1. Use a ‘firewall’: A firewall allows you to prevent access from the internet to certain areas of your computer.  This increases your level of security and makes it harder for ‘hackers’ to get to your information.   Firewall protection is provided by special software on your computer, or your network hardware (e.g., your broadband internet modem may have a firewall built in).  A firewall is essential for anyone with high speed internet access. 

2. Use up-to-date anti-virus software that works:  Anti-virus software is essential for any computer that reads information from another source (including emails, websites and files on USB sticks).  To be effective, your anti-virus software must be working and it must be updated with the latest information from the manufacturer – they regularly send out updates telling your system what new viruses to look out for.  Check with your anti-virus software maker, as you may need to pay a subscription fee to entitle you to the updates

4. Apply new ‘Windows Updates’:  As it becomes aware of them, Microsoft releases updates and patches to fix security problems.  Find the ‘Windows Update’ icon or visit http://update.microsoft.com to check if there are any new updates that your computer needs.  If you have Windows XP with Service Pack 2, this can be automated in ‘Control Panel’ – ‘Security Center’. 

5. Backup your information & test your backups: Make sure that your important files are being copied somewhere else on a regular basis (e.g., onto CD, tape or using online backup solution).  Your computer can fail at any time, and you could lose everything!  Make the time now to check that you can actually read those files from your backup copy.