SOURCE: MSNBC
Security Tips: Keep Viruses, Worms, and Spyware Off Your PC
Close the gates to these threats before they infect your system.
Andrew Brandt
It's 2004: Computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and spyware applications are flooding the world's networks. You're nuts to use a PC without an antivirus tool, but that alone isn't enough. Antivirus programs can't detect a new virus until it is already on the loose. That leaves your system vulnerable for the hours or even days it takes your antivirus vendor to deliver an update. Fortunately, you can help stop the nastiest viruses in their tracks--even before anyone knows about them.
Patch that system, private! It's time to bust out the old drill-sergeant voice, because anyone who doesn't follow this simple instruction is going to have to drop and give me 50 knuckle push-ups. Okay, everyone repeat after me, "Unpatched systems are the devil's spawn."
Enable Automatic Updates: In Windows XP, right-click My Computer, choose Properties, Automatic Updates, and make sure that 'Keep my computer up to date' is checked. (See this month's Internet Tips for more on Automatic Updates.) Once a month (preferably just after Microsoft announces its latest security fixes), visit windowsupdate.microsoft.com, let the site scan your system, and then download anything labeled 'Critical'. Every month, no exceptions....
For more, click on the link provided...
