Make sure that your PC always has an up-to-date antivirus installed and working.

The emphasis in the sentence above is as strong on 'up-to-date' as on anything else. Many people mistakenly believe that if they have an 'antivirus' then everything will automatically be OK. Well, that's the case, as long as your antivirus stays up-to-date by downloading the latest virus file definitions on a very regular basis.

With new viruses being released every day, any antivirus is really only as good as the last time it was updated. Especially if you have just bought the latest virus software from the software shop - you especially need to update it then - as that CD is likely to be at least 6 months out of date by the time you install it - having been on the shelf for a while, and then having been in a warehouse for a while before that. as soon as you install such software ensure that you update it from the Internet.

Apart from buying the software there are several free antivirus programmes available. One we have used and have found to be very good is Grisoft's AVG. Visit the Grisoft website to download and install your free version of AVG.

• AVG Website