Windows
Protection

The best system protection for using Windows and the Internet depends somewhat on your hardware, on your operating system and the software that you use, on your patterns of use, and of course upon your personal preferences. 

Still, your main objective is just like mine, to protect your system against viruses, worms, Trojans, and hacker attacks while you use the Internet for research, fun and for work. 

I'll spend some time this week detailing the essential protections that I use. 

Email
I use Outlook Express to sort and store my local messages.  However, before I open mail in Outlook Express, I use Hotmail (http://www.hotmail.com).  I open my web-based inbox within the virtual safety of Hotmail services.  Each message and attachment is pre-scanned by antivirus software. 

After I've "cleaned" my inbox of unwanted messages, I can open Outlook Express to continue reading messages... or, if I want to keep a message, I can move it into a local folder.  Mail that I've stored on my hard drive (local) is safe from worms, virus or Trojan programs... chances for infection being about nil.

Antivirus
I use Norton (http://www.symantec.com).  I installed Norton antivirus software because it was inexpensive and easy to use and because Norton cerates updates frequently.  I use an antivirus plug-in, "LiveUpdate" to automate checking for virus and security updates and to download these onto my system.  Weekly, I scan my Windows folders.  Monthly, I scan all of my hard drives.  My virus definitions are always up to date with the latest Symantec (Norton) patterns and I know my files are safe.

Firewall
I use Zone Alarm (http://www.zonelabs.com).  It was free to download and later, I updated it with a registered version.  What is it?  Simply, its software that scans my system looking for hacker attacks while I browse the Internet.  Zone Alarm raises an alert any time that a hacker tries to plant a Trojan or whenever a program launches an Internet message.  It monitors all Internet traffic to and from my computer, allowing me to decide if unexpected messages will be blocked or permitted.

Windows
Critical updates (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/) become available from Microsoft periodically.  These typically repair Windows vulnerabilities.  I subscribe to an alert so that whenever critical updates become available, I can log into Microsoft and download the latest protection. 

Backup
I use the Windows Backup command.  Backup allows me to store my system files onto zip-disks, onto another hard drive, or onto a CD.  The command is available from the Windows System Tools (Start Menu).  I use backup differently on different systems.  Basically, I create a Windows backup whenever I believe that I may need one.  If ever my system fails, I can recover using one of my system backups.

GoBack (for Windows 98)
I'm ready if I want to revert my system back to a few minutes or a few hours ago.  I use GoBack version 3, a super-simple utility for restoring systems to a not to distant safe point (http://www.roxio.com/en/products/goback).  

For instance, last week I downloaded Windows updates, installing these onto one of my systems.  After installing each one, I rebooted.  I monitored the GoBack logs and I made note of safe-points.  If my system hadn't been working properly, I could have reverted to a safe point using my GoBack logs. 

Safety
Think a little about using your system safety.  There really isn't too much to it if you spend a little time each week reading an article or two.  My system works nicely for me and I've never had a lost file or system problem that I couldn't overcome.  Hopefully you won't either.

All information herein is offered as-is and without warranty of any kind. Neither myself, nor contributors are responsible for any loss, injury, or damage, direct or consequential, resulting from your choosing to use any information presented here.