Virus help please

--Tony--

My mate has to upload a file (accounts, sage) the the goverment website.

He has a dial up connection and outpost firewall but no virus checker.

The question, would it be safe to go online for a few minutes to upload the file, he does have the firewall and will only access what should be a safe site and it might take longer to update a AVG deffentition if we put that on first that it would to upload the file. Wont be going to any other sites or using email etc.

As I say, a few minutes, does have a firewall, on dial up and win98 but no virus checker. How dangerous is this?

Many thanks Tony

PS, he migh possibly also have to download an update from sage too but thats all.

CHR15

I dont think anyone could say, "Go ahead, it will be fine" but to be realistic, (and if it were me) I would go ahead.

The receiving server will have a virus checker so even if it picked on up on the way,It would be stopped at the destination.

If it is important, back the file up onto a floppy first just in case his own PC should be unlucky enough to pick one up in that short time it is online.


Edit:
Your comment about updating the AVG definitions.

If you have AVG you could install first, I would do that but not update the definitions.
Even an out of date virus checker is better than none at all.

--Tony--

many thanks for your advice, I thought the risk could only be slight, the firewall will keep the network virus's out.