Can you get viruses without opening a browser?

[Unorthodox]

Can you get viruses without opening a web-browser?
Boot Camp sounds cool but I don't want viruses.
I do however want online gaming. So if I never open a web-browser will i be safe?

 

[mad jew]

Any form of file transfer can potentially give you a virus.

 

[gekko513]

If you connect to the internet and especially since you plan to transfer and receive data you can never be 100% safe.

There may be security holes in the game's communication protocols.

I haven't heard of any recent viruses that exploit vulnerabilities in game communication protocols, so the likeliness of getting a virus is probably very small. It is theoretically possible, though.

 

[yippy]

An unprotected windows computer can get a virus for simply being connected to the internet. That said, if you have all of the latest paches and an anti-virus programyou should be fine.

 

[Unorthodox]

An unprotected windows computer can get a virus for simply being connected to the internet. That said, if you have all of the latest paches and an anti-virus programyou should be fine.

I really want to skip the constant updates game.

Dang. Thats ridicules. I hate Windows. They find ways to spoil everything.

 

[yippy]

It is really not that big of a deal. Windows can be set to update it self automatically, even more so than software update on Mac. The AV software should be the same, install and forget about it mostly.

That said, only going online for games will decrease the chance of being infected. Most virus spread through webpages acessed with IE (Firefox is often immune), email and things like limewire or AIM.

For your use I really wouldn't be that concerned about it, especially if you have the firewall on and are behind a NAT (included in most routers).

 

[calebjohnston]

Download firefox just for fun, install AVG free edition, turn on your firewall, and shutup.

OMG WINDOWS RUINS EVERYTHING.

Negative captain.

 

[Unorthodox]

Download firefox just for fun, install AVG free edition, turn on your firewall, and shutup.

OMG WINDOWS RUINS EVERYTHING.

Negative captain.

Thanks but no thanks.
Try loosening those shorts cablejohnston.