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known of the free solutions is AVG by Grisoft. Their AVG Free product offers good protection for free, and includes anti-virus and anti-spyware in one package. It also scans websites as you search to let you know before you click on them if they are safe or not. If it finds one that isn't safe, it will try to block you from going to the site. Microsoft is about to provide a free solution as well called Microsoft Security Essentials, and will replace Windows Defender anti-spyware with a complete AV/AS solution to better protect you. So far, the MSE software seems pretty solid, is simple to use, and doesn't take up much resources on your computer when running. Will be worth a try when it releases, which is supposedly within a month or two (as of writing: July 1, 2009). There are other free solutions as well, such as Avast! Home Edition. I have not used Avast!, but I hear good things about them and they have won awards from several PC magazines and websites. If you decide to avoid free solutions and go for the added protection of subscription AV/AS, I'd advise to steer clear of the major names such as Symantec/Norton and McAfee, as they tend to be targets for malware themselves. Being well known in the computer business tends to draws unwanted attention, and AV/AS software is no exception.

Fourth, a few words about wireless security. If you are on wireless, and your wireless is set to the defaults, chances are your sharing your internet with anyone and everyone that is within range. This can slow your internet, and allow them access to your computers if you have no passwords on them either. Also, if the default password is still set in your wireless router, they can actually lock you out of your own internet and network and completely take over your connection. It is wise to read the documentation that comes with your router, and learn how to change the password from the default. Also, setting up security on the router will keep hitchhikers from slowing your connection. Another thing that people don't think about is if the highjackers are downloading music illegally, then it will look like YOU are downloading music illegally, and could potentially draw attention from the RIAA who are very sue happy lately. The time it takes to setup security on your router could save you much more time and money down the road.

Last, and certainly not least, avoid things that look bad. This includes porn sites, emails from people that you don't know, and especially where the

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