The Dreaded Viruses

I too like our colleague got caught out on my home PC in the middle of updating from aol 6 - aol 7, and I received a Sir/C32:exe message,saying that this file was needed. I thought it was part of the update, and like a fool I clicked it and whateverI looked at this message appeared on it and stopped me getting into files. I panicked. I had no internet, and apparently no way of getting into my files. Luckily my friend came to my rescue, and after 7 days without use of my PC we uninstalled everything (after having back-up of course)and used Nortons Anti-Virus after updating it, and Bob's your uncle;I was back on line, but definitely more wary of viruses. I used to have the attitude it won't happen to me. I now no different, but happy I no what to do within reason. The first thing is definitely not to panic. I must learn to look at things in a more adjective stance in future.