Can you really get a virus just from going to a webpage?

[yak.h'cir]

Is it really possible to get a virus just by going on an infected site but not clicking anything?

I ask because it appeared that a friend had sent me a link over msn, I clicked it whilst asking what it was. He didn't have a clue what I was talking about and the site turned out to be some crappy dating site, obv I closed it without clicking anything and googled the address, a few pages came up that said by going to it you'd be infected.... I'm not convinced but it's got me worried enough to check further!

I use the latest firefox, I have avast and spybot (both scanning now) and I always keep everything updated. Should I be concerned? Or have I just infected OcUK by coming here?

 

[yak.h'cir]

EEP!

Well spybot came back clean, I selected the thorough scan on avast so that's only on 10%... dammit, this is going to have me worried now! I'd change all my passwords but I guess there's not much point if something is still in my computer...

 

[yak.h'cir]

Do the free online NOD32 scan: www.eset.com/onlinescan

Tis good

Will do!