To help you protect your computer especially while online I have complied a list of some of the top issues.
Whether it be your operating system or applications they all need patching from time to time to fix errors in programming. Those patches can be severe as a potential security issue that could let someone remotely attack your computer or steal data from your PC or just an enhancement. These patches occur for all operating system and applications including MS Windows, Linux, Apple Mac, and applications like MS IE, Mozilla Firefox, Sun Open Office, Apple Quicktime to name just a few.
Most of these program now have auto update options to make this automatic for you. If you don't want to turn on these auto update features you should be checking the manufactures web site once a month for updates or read the technical press sites to here about updates needed. See sites like www.zdnet.com.au or www.cnet.com.
So your browsing around the internet and you see a message at the top of your browser saying you need this add on program to view the content of the site properly. Do you just say OK install it? NO ! What is add-on and why do you need it. Some common add-ons are from MS like MSXML, Windows media player, or Active X control.
Work out whether you need these controls or not before installing. It maybe a control you want and need, it maybe a malicous control designed to steal some information like passwords or files or infect your computer.
The rule here is DO NOT open attachments in mail messages unless you are expecting it!. This may sound drastic but not all attachments are harmless even if received from someone you know. So what do you do? You can check with the sender to see if they sent an attachment for a specific purpose or you can save that attachment to your hard drive and then scan it with your AV program and look at the name of the attachment and it's extension. You should have your folder view so show extensions for all file so you can now see the full file name plus extension. You may get a file like photo.jpg.exe or file.zip.exe. If you were not showing file extensions then you would see these files as photo.jpg or file.zip and think they are harmless but once you open the file the file executes the program and you are infected...
Your bank has just had a problem with their banking system and has to get you to send them your details again or want you to reset your password, so they e-mail you and ask you to follow the new link and update your details.
You have just been had if you decide to follow the links.
Your bank will NEVER e-mail you asking for information. Any information will be on there official site or they will send you a letter. Only ever type in your online banking site name into your browser for the safest possible option. Do not click links on any pages or mail messages.
All your user accounts should have passwords. Everybody should have their own login name and details. Children and inexperienced users should not be running as a local administrator. You default guest user should have a password set and then disabled. Best practice all users should have there day to day account as a non administrator account for best possible safety. When you want to make changes or install new applications login with an administrator account to do this specific job. Vista everybody now runs as a non admin account even the Administrator account windows will elevate the permissions only when it is needed to go a job, that is that annoying but safer "User account control" pop up. Love it or hate it is there for your safety.
You should be running a reputable Anti-Virus and firewall program at all times.
If you have one of the all in one programs from Norton's, MacAfee or similar that will cover you but you can run individual programs which can be free. So you could run AVGFree for your AV, Windows firewall and MS Defender for an Anti-Spyware program all for no cost. Also if you have a modern router for your ADSL or cable then these have built in hardware firewalls, so use that as well for increased safety. Also make sure these application are patched regularly. AV program are generally patched with new signatures everyday....