Noob Question

The initial download of an infected file is not what infects your computer, it is the opening of it? Say you download an infected zip file and don't open it, it won't infect your computer? And say if you pop in an unknown CD into your CD-drive will the malicious content in it start to run or will you have to execute the files in the CDs first?
Can I say the same thing with USB drives?

 

You need to turn off the AutoRun feature in Windows to prevent files on the CD/DVD or USB drives from automatically running. Panda makes a utility which allows you to easily turn off and on the Windows AutoRun feature.

http://research.pandasecurity.com/archive/Panda-USB-Vaccine-with-NTFS-Support.aspx

 

I recommend just turning autorun off on all removable media:

http://antivirus.about.com/od/securitytips/ht/autorun.htm

It isn't needed, and it's one of the common methods of worm/virus infection. (Conficker B, which made the news earlier in the year, spread itself in this manner.)

 

I believe you can also hold down the shift key before putting in the cd/usb to disable autorun.