Here's his Top 10 list of steps you should take to protect your information and your computing resources from the bad boys and girls of cyberspace.

* Back up everything! You are not invulnerable. Catastrophic data loss can happen to you -- one worm or Trojan is all it takes.

* Choose passwords that are reasonably hard to guess -- don't just append a few numbers to a no-brainer. Always change default passwords.

* Use an antivirus product like AVG or Norton, and set it to update daily.

* Update your OS religiously and be vigilant in applying all security patches released by the software manufacturer.

* Avoid hacker-bait apps like Internet Explorer and disable automatic scripting on your e-mail client.

* Use encryption software like PGP (pretty good privacy) when sending sensitive e-mail. You can also use it to protect your entire hard drive.

* Install a spyware detection app -- or even several. Programs that can be set to run frequently, like SpyCop, are ideal.

* Use a personal firewall. Configure it to prevent other computers, networks and sites from connecting to you, and specify which programs are allowed to connect to the net automatically.

* Disable any system services you're not using, especially apps that could give others remote access to your computer (like Remote Desktop, RealVNC and NetBIOS).

* Secure your wireless networks. At home, enable WPA (Wi-Fi protected access) with a password of at least 20 characters. Configure your laptop to connect in Infrastructure mode only, and don't add networks unless they use WPA.

Better safe than sorry...or stuck wth a computer that doesn't work!

Pharoh, let my people go!

Here's my top ten security tips:
1. Never trust ANYONE who gives you advice.
No one gives anything for free.
2.Never rely on your computer for record-keeping.
Keep paper copies of everything. Enter as little personal information as possible, and lie to the computer whenever possible.
3. No one is going to "guess" your passwords. They will simply ask you for them. Are you going to tell them?
4. Anti-virus programs use 30%-40% of your total machine capacity. And you have to pay them to do it. When was the last time anyone you know was hit with a virus?
5. Be extremely cautious of any updates that software vendors push on you. Find out as much as you can about what they actually do before accepting them.
6. Send sensitive communication by US Post Office, not email.
7.Software that is open-source and free is less likely to harm your system than software that you pay for. Check out spybot.
8. ditto for firewalls.
9. If you want wireless access, put the machine in your car. Cruise any upscale neighborhood when you want to use it, until you pick up a good signal.

Better safe than sorry ... mamke sure you never depend in any way on computers ... no matter how many safe guards you take, Big Brother can get in and find out what you are doing ...

Good points!

this alone resolves all your problems:

* Back up everything! You are not invulnerable. Catastrophic data loss can happen to you -- one worm or Trojan is all it takes.

BACK UP!

4. Anti-virus programs use 30%-40% of your total machine capacity. And you have to pay them to do it. When was the last time anyone you know was hit with a virus?[/quote]

i got 2 large viruses in a month i got the begeal virus thats floating around and then something else which im not sure about. doing well eh?

get a mac

I've not had a virus since I started using Avast! (free version)
21 months and counting.

Nah... Convert that PC of yours to a Linux Machine!