I've Googled my name many times, and never had an experience like yours, Jann. Maybe you share your name with somebody . . . um . . . in the business. :-)

It's my understanding that a writer's "strong Internet presence" refers to having a blog, a website, and connections through social networking, etc.

I've googled mine many times without problems.

As I read your post, the problem wasn't with googling your name, but with opening an unfamiliar website. Like the others who have responded, I frequently google mine--I do have a lot of internet references to me and my work, so I do like to check now and then to make sure no one is abusing my name, or 'borrowing' my work and calling it theirs. But you still have to be cautious about opening unfamiliar sites--just because your name may be on them.

Next time, why not include a qualifier? Something that would make your name stand out from others who may have the same one? Sometimes the name of a town, or a particular piece of work is effective.

I've googled my name too, so far without any ill effects..

Me too and the only ill effect is the thousand billion gazillion useless comments that I have made over the years come back to haunt me....

It's ok to google your name...you just happened to click on a bad site. You could get an antivirus software that warns you not to click on such sites.

IF you had a fully updated current Antivirus program and had WOT on your browser you would have likely avoided that problem. WOT would have warned you not to open the site so you never would have been subjected to the threat. Keeping all of your security programs fully update is essential and that includes your java, flash, adobe products as well as your browser and windows, most of these drive by infections happen due to old out dated and vulnerable versions of these programs, that is why it is extremely important to do those updates as soon as they come out because they are security updates and are to protect you.

Using the Secunia scan will tell you what needs to be updated and where to get it.
Secunia Online Software Inspector (OSI)

It is very very important to turn on your computer or laptop regularly and let it get the updates it needs to protect you, if not you are surfing with outdated definitions on your pc and it will end up biting you. Even if you are not going to be using the pc turn it on let it get connected and updated on a regular basis this is essential and also turn it on to allow it to do the scans too!! And do those windows updates too they are as important.
And remember if you use more than one browser you must update each one individually for flash and get the right version for that particular browser. Even if you do not use it if it is on your pc your should be keeping it updated.

I google my name and have never had a problem the problem was when you choose to open an unknown site.

WOT web of trust for all browsers I don't surf with out it.
WOT
use the appropriate one on each browser you have.

I wanted to add if you do not have malwarebytes free antimalware scanner I think every one should have it and update it and run a full scan every couple of weeks it finds so much stuff that your AV does not. WE use it regularly to help clean up infections. It is free there is also a pay version but the free one is fine you do have to remember to open it hit the update button and then the scan manually.

I also think every pc should have spywareblaster on them, for this one there is no scan it is super easy just open it hit the update button let it update then hit the enable all protecting so the shield turns green and it sits there and protects you from bad sites while surfing.
Both excellent free products you can add to your pc that will not cause any conflicts and will be great protection.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (Win) - Detecting and Removing Malware
choose the free version

SpywareBlaster
for free version just click below the hourglass where it says continue download. Remember to open it once a week update and enable all protection thats it.

If you happen to be on dial up it is much better to keep your pc turned on regularly so that it can get the updates as they come in rather than have it be hit with several days worth all at once which will bog you down badly. The daily updates are small but when you have many days or weeks worth to do all at once that is not good. And remember for your AV program to run it's scheduled scan it MUST be turned on at the time the scan is scheduled to run!

RC - thanks for all the great advice. Actually, Malwarebites did catch it right when it happened, but then eveything froze. But I'll still never google my name again!!!!

Jann

Googling your name is not the problem.

"I've googled mine many times without problems."

Me too!

You have bigger problems than googling your name...

Ruthie - LOL, that's why I'm afraid to google my name!