How you do protect yourself in these situations?
Don't use Windows. Keep your Linux OS and browser software up to date. Don't use Chrome. Don't use Google since they happily accept money from scammers and criminals to promote their ads. If you aren't using Tor, then use Firefox and install uBlock Origin, HTTPS Everywhere, and NoScript. Don't browse for random things on the same computer you are using to secure your bitcoin. Don't download random files.
It wasn't even a link, it was an answer to a question on google where i thought it would just open up an answer,,, the link opened up. Then i did virus scan on windows scan and it found lot of threats.
Lots of threats? It sounds like your machine has been infected for a while and you were just unaware up until now.
Well the reason I use windows is because many programs I use... use windows. A while back I considered buying a macbook laptop even though its expensive but then I found out lot of programs I would use is not compatible with mac. Isn't that an even bigger issue with linux?
I had no idea chrome was not recommended. Years ago I used firefox and then switched to chrome. I heard of Tor... but never used it because I don't know anything about it. I never even heard of Ublock origin. The only thing i heard of is adblock plus which is what I use with chrome.
I normally do not use the same computer i store my coins and web browse. I have a chromebook for that. But issue here is I was web browsing... and that link opened up from google on my computer. That has never happened before when you check an answer to a question. I did not download any random files ever on my computer. I only visited the site.
So which is the best browser you recommend then? I heard of brave and microsoft edge. But make sure you use ublock origin with it? Is it better than adblock plus? The https everywhere and no script... i never heard of this. So these two programs would prevent any malware on the site you visit?
The thing is this laptop of mine still will be my main laptop whether I clean reinstall or not. So the best suggestion is just clean reinstall it? So don't open up any files up? Is entering my password manager password a very bad thing to do? But what if I moved all my coins and changed my passwords for the important things?
So do you recommend kaspersky total or bitdefender and it checking for everything and see where I can go from there? I know the safest thing is just clean reinstall it... but my issue is I didn't make backup of it. I do have some files transferred to a usb a while back.