Protecting against downloading a virus

Anyone out there know how to protect against accidently downloading a file with a hidden virus? I`ve got my virus scanner set to scan download files, but I want to be sure that I don`t run a program that might have a hidden virus. I`ve been hit before and don`t want to have to reformat my harddrive again any ideas.

Just keep your virus protection software updated. It will catch any "hidden" virii. :D

Don't open attachments on email from an unknown source.

Pretty much a rule of mine.

Thanks guy I do keep my virus scanner updated but my daughter wants to download music

if its mp3 they should be all pretty much virus free cause their a compresion type not an exe which you usually need:D

I have found also if you download mp3 from webpages(chart-pages).
You will find most files are renamed to something else like.>> ps,gif,xls,tif etc etc.
So that files are not found by servers and deleted.??"
These renamed files cause confusion for new users as they click on them and say"Nothing plays"
It can also lead to bad habits with them opening any file they get!!
I still scan mp3 after renaming back files;) You never know if that new song you just got is not a new virus file??