How to avoid getting a virus through msn

Recently I've been seeing many people sending me links on msn messenger which have totally no relevance to me or my interest and I guess the virus is at work again.

Why do so many people fall into this trap ? Most people do not think twice about opening a link sent by their friend no matter what the link is. Therefore, do take a step back and think carefully if the link is really sent by your friend by simply asking the person again. If the other party is offline, it is highly possible that the link is a viral link. DO NOT CLICK ON IT. Simple. =)

Here are some steps to highlight which you can take

• do not hastily click on any links you receive
• ask the person if the link is sent by them
• check if the person is online
• install and update your anti-virus and firewall

Doesn't take a genius or a computer expert to implement them.
Cheers to your virus free MSN messenger.