Fix your worst PC nightmares

Security issues can be a nightmare, but CIO.com has some basic tips on how protect yourself. All it takes is a few simple fixes, including making sure automatic updates for Windows and other programs are turned on. It sounds simple, but unpatched software makes you vulnerable, and getting lazy has a cost.

Another easy fix: Use Secunia Personal Software Inspector, available as a free download, to scan installed software to let you know which out-of-date programs might be making your PC unsafe. Also recommended: Let the latest browsers fight for you, which means make use of new site-blocking, anti-phishing features in the just-released Firefox 3 and Opera 9.5 browsers.

Another tip is to get a jump-start on fast-moving malware by using an anti-virus program that employs proactive detection and doesn't require a full signature to spot sneaky malware. ThreatFire, a popular free download from PC Tools, adds a good layer of behavior-based protection, and recent tests showed it correctly identified 90 percent of malware based on its behavior alone.

For other basic tips:
- see this CIO.com article