It is important to keep your computer free from malware for a better and a safer computing experience. There are 10 tips i would like to share that are a bare minimum for safe computing.

  1. Updated antivirus
    • Keep an updated antivirus in your PC. You can go for AVG free online edition and download it from download.com. It is useful and has the auto update feature
  2. Anti spyware
    • Keep an anti spyware installed. Most of us think an antivirus is OK. But some antiviruses don't come with an antispyware.
  3. Don't download EXE files
    • You might get an exe file in your email as attachment or while downloading a software. Be careful while doing so. You can be downloading a possibly deadly virus.Check out the website/source you are downloading and when you are 100% sure, then only download it.
  4. Go for a routed traffic
    • If you are connecting to the internet through a broadband service and you do not have a router, go get it. They are cheap
  5. Allow OS auto updates
    • Let your windows or your MAC OS be updated. They contain bug fixes and also seal several loopholes that might allow the hacker to break in to your PC.
  6. Activate the hardware firewall
    • Your router should support SPI. SPI is Stateful packet inspection, whihc distinguishes the good internet traffic from the bad harmful ones
  7. Don't mix multiple firewalls
    • 2 is better than 1 does not go well with firewalls. It does not increase your safety quotient. It just calls for headaches.
  8. Go for one antivirus
    • Again the same thing. Go for one antivirus. Two will just slow your system and add headache
  9. Use a bi-directional firewall
    • It comes standard with Mac OS and Windows Vista. The old windows users can get a third party firewall(check point's zone alarm)
  10. Don't use auto fill for filling passwords
    • Auto fills can be a disaster waiting to happen to your email account. Better remember your password and write it somewhere.This becomes even more vulnerable, when using a shared or an office based PC. You can use the master password in Firefox. In Internet explorer you can go to content tab and then to autocomplete settings to disable.