Read This If You Want a Safe and Virus Free Computer

Use Windows user accounts - You can control who uses your computer by going into User Accounts option in the Control Panel. Start by creating appropriate users, and create passwords that are tough to crack, such as a mixture of letters and numbers. Having different user accounts makes sure the only people who are able to access your computer are the ones you have granted access to.

Password manager - You may have heard this before, but you shouldn't write your passwords down in some place where it is easy for others to find. With the exponential growth of the Internet, you may have several sets of usernames and passwords for logins on various websites. You can use a password manager cum filler to simplify the task of remembering all those. There are many available, and a famous one is RoboForm. It is a password and profile manager that sports an Internet Explorer toolbar able to manage all your logins and type in passwords for you. It has a master password that unlocks all the other passwords.

Spyware Remover - Next only to spam, spyware is the Internet's biggest annoyance. A spyware is a software that covertly gathers user information through an Internet connection without the user's knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Not only does it make possible for malicious people to spy upon your personal information such as social security number, credit card information, etc., it could also be potentially dangerous. Spyware usually appears as part of unsuspected utility programs from questionable sources. It is important that you follow a regular schedule of using a spyware cleaner on your system.

Antivirus -- You may be aware of this already, but if you are a regular user of the Internet, you need protection from viruses. A good antivirus program would go a long way to protect yourself from virus threats. For added protection, it is advisable to use multiple antivirus scanners. Many are available for free nowadays, including popular ones like AVG or Kaspersky.

Firewall - A firewall protects you from unwanted people trying to gain access to your computer for malicious purposes such as for launching distributed attacks. A good firewall program like ZoneAlarm is a must for every serious computer user. Nowadays Windows XP itself comes with its own built in Windows Firewall which might be good enough for most users. You can also get additional protection by using a router with your Internet connection.

File sharing - File sharing programs such as Gnutella or LimeWire also pose a security risk. You may unintentionally download what looks like a screensaver or a music file when the filename has been tampered with to make it seem so. It may actually be an executable malicious file. If you must use file sharing programs, make sure you have regularly updated antivirus software running.

Do your Research - Look for well written articles designed to protect you from online and offline threats. Many good ones can be found by searching the Internet. Improving your knowledge of the various threats will allow you to take steps to protect yourself.

Email protection - A good many antivirus applications these days offer integrated email scanning. Scanning incoming and outgoing emails is a recommended practice for computer users. There are viruses that spread through email, that too very quickly as they have your email contacts list at hand. You can take simple precautions such as not opening an executable attachment from someone you don't know, and allowing the integrated virus scanner to scan all attachments before opening them.

Network security - Viruses and malware usually spread through computer networks. You can mitigate the threat by always scanning files before allowing them on the network. Limit file sharing usage by controlling who can use it. You may want to disable USB devices on your network so someone cannot bring in an infected USB external storage device and connect it to your network.

Maintenance - Performing a regular schedule of antivirus and spyware scans is a must to enjoy a safe and smooth-running PC. You may also want to defragment your system for getting the extra performance. Putting in a little effort will ensure your system is safe from threats.

Following these guidelines would allow you to extract the maximum performance from your PC investment. You will also be able to gain more security and peace of mind.