[floyd666]

if i dont down load any stuff or copy pictures.can i look at all sites

[xgerryx]

Theres a bit more to it than that.
You need to make sure you have good antivirus and anti malware programs installed.

[perfume]

Dearfloyd666,
The basic reason why you should not even visit or open a website on the dark side is because of "Tracking Cookies".

Cookies have been of concern for Internet privacy, since they can be used for tracking browsing behavior. As a result, they have been subject to legislation in various countries such as the United States and in the European Union. Cookies have also been criticized because the identification of users they provide is not always accurate and because they could potentially be used for network attacks. Some alternatives to cookies exist, but each has its own drawbacks.

Cookies are also subject to a number of misconceptions, mostly based on the erroneous notion that they are computer programs. In fact, cookies are simple pieces of data unable to perform any operation by themselves. In particular, they are neither spyware nor viruses, despite the detection of cookies from certain sites by many anti-spyware products.

Most modern browsers allow users to decide whether to accept cookies, but rejection makes some websites unusable. For example, shopping baskets implemented using cookies do not work if cookies are rejected.

You must disable third party cookies in the web Browsers you use. Firefox 3 is my choice because you can easily disable third party cookies. If you don't do that, you will be flooded with spam which you can do without.

[Phantom010]

Originally Posted by floyd666

if i dont down load any stuff or copy pictures.can i look at all sites

Perhaps you should elaborate a little? Are you asking this because you don't have any security software installed on your computer, and thinking you can do without?

Safe Computing Practices

[Mr. Newton]

Not downloading anything does not equate to being safe.
As xgerryx said,you need a good anti virus/anti spyware program but even then you have no guarantee that you will not get some sort of malware.I find McAfee SitsAdvisor handy as an added tool to alert me to questionable sites but even then you still have to use your own judgment.

[1002richards]

Hi,
You might also find these of interest:
This link is from Security here at TSG
http://forums.techguy.org/general-se...elp-tools.html
There are lots of different but good opinions on how to surf (etc) safely. Some options well explained in this article at TechSupportAlert:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/how-...re-your-pc.php

Also,well written reviews of free security (and other) progs at that same site:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/pc/security-tools.html
Written in ways that help you choose what may suit your experience and needs.

Richard