Email

• Never open email attachments from people you don’t know. If you hold down the shit key when you hit the delete key on your keyboard, it will permanently delete it. It won’t even go to your recycle bin.
• Never open emails from people you don’t know. NEVER! If your email program has a preview window, then you have already opened it when you selected it and view it so turn off the preview pane. At the least, turn it off before you select the unknown email. Even if you just select it to delete it, if it appears in the preview it is already opened.
• Never open email attachments from people you do know but don’t know what the attachment could be. If you download any attachments, scan it first with your updated anti-virus program before opening. Usually if your right click on it, there will be an option for scanning the file.

Floppy disks or USB/Thumb drives

• Same rule as emails. Scan any files before opening them.

Downloaded files from the internet

• Only download files from reputable sites and never open any files without scanning them first.

Illegal file sharing programs

• Programs such as Kazaa or Limewire are major problem causers. If you must use them,
  and they are illegal, once again scan any files before opening or previewing them. I can not tell you how bad most PCs end up being, from having these programs installed.

Keep your anti-virus programs up to date

• Without the latest viruses definitions, it is useless against the latest threats

Download the latest security updates from Windows

• Better yet, enable Automatic Updates

If you have Windows XP, turn on your firewall

• Windows XP comes with a built in firewall that’s better than nothing. There are some free ones that do a better job, such as Zone Alarm Commodo.

Turn off your preview pane in Outlook or Outlook Express

Consider alternatives to Microsoft programs. While nothing is 100% safe, they have a better track record ok keeping your computer safe, in my opinion. Do not be afraid. They are as easy to use as the Windows versions.

• Instead of Outlook Express use Mozilla’s Thunderbird.

• Use Mozilla’s Firefox instead of Internet Explorer. Not only safer but loaded with cool features. Once you use it you can never go back.