Is using Limewire likely to introduce a virus or Trojan?

Answer 1

All peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing software provides a very easy route to getting a virus or trojan. This is because some users are sharing illegal material and either don't know it is illegal (which makes them ignorant of other computer related issues) or are malicious (trying deliberately to infect other computers knowing this is a good method).

Of course, many sharers are sharing good, legal material to benefit everyone; but you only need one "bad" user to poison the entire barrel.

Once you have caught a virus via P2P, it will share itself via P2P. You have no easy way of knowing which sharers or files are infected. Unless you know how to protect yourself and others with a high degree of technical expertise, it is usually better to avoid certainly illegal P2P sharing and often most other types.