computer virus

[sanco]

i had an email which purported to come from facebook, saying the system for logging on was being upgraded. shortly after opening and clicking on the link, a message flashed up - "virus".
i am not computer literate but when i looked at avast the reccommended course of action was to click on "chest", which i did. nothing much happened, though i left it for a while, but it now tells me the computer is not infected. however, there is nothing recorded against "last scanned" nor "infections found. it did say "your virus database has been updated" during this time. i have cancelled my bank card but would like to know:
is it possible to say whether it is now ok?
is it safe to send emails - i do not want to infect other computers
is it safe for others to email me? for them, i mean.
many thanks if anyone can help. tomorrow i can get on to someone who repairs computers, but would rather avoid that if at all possible. i am elderly, disabled and on a very limited income. we are not all well off in france!!

[dizmouk2009]

It's a shame you can't send the link to me some how so I can check if it is legit and also what sort of virus/worm/trojan/spyware (the list is endless).

If you still have the link, forward the email (making sure it doesn't contact any information regarding your account) to [email protected]

I will check to see what it is, if not there isn't really alot anyone can do from such a long distance away. I always like fixing computers that I can see in front of me :)

Hope this help.
Dizmo

P.S Do not copy the link location/url here, only email it!

[factor-fiction]

Cancelled your bank card?I'm impressed that you take security so seriously. But I guess this VIRUS message was just a pop-up advert for some antivirus/spyware software. I think it's safe to rely on Avast which seems a good product to me. I would just carry on as before- but stay clear of hoax links

[sanco]

thanks to you both. i am afraid i do not still have the link - i deleted the email. what i can tell you is that when i looked later my email address was not right. the name was not sanco, or anything like it. the rest was right, but i don't understand how it got through. thanks again.

[sanco]

ps in view of what you say dizmouk, does it mean i can send emails safely?

[dizmouk2009]

If it was an virus that circulates itself via email address book then it will have already done the damage anyway. Very few email circulating virus are attached to cliet writen emails. The chances are the email was sent via someone you know (you being in their address book) using a spoof email account. Don't worry too much about it, the chances are avast has removed the threat. I get hundreds of emails a day that contain similar stuff and I don't even use a virus scanner/protector. Only difference is I suppose I don't click on like from email accounts like [email protected] :)

If even you get anything from someone regarding facebook, natwest, HSBC, faceparty, youtube etc etc the best thing to do is get to that site like you would do normally via your web browser!

Hope you get it sorted, stay protected!

[sanco]

many thanks dizmouk - that is very good of you. i think i can rest easy now - maybe i was a bit previous in stopping my bank card. still , it's worth the inconvenience for peace of mind.