Here's another point to remember: Never run two or more antivirus programs on the same PC. If you want a second opinion on the status of your antivirus protection, do a free online virus scan, which won't interfere with your installed antivirus application. See our "Free Online Virus Scanners" sidebar for more information.

Firewalls

Many people are confused about the difference between antivirus applications and firewalls. To help clarify the need for both, think of a firewall as you would a burglar alarm for your house and think of antivirus software as you would a pesticide. You know the burglar alarm won't keep out the cockroaches, and the pesticide won't keep out the burglars; therefore, you need to implement both of these safety measures to protect your house and your family.

A misconception some people have is that firewalls are just for preventing crackers from breaking into your computer. Not so; firewalls also monitor Internet traffic for anything suspicious, such as outgoing transmissions from a program that normally doesn't send them or unrequested incoming transmissions. Regardless of which OS (operating system) you're using and whether you have a high-speed or a dial-up connection, if you're getting on the Internet, you should have a firewall in place. You can safely use a software-based and a hardware-based firewall at the same time, but we don't recommend installing two or more of either type.

Hardware-based firewalls. Hardware firewalls are generally sold to consumers in the form of routers. A router is a peripheral that connects to your computer(s) and essentially performs three jobs: acts as a hardware-based firewall, lets you share your Internet connection (sometimes even wirelessly) with other computers in your home or office, and helps two or more computers share files and printers. Even if you only have one computer, you'll still benefit from the firewall protection a router provides.

Typically, hardware-based firewalls are designed for broadband Internet connections rather than dial-up connections. Many users with broadband connections have a router separating their computer(s) from their modem. Some of these routers are available for less than $30, but before purchasing one contact your ISP (Internet service provider) to find out if the modem for your broadband connection already has a built-in router. Most DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) modems have routers built into them, whereas most cable modems do not.

Software-based firewalls. The firewall application included with Windows XP's SP2 (Service Pack 2) is more than adequate to keep out worms and attackers. And unlike its predecessor, it's active by default.

If you use an earlier version of Windows, there are free firewalls available to you, as well. The freeware version of ZoneAlarm is available at www.zonelabs.com and you'll find the Sygate Personal Firewall at smb.sygate.com. Each free version also has a corresponding retail version with more advanced options.

Cookies

In spite of the negative publicity surrounding cookies, having them on your computer is not necessarily a bad thing. After all, cookies are a way for Web sites to keep track of your preferences so they can offer you related details and/or specials, as well as store your personal information, so you don't have to re-enter it every time you visit them or order products.

For example, you may regularly visit a site that will display your local temperature once you indicate where you live. So you tell the site your ZIP code or which city you live in, and it places a unique identification code on your computer in the form of a tiny text file. The next time you visit that site, its Web server checks to see if you already have a cookie from them, and if so, it retrieves that unique identification code. The Web server then associates the code with the information you provided during a previous visit and displays the temperature in the city you specified, negating the need to ask you for a ZIP code or city name every time you visit the site.

On the other hand, there are some sites with advertisements that place cookies on your computer. Although these advertisers generally have no idea who you are or what you are doing on the site, if the same advertiser is on many of the sites you visit, they can track which ads you've already seen and provide ads tailored to your surfing habits. Some people consider this an invasion of their privacy.

If you dislike this type of tracking, simply disable third-party cookies. This is an option not only included with WinXP, but it's also available in Windows Me and Windows 98, as well. So there's no need to purchase any special cookie-handling software. To adjust this setting, open your Control Panel (via the Start menu), double-click the Internet Options icon (if necessary, click Switch To Classic View in WinXP), and choose the Privacy tab. Click the Advanced button, select the Override Automatic Cookie Handling checkbox, and select the Always Allow Session Cookies checkbox. In addition, select the Block radio button below the Third-Party Cookies heading.

Spyware

By now, you're most likely aware that spyware isn't a collection of futuristic gadgets used by James Bond to thwart his enemies. Win98/Me/XP users should utilize anti-spyware, such as Ad-aware SE Personal (free; www.lavasoftusa.com) and/or Spybot Search & Destroy (www.safer-networking.org), at least once every two weeks. Check for updates to these programs frequently and know that these applications come highly recommended.

WinXP users also can take advantage of Microsoft's free anti-spyware utility: Windows AntiSpyware (free; www.microsoft.com/athome/security). Although Microsoft's offering is still in beta (its testing isn't complete yet) and is only available for WinXP and Windows 2000 systems, it's based on GIANT Company Software's technology and appears to work just as well as (and in some cases better than) other anti-spyware products we've tested, including those that cost money.

Stay away from anti-spyware programs you've never heard of, though. Numerous spyware developers offer what they refer to as "free anti-spyware," which actually places spyware on PCs or falsely reports the existence of spyware on PCs. For instance, after you've supposedly "scanned your PC for spyware" using one of these bogus products, you'll see a notice that the software only "detects" spyware, so you must pay the developer to remove what it claims its product "found." Visit Spyware Warrior (www.spywarewarrior.com) and click the Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware link to learn more about such scams.

Additional Tips

Not every security tip requires that you open up your wallet. A simple way to keep intruders out of your data when you're not using your computer is to close and unplug your Internet connection. If you wish, you can even go as far as turning off your PC. This should discourage nosy co-workers, curious children, and other snoops from accessing your information. Following are some additional tips for you to consider.

Download and install Windows updates. The updates available via Windows Updates (windowsupdate.microsoft.com) are there to protect you. If you're afraid of negative consequences resulting from installing Windows updates, you also should consider the possible (and more likely) consequences of not installing them.

Uninstall the File And Printer Sharing feature. If you only have one computer, you don't need the File And Printer Sharing service. Open the Control Panel, double-click Network or Network Connections (via the Network And Internet Connections category in WinXP), right-click the icon for your connection, click Properties, choose the Networking or General tab, deselect the File And Printer Sharing For Microsoft Networks option, and click OK.

Use a different browser. Netscape (channels.netscape.com/ns/browsers/plugins.jsp), Firefox (www.mozilla.org), and Opera (www.opera.com) are popular and free alternatives to Internet Explorer. However, be aware that no browser is completely safe or bug-free. Nonetheless, most spyware and virus writers focus primarily on Microsoft products.

Stay away from file-sharing systems. Kazaa, LimeWire, and other P2P (peer-to-peer) file sharing systems are not only often used to transfer copyrighted materials illegally from one computer to another, but they also are an incubator for viruses, Trojan horses, and spyware. If you think you're getting free music via these services, you might be paying a higher price than you ever imagined.

Don't be fooled. Some advertisements are designed to look like legitimate Windows error messages. If you receive a warning on-screen stating that your PC may be infected with spyware or viruses, examine it closely to determine if it's really a valid Windows error message or if it's just a hoax coming from the Internet.

Beware of email links. Never click links located in email messages, particularly those that claim to come from a financial institution or site where financial transactions take place (such as eBay) and request personal information. Such links are often designed to lure you into revealing confidential information by making you believe that you're connected with a reputable site. In fact, the link may lead you to a cleverly constructed site that simply looks like the actual site.

"Free" doesn't always mean free. Before downloading and installing software—especially applications and games which claim they are "free"—browse through comments posted on some consumer advocacy sites, such as Better Business Bureau's BBBOnLine (www.bbb.org) and the Identity Theft Resource Center (www.idtheftcenter.org), or ask fellow subscribers via the Smart Computing forums to help you determine if the software is indeed safe and free of spyware. In addition, it's always a good idea to carefully read the EULA (End-User License Agreement) before installing anything.

by Carey Holzman