if u do not connect to the internet...do not share files from another person's storage media or computer...then u will not have a problem. this is the risk u hav to take unless u choose to shut out the world cyber world from yr comp.
most so called 'virus' are spyware embedded in your files or even a small photo pic and will only be active when u use the comp with that affected file in the hard disk...usually employed so that the sender can trace your location and send u pop up advertisements...stuff like that...in short they can trace ur whereabouts. epidemic virus (may be in the similar trojan horse guise) usually hav a timed or immediate effect on yr comp once they spread through emails or the internet (e.g the sasser worms). more powerful or destructive viruses know the base of all computers and attack motherboard bios, rendering your whole computer useless since you cannot hope to reformat yr hdd and run the comp with the same mainboard again.
do regular back up and in yr suggestions - take it, they are not wrong. we still depend greatly on the IT professionals out there working 24 hours to prevent an epidemic outbreak of a major virus in the cyberworld...hope they do their routines
