This is what I tell people when they ask me how to protect themselves from malware: If you are a Windows user, don't fully disable UAC. Don't use pirated soft

This is what I tell people when they ask me how to protect themselves from malware: If you are a Windows user, don't fully disable UAC. Don't use pirated software, you never know what may be in there. Don't open files you're not expecting or not sure about what they are even if they where sent from someone you know. If in doubt, ask. Antivirus software is a poor substitute for common sense.