A message pops up on your computer, warning you that malware has been detected.

What do you do?

The answer's not as clear as you might think.

In fact, no matter what you choose to do, it could be the wrong thing.

Congratulations! You got a new computer!

Of course you want to jump right in and start using it right now, but if you can hold on a bit, there are a few tasks to do first. The steps you take now can save you lots of time and grief later. (Meaning when all heck breaks loose and the machine dies, the software crashes, or you get a massive malware infection.)

Every day, people lose data, precious memories, and valuable time because they didn't take a few simple steps to prepare.

And by far the best time to prepare is at the very beginning.

You're probably sending to the wrong email address.

I know, I know, you're absolutely convinced you're sending to the right one — but the bounce message would indicate otherwise. I had it happen to me just the other day. I was absolutely convinced … until I saw my error.

Let's look at why the two scenarios are different.

First, getting malware doesn't necessarily mean you've done anything bad. Unfortunately, it happens. People let their guard down.

USB thumb drives and flash drives absolutely can transfer viruses. From the situation you're describing, yes, you may have passed one on to a computer you used.