Linux FTW. When you have that it's hard to get infected, if not impossible.Also only download safe things from the repositories and if you download anything else, always check source, then netstat and a few other things to make sure it doesn't call home to something suspiscous. Keeps ya pretty safe!

I see a few other write don't open wierd email and that would be an obvious one too. I'm trying to learn ethical hacking to protect myself and I had no idea how easy it is to become infected.

A tool I know now means all you need to do is click a link on a website, which looks legit, although shortened, it will then infect you if you click the wrong alternative and send through to the legit site... Scary.

The most evil in this case will make sure "do you want to do X?" if you click Yes you get infcted, if you click NO you wil get infected. Only way out is "X" and close page.