Answer

Yes, you can get a virus just by visiting a website, although it’s less common than other infection methods like downloading infected files or clicking malicious links. This is often referred to as a "drive-by download." The mechanisms through which this can happen are:

• Malvertising: Malicious advertisements (malvertisements) can be injected into legitimate websites. When you visit the website, the malvertisement can automatically redirect you to a malicious site or trigger a download of malware. This can happen without you clicking on the ad itself. The malicious code is embedded within the advertisement.

• Exploiting Browser Vulnerabilities: Websites can contain malicious code that exploits security vulnerabilities in your web browser, its plugins (like Adobe Flash, Java, or PDF readers), or even the operating system itself. If your browser or plugins are outdated and have known vulnerabilities, a malicious website can inject code to execute commands on your computer, download and install malware, or redirect you to a phishing site.

• Compromised Websites: Legitimate websites can be hacked, and malicious code can be injected into their pages. This code could automatically download malware to visitors’ computers. Website owners might not even be aware that their site has been compromised.

• Social Engineering: While not directly a virus infection from simply visiting a page, the website may use deceptive tactics to trick you into downloading and running a file that contains a virus. For example, a website might display a fake warning about your computer being infected and prompt you to download a "security tool" which is actually malware.

• Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Although primarily a vulnerability targeting other users visiting the site, complex XSS attacks could potentially be crafted to execute code on the client-side and possibly download malicious files in specific, contrived scenarios.

• Zero-Day Exploits: Websites can use "zero-day" exploits, which target previously unknown vulnerabilities in software. Because these vulnerabilities are unknown to developers, there are no patches available, making them particularly dangerous.

Mitigating the risk includes:

• Keeping Software Updated: Regularly update your web browser, operating system, and plugins to patch security vulnerabilities. Enable automatic updates where possible.
• Using a Reputable Antivirus/Anti-Malware Program: A good antivirus program can detect and block malicious downloads and prevent malware from being installed.
• Using a Firewall: A firewall can help prevent unauthorized access to your computer.
• Using an Ad Blocker: Ad blockers can prevent malicious advertisements from being displayed.
• Being Cautious About Which Websites You Visit: Avoid visiting suspicious or untrustworthy websites.
• Using a Script Blocker: Browser extensions like NoScript can prevent scripts from running on websites by default, reducing the risk of drive-by downloads. You can then selectively allow scripts from trusted sources.
• Disabling Unnecessary Plugins: If you don’t need a particular browser plugin, disable it.
• Using a Virtual Machine: For particularly risky browsing, consider using a virtual machine to isolate your main system from potential infections.
• Employing Browser Security Settings: Configure your browser’s security settings to block pop-ups, disable automatic downloads, and warn you about suspicious websites.
• Regular Security Scans: Schedule regular scans with your antivirus software to detect and remove any potential threats.