These simple tips will help you stay virus, spyware and adware free, even if you're connected to the internet 24 hours a day.
1. Protect yourself
Good protection on the Internet these days consists of 3 components: anti-virus software, anti-spyware software and a firewall.
Good virus protection doesn't need to cost you a fortune. You can get excellent free anti-virus software at www.grisoft.com. Even the professional version of their software is very affordable. Another good freebie is available at www.kaspersky.com.
But, an all security related matters, remember that you get what you pay for. Whilst free tools are a good starting point, always invest in the bset programs you can afford.
Likewsie, for spyware and adware protection, go to www.spybot.info, and download their Search and Destroy program, also free. Whilst this will zap the most common spyware and adware found on the Internet, you can run into problems using it if, for example, you run McAfee VirusScan software (S & D will not let you download McAfee updates). Again, with spyware and adware software, it's better to use a paid protection program if you can.
Try running a free spyware and adware test at http://www.noadware.net/?hop=mineofinfo, and then upgrade if you want the highest levels of spyware and adware protection possible.
As for a firewall, Windows XP ships with a decent enough firewall. Just make sure it is always enabled. The firewall offered by McAfee in both the Personal and Desktop versions is, in my experience, even better.
Alternatively you can visit a site like www.download.com and search for Zone Alarm, which has a pretty reasonable free version.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that you need to keep your anti-virus, spyware and adware programs fully up to date. Any kind of protection program using definitions that are even only a couple of months old is just about useless. Update your anti-virus and anti-spyware software at least once a week.
2. Stop opening every e-mail attachment that you receive.
The vast majority of the really pernicious and devastating worms and viruses of recent times were distributed via email. The distributors and creators of these viruses feed on the curiosity and also the ignorance of a huge number of email users. People will get an email from rumplestiltxskin@weirdsuspiciousdomain and they'll just open whatever file is attached to it.
The simple rule is, f you don't know the sender, don't open the attachment - delete it. It doesn't matter if the subject promises to make you an overnight millionaire or to show you Britney Spears dancing nude on the kitchen table, just delete it.
Even if the email is from someone you know, always scan any attachments first before downloading or opening them.
If every email user in the world followed these simple guidelines the distribution of viruses via email will eventually grind to a halt.
3. Stay clear of pornographic and illegal software sites
If you want to pick up viruses and spyware quickly, visit some pornographic web sites. One wrong click on a subtle little pop-up or security warning window (which you'll run into often on these type of sites) and you'll have infested yourself with trojan horses, keyloggers, spyware and adware and all sorts of other unfavorable software that could leave your computer wide open to further attacks.
The same goes for web sites distributing software, serial codes and cracks illegally.
Simply put - keep out of the dark side of the web and the odds of keeping your computer clean shifts decidedly in your favor.
4. Watch out what you download
Spyware is embedded in a lot of software on the Internet - especially those related to ripping, converting and playing music and videos. That free MP3 player or DVD Ripper you just downloaded may have installed a bunch of harmful spyware without you even knowing about it.
5. Keep yourself informed
Major anti-virus software developers like Symantec and McAfee update their sites regularly with the latest virus alerts. Visit these sites frequently to keep yourself aware of what threats are doing the rounds and how to avoid them.
Using these simple and software I have kept my computer virus-free for the past 5 years. It's not rocket science. Just stay alert, use some common sense and you too can stay bug free while still enjoying your Internet experience.