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Ten Tips for Securing Your ComputerComputer Security is your responsibility

1. Update / patch ALL your software whenever updates / patches are available for them..

2. Check / adjust ALL your settings so they are safe, since they AREN'T by default!

3. Use a 3rd party firewall, like Outpost!

4. Use good passwords: at least 6-8 characters long, containing both letters and numbers. Remember to chance your password every few months!

5. Get a good antivirus program such as Norton Antivirus  or eTrust Antivirus (formerly InoculateIT) and keep it updated!

6. Don’t open or execute files that you are not 100% sure are absolutely safe no matter where or how you get them.

7. Watch your wi-fi. You may have heard about the "evil twins" that often attack over wi-fi.

If not, here's how it works. "Basically, an evil twin is someone who masquerades as a hot spot. They send out a stronger signal, so instead of connecting to the Internet via the hot spot, your computer connects to the evil twin. He can take all your information directly," says Richard Rushing, chief security officer at AirDefense, a wireless security software company.

In other words, it's not always the best idea to take your show on the road. Avoid using your laptop in public places where it may be easy for an evil twin to attack and steal passwords and other personal information saved on your computer.

8. Use encryption to enhance your privacy! Use encrypted email (like Hushmail or Ziplip) and encrypt sensitive files on your computer (PGP) Thunderbird Mail  from the same people who make the FireFox Browser also allows you to double encrypt your email passwords using a password manager password.

9. Don’t use public computers for anything you need to type in your logins, they usually have Trojan horses that capture your passwords.

10. Don’t assume anything. If you don’t know, find out! If you can't or don’t understand, ask someone who does! There’s nothing more dangerous than doing something you don’t really know anything about. That’s the best way to cripple your system or get a Trojan horse on your computer!