Viruses on a home network

If you are sharing a network you are sharing your internet connection so you should have a virus program on all the computers in your network to be safe.

I'm sorry, but does that mean that if I do not transfer any files between computers, it is still possible for a clean computer to get infected by an infected computer on the network?

Thanks

Bob

Consider the premise to be possible.  I have not seen this situation, but do not assume it can no happen.

Viruses, probably not, but...

Worms send themselves anyplace they can connect to, and they can be very malicious.  If one computer gets one, they all can.  If you have your computers behind a router, they are protected from general internet traffic, and worms, but if you bring a worm-infected outside computer into the network, it can infect the other computers.

The best advice is to run a virus program and keep your definitions up to date, keep your Windows patches up to date, and run firewall software on laptops that you will take outside your home network on occasion.  Even the XP built-in firewall software is better than nothing.

You can also keep on the XP firewall on all your home computers, and that should help keep any infected computers from damaging the rest.

Links below courtesy ryri
Are you running a firewall? You should be!
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_network&message.id=13269
What is a virus and how do I protect myself?
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=si_virus&message.id=37

I agree with dbe, the chance of a virus spread through your home network is actually pretty slim.

But it's foolish not to invest $30 per year per computer to protect them.  Regardless of the sharing, if they are all connected to the internet, run an antivirus.