Computer viruses always prey on people who visit high traffic, unsecured websites. Unfortunately, these websites include social networking sites like MySpace. While efforts have been made to secure these websites, the fact that a lot of people access them from uncontrolled personal computers make them perfect nesting grounds for viral infections. Most users will ask, “Can I get a virus from MySpace?”  The answer is yes, if you were an irresponsible account holder.  Below are ways for you to get viruses through MySpace.

Can I get a virus from MySpace by reading my friend’s bulletins? Whenever you open messages with questionable content, you’re always at the risk of being infected by viruses. These can range from harmless but annoying pop-up windows containing ads or they could be severely harmful malwares which can let complete strangers access and steal your files. Social networking sites like MySpace allow users to post bulletin messages to their contacts. While this seems like a harmless feature, it’s also a perfect opportunity for hackers to promulgate their virus programs. They can simply hack into one account and then spread the worm or Trojan through bulletin messages.

Can I get a virus from MySpace by clicking on unfamiliar links? Definitely. Whether you’re receiving the message privately or through the bulletin board, you should never click on unfamiliar links, especially if the message looks suspiciously like spam. These links can lead you to a harmful page where the virus program is embedded. Before clicking on any link, you should make sure that your contact really sent you the message. A description about the web page you’re going to would help as well, although you still shouldn’t proceed if you have doubts about the URL address. Misspellings of popular websites are sure signs that the page is harmful.

Can I get a virus from MySpace by adding people I don’t personally know? Unfortunately, although social networking websites are supposed to open up your horizons to people you’ll probably never meet in person, opening up your horizons too much can be a risk. By allowing total strangers to add you as their contact, you also open up the possibility of your account getting hacked. There’s no guarantee that these accounts are genuine. For all you know, you could be adding a hacker who’s using someone else’s photo and name to add you as a contact. It’s better not to add people you don’t know personally even if they seem interesting or harmless based on their profiles.

Can I get a virus from MySpace by not reading Tom’s messages? Yes, you can. Tom’s messages on MySpace keep you in the loop about the latest updates, security changes, and security risks on MySpace. Without this information, you’re very vulnerable to hackers and virus infections which may be spreading through the website. You can also protect yourself further by making sure that you only open MySpace accounts through computers with anti-virus programs. Make sure that your software is updated too, otherwise the shields won’t be able to protect you enough.