Protecting Your Windows Computer

Go to Microsoft's Windows Update.
Click on "Scan for updates".
Install any Critical Updates you find.

Go to Microsoft's Office Updates.
Click on the "Check for Updates" link.
Install any updates that are applicable for you (especially any Outlook updates). NOTE: You may need your Office CD so have it handy.

If you have Windows XP, you can run their firewall.
Click here for instructions.

If you have older versions of Windows, or don't trust Microsoft's firewall (lots of people don't), install the Zone Alarm firewall from Zone Labs.

Get a reputable anti-virus program, that gives you frequent updates. McAfee and Norton/Symantec are two of the most popular. The small annual fee works out to $3 or $4 a month. Small price for protecting your machine.

There are a couple of free AV software makers out there. I've never used them so I can't recommend them. I would just warn you to check out how often they update their virus definitions if you try them. The more frequent, the better of course.

It's a fact of the current state of the internet that ad/spy ware programs abound. Fight back with a couple of programs: Ad-aware from Lavasoft and Spybot Search & Destroy from Safer-Networking.org.

Once they're installed, make sure you download the updates to get the latest pattern files.

I recommend checking for patches, updating your AV and ad ware removal programs, and scanning your machine weekly. It should'nt take but a few minutes once everything is set up and you'll have the peace of mind that comes with having a protected machine.