If you mouse over a link that might be dangerous and you don't click it do you still get the virus?

[Aaron]

I was on facebook and a friend posted a link that might be dangerous .I moused over it.I did not click on it but just by mouseing it over would i get the virus that would be in the link?

[angelic_demon2]

no, the only way to get the virus would have been if you clicked on the link

[Rob]

No, viruses are executable files that must be downloaded to your computer. In other words you need to have downloaded something to get a virus (although there are exceptions)

[Dark Caster]

No. You need to click on it to get virus and your computer has anti virus so you don't have to worry about anything.

[Filenotfound]

Well it IS possible. But not on facebook, as you cant make your own javascript for the links so, you are fine.
But you could easily have it load a js script with the onmouseover(); command. So on other sites, its definitely possible, but not as likely.
As most other sites that will try to give you malware, will just have it do it automatically when you load the page.

If you are that worried about getting drive-by malware download you can do a few things.
1) run your browser from inside a sandbox or virtual environment. its the most efficient way to pretty much guarantee you no driveby malware downloads.
2) use browser addons. Use addons like no script or ad blocker plus and ghostery to stop scripts from running. Also would suggest something like WOT which help notify you of bad sites like that in the first place.