Make sure your system is protected by a personal firewall. ZoneAlarm, Sygate, and Kerio are three examples of excellent firewalls each of which is offered free for personal home use. If you can afford it, invest in a router as well. These have the added benefit of allowing you to share an Internet connection with multiple PCs. Linksys, D-Link, and Microsoft all offer moderately priced routers that can accommodate both Ethernet and wireless connections and can be easily found at your local office supply or computer store.
Make sure your system is kept patched. Microsoft releases patches on the second Tuesday of each month. Put a reminder on your calendar and make it a ritual to-do. Install any patches marked critical. Install program and driver updates at your own discretion.
If you use Internet Explorer, upgrade to the latest version, at least version 6, service-pack 2. Also make sure you properly secure Internet Explorer before browsing the Internet. Along with that comes the latest version of the Outlook Express email client. Regardless of which email client you use, make sure it is configured for optimum security. If the option exists (as it does in Outlook Express v6 and above), read and send your email in Plain Text only.
Colorful text and graphics in email spell trouble. The same technology that renders the 'pretty side' to email is the same technology that renders the malicious side. Disable it. Besides, you'll also prevent web bugs, invisible images planted in email by spammers so they can tell whether a particular email address is valid.
And never, ever, open attachments received unexpectedly - no matter who the sender is. If you receive an email attachment from Aunt Emily or your husband Bob, email them back. Ask them if they really sent it and why. And regardless of whether the attachment was intended or not, if it's an executable type file and you don't absolutely need it, then delete it. By default, Windows doesn't properly display executable file types. Make sure you enable executable file extension viewing. Also familiarize yourself with executable file types so you know what to avoid.
If there is a reason you need to open a particular attachment, save it to your local drive and scan it with antivirus software before opening it. Do this even if your virus protection has built-in email scanning. Do the same for any downloaded files. In fact, go the extra mile and get a second opinion scan. One of the best for a quick one-file scan is Kaspersky's online scanner.
Use a dedicated anti-spyware product. Don't rely on your antivirus software for this and don't skip it. One of the very best is SpyBot Search and Destroy and it is offered free complements of its developer, Patrick Kolla.
Periodically backup your important files. If disaster does strike, you'll rest easier and feel much less stress if you know the most important information has been safely backed up. CD-RW drives provide an excellent, fast, and inexpensive means of backing up your data.
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