WHAT IS MEANT BY "SAFE COMPUTING"?

(I’m often asked this question and I must tell you that my answer has been changing recently as more varied computer threats have emerged.) ‘Safe Computing’ means operating your computer in a manner which will allow you to enjoy your computing experience; while, at the same time, minimizing the possibility of getting an ‘attack

What actually do I need to have... to do... to be considered as operating my computer ‘safely’.

a. Install the most current version of a ‘top of the line’ Antivirus program. (Norton and McAfee are commercial products... Grisoft's AVG product is free)

b. Have the Antivirus program automatically look for and install ‘updates’ whenever you are on the inter net.

d. Install a good software ‘firewall’ program. (Norton and McAfee are commercial products. Zone Alarm has a good free version. Those of you who have Windows XP and have updated to service pack 2 could use their free firewall.)