Recently a computer security expert stated that the only way to keep a computer 100% safe was to never turn it on. This is actually inaccurate and a little misleading. A computer used solely to type up and print out documents, never connected to the Internet and that never received files transferred from some other computer, could in fact be a useful 100% secure computer system. Viruses and other malware get on a computer through a network like the Internet and file transfers from other computers and there are several ways that can happen.

Recently a computer security expert stated that the only way to keep a computer 100% safe was to never turn it on. This is actually inaccurate and a little misleading. A computer used solely to type up and print out documents, never connected to the Internet and that never received files transferred from some other computer, could in fact be a useful 100% secure computer system. Viruses and other malware get on a computer through a network like the Internet and file transfers from other computers and there are several ways that can happen.

What to do about Computer Viruses
So, what is the best free spyware removal software out there? Microsoft, without question, has one of the best free programs and it's called Windows Defender and Microsoft has put a lot of effort into making this the number program on the net!

Whether you are connected to the Internet or not, it is safest to have an antivirus program installed on your computer. If you are connected to the Internet, it is basically a must.

So aside from isolating a computer from the outside world, how can one protect a computer system? Here are some tips:

	Don't use Internet Explorer as your main browser. I am not bashing Microsoft or Internet Explorer particularly and something should be made clear: It is not necessarily that other browsers are programmed so much better but that 80% of people surfing the Internet are using Internet Explorer. Thus thieves interested in gaining access to the maximum amount of victims are going to spend most of their efforts exploiting the security holes of the browser that 80% of the people are using.
	Put a firewall between your internal network and the Internet. A firewall's job is to keep out those billions of people who can be at your doorstep instantaneously. It will only allow those you invite to knock on your computer's door.
	Use a Firewall on each individual computer. The network firewall mentioned above is a big step toward protecting the internal network.
	Update your operating system and browsers. Security holes are constantly found in all operating systems and all browsers. Software updates patch these holes

This is where spyware becomes a concern for computer users. In a world filled with identity theft scares and con artists, what pertinent information might be getting gathered? While reputable advertising companies willingly disclose the type of information they collect, there is nothing stopping dishonorable companies from gathering information of a more personal nature. Despite the many concerns people share about spyware, it remains legal for companies to utilize. For this reason, the job of protecting yourself from spyware falls into your own hands.

Back up Tips :

	When you’re about to install a new application or a major update and you’re unsure whether it’s going to cause systems disruptions or compatibility or interoperability problems. Ironically, this application could be a security program or Windows Service Pack that introduces significant modifications to your existing OS configuration which may in turn cause other problems. Backing up is also a sensible precaution for users who like to experiment with advanced system settings, like manually tweaking registry entries and testing different system drivers or services.
	You intend to use your computer on-the-go and are concerned about data integrity or safety. If you lose your laptop or if it ends up in the water, a backup of your important data will save the day.
	You may be the unofficial tech support person for your friends and relatives. If anything goes wrong with one of their machines, you can simply roll it back to the last backup data.
	A backup is handy if you plan to change to a new PC. Just save all your files and restore them on the new PC. It’s important to remember, however, that if the configuration of a new PC significantly differs from your old one, restoring the operating system and all installed programs won’t be possible, because the different hardware will likely require different settings.

Spyware, sometimes referred to as a tracking software, is a program that is installed secretly in someone’s computer to collect information about the user’s Internet activities, e-mail addresses, passwords and even credit card numbers. The information is then transmitted to a third party which uses it for advertising purposes. Spyware usually installs without the user’s knowledge and/or consent, as a drive-by download (sometimes by downloading a freeware or shareware program),

or by clicking on a deceptive pop-up advertisement window. Spyware can be usually thought to be Adware, software designed to serve advertising, because it includes components for tracking and reporting user information. However, marketing companies refuse to have their products called “Spyware,” so as a result Internet security companies refer to such applications as “potentially unwanted programs .