also run rampant on MySpace through friend requests just so you know.  

Answer 6

I saw the link Mrs. S is talking about and didn't click on it. it looked dodgy.

Answer 7

I agree with Shambo, also there is another malware it says something like answer-video call, do not click on that link..  ;)

Answer 8

You can't really- best to always keep the 'updates' which pop up on the computor. Obscure sites may have virus's -if in doubt-leave out they say!

Answer 9

I don't click on links unless they say "uk.answers.yahoo.com" or "uk.youtube.com".

Anything else, I wait until someone else answers the question because I'm a wimp.

Whoever they are, I bet £50 they've been suspended by the Motley Reporting Crue.

Answer 10

Just don't click on anything you are unsure about.

Answer 11

What I do is type the name to search and with my anti virus attachment if it pages with some bad items or in the list it shows a red mark then stop you going to the page. puts up a cover page that you have to say you accept the risk or something. I never do accept the risk. if my anti virus says bad Idea I go with their suggestions.  

Answer 12

Never, ever, ever download ANYTHING from a website unless you know EXACTLY what it is. If it locks your browser, use the Task Manager. If you still can't close the window, turn off your computer by pushing the button in or unplugging it.  Active X controls, codecs, anything like that. My husband was trying to look at something on a music website once and it prompted him to download an Active X control. I told him not to do it but he did it anyway. Not only was it a virus but it destroyed our entire computer. We had to reset it back to factory settings and lost everything we couldn't back up. There is no way to know for sure, so just don't do it.