• Do not install anything unless it is really needed and is from a trusted source.
• Use a non-administrator account as your main account.  Then think twice before typing in your admin password when asked for it.  If there are programs that require admin right (like Outlook Express) then try to replace them.
• Check that your system is getting Windows Updates (there are a few every month and are listed in the Add/Remove Programs area of the Control Panel)
• Check that your antivirus software is up to date (varies with antivirus program).  And know what your antivirus program looks like and how it behaves.
• Avoid Internet Explorer, use Firefox, Chrome, Safari or Opera  instead (and keep them updated).  It is not that Internet Explorer is insecure any more, but it is still the primary target for malware. (And all the others are faster!)
• Use the free Malwarebytes’ AntiMalware scanner (malwarebytes.org) to check your system occasionally and whenever things seem odd (remember to run it’s update function first).

• Keep windows updated. Don’t ignore that little yellow or red shield down by the clock.
• Install an anti-virus program, keep it updated, and run a full scan occasionally. I like Eset NOD32 and the free version of Avira AntiVir.
• Scan for spyware occasionally. Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware and Lavasoft’s Ad-Aware are both good and friendly programs.  Remember to download the latest updates for these too.
• Keep your web browser updated. And avoid using Internet Explorer — there is nothing really wrong with it anymore, but with most people using it, it is the first browser that malware writers target.  And the other popular browsers (Firefox, Safari & Chrome) are all very good and fast browsers.
• Install only software you need.
• Install software only from a trusted publishers.
• Install software only from trusted sources.
• Know what software you have installed. For example, make sure that antivirus pop-up message is really from the program you have and is not some spyware trying to sneak onto your system.
• Keep the important stuff backed-up. Get a flash drive or external hard drive (or two) and use the software that came with it or Window’s own backup software for backing up your files, emails, favorites, etc.

You may have noticed that keeping things updated is a central theme in this list.  Just about any program will asked to be updated every several weeks – if it is not asking there may be a problem — manually update and run scans to check for problems.

Keep the anti-virus program up to date and it’s real-time scanner will provide a lot of protection. Also remember to run/schedule a full system scan every few weeks.