Is it possible to recieve malware from just viewing a site?

[HikerBob]

I happened to view this site trying to steal a password from a game I don't play via Facebook, thinking it was relevant to the news of hackers in that game. Unfortunately it was a link to go to a website distributing a hack, and ultimately scamming you.
The website looked safe as long as you didn't "Sign-In" (Phish) or "Download hack" (Malware).
But the question is, was it really safe to view it and then close the tab?

[Ad Bot]

[Madmitten]

its very possible

[HikerBob]

its very possible

I'm looking at the severe stuff, not small stuff like "tracking cookies".
Is it still that way?

[LordCutlerBeckett]

I'm looking at the severe stuff, not small stuff like "tracking cookies".
Is it still that way?

In some cases, I think so.

[Madmitten]

I'm looking at the severe stuff, not small stuff like "tracking cookies".
Is it still that way?

yes
I got a virus from it that spawned a fake virus scan.
I scanned right norton and found the file and deleted it

[LordCutlerBeckett]

yes
I got a virus from it that spawned a fake virus scan.
I scanned right norton and found the file and deleted it

lolnorton

[Nickelob Ultra]

I'm looking at the severe stuff, not small stuff like "tracking cookies".
Is it still that way?

In some cases,

yes, because every time you view a website you download the webpage from their server.

If the website were to host a file that contained malware that jumped from your internet browser's temporary files / cache / whereever webpages are stored when loaded to your computer, then you'd be infected.

[HikerBob]

The site was a "Free hosting site", for example, "Name"."Host's name".com
Most of the websites that are most malicious aren't hosted like that.

[HikerBob]

Bump.
I believe I am just being paranoid about this, although I'd like to get responses from other people.

[ShadowsfeaR]

Hacks aren't cool br0.

[HikerBob]

Hacks aren't cool br0.

They aren't. There was much talk about this game that I used to play getting hacked recently; a racing game where hackers made themselves into tanks and I looked into the news.
Then a guy posted a link w/o any information and I thought it could lead into more info about the story.