Digital BW, The Print

Someone in this forum wrote:

"That's a fantasy.  It implies that viruses can magically infect a
computer without any human interaction, and that just isn't true."

The statement above is misleading.  Of course, nothing happens magically,
but a computer can be infected by just being turned on and connected to the
Internet.

I know of one instance where, on first use of a new computer, a person
connected to the Internet to download Windows and virus updates.  No router
with built in firewall nor was the Windows Internet Connection Firewall
turned on.  

During the time the person was trying to download updates, his computer was
infected and rendered useless.  This could have been prevented with a
firewall.

If you are connected to the Internet and do not have a firewall, your
computer can be infected; you do not even have to be using any application
programs.  Having the computer turned on and booted and an Internet
connection setup is all that is needed to be vulnerable.   A hardware
firewall such as is built into most routers will protect against certain
attacks (those attacks where the user did not initiate contact with an
internet address); antivirus software is still needed to protect you while
you are browsing or receiving email or using any application that accesses
the Internet.

Even if you only have one computer you should use a router with built in
firewall.