[ScrapMaker]

Just download from a trusted source. I don't even run them on my PC, regularly.

I just run the free Trend Micro Housecall, and it never finds anything.

People just need to excercise good common sense, and judgement. I have been in IT for a long time, and it's mind-boggling how stupid people are. Why would you click on some random link in an email? Why would you download some unknown internet applet/program? Why would you give people your social security number/credit card number/address/birthdate/etc...

Sometimes I wish we didn't have all these safety nets, so that people could be responsible for themselves.

Now, a malicious attack, on the other hand, is different. A virus scanner won't help you anyways in that case.