1) Switch to Firefox 3 for browsing the web. IE has two major problems. The first is it's popularity. IE is the most widely used browser by far, which makes it the #1 target for virus writers. The second is it's close integration with Windows. Often times a corrupted IE means a corrupted Windows. By switching to Firefox you can sidestep both of those problems.
2) Check your Antivirus: Make sure it's
up-to-date. If you don't have an antivirus program, or if your current antivirus
program is out of date, then download AVG free edition from here: AVG . Note there are a slew of paid Anti-Virus options available as well that offer even better protection. For the best paid option we recommend Symantec Endpoint Protection 11 .
3) Update Your Software: Finally, make
sure your computer is up-to-date by going to Microsoft update. The link provided
below is for Microsoft update which is slightly different from Windows update.
Microsoft update will update all of your Microsoft programs, not just Windows:
http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/. In addition its very important that you update your other programs as well. Especially programs that interact with the internet, such as:
Adobe Flash, Adobe Acrobat
, Firefox & Sun Java.
4) Avoid file sharing: Programs such as Bit-Torrent, Lime-Wire and their associated pirate websites are laced with viruses and malware. Avoid these sites if you value your data!
5) Protect your E-mail: For business email, consider a managed email service like the one we offer. Or if you just need a personal account, Gmail and Yahoo both offer well protected email accounts for free. The catch is that you have to either check your mail via their website.
