Getting software to protect your computer is unfortunately a must these days. Yet before that point, there are a number of simple things to do to protect your PC...

* Ensure your computer is updated.

The software your computer operates on already has some in-built protection; crackers and fraudsters often try to break through this software to exploit weaknesses and Microsoft is permanently upgrading its software to prevent them in a cat and mouse game.

Updates are available from Microsoft's dedicated website, but it's easier to set your computer to download them automatically. Just go to Control Panel and click the 'System' icon, then go to the Automatic Updates section where you can toggle the latter on or off.

Users of Apple Macs (and Linux) have less to worry about in terms of viruses, as there aren't so many floating about for them. Cybercriminals know that the vast majority of computers in the world (around 90%) are PCs, so why waste time pursuing the 10% minority?

* Turn your PC off! Another easy tip to reduce the risk of crackers accessing your PC is to disconnect from the internet or, even better, turn it off when it's not in use, saving energy too. While your PC's on and after you've been browsing is a prime time for malware attacks. * Don't open unknown e-mail attachments.

The majority of web crime happens via email, so be on guard when checking yours. Don't open any attachments you're not expecting, or click any random links you find in the text (see the Phishing article). If you're unsure of a site's veracity, whack the link into Google and see what comes up; it may be listed as a bad 'un.

* Only download software from trusted websites.

If you're looking for a piece of software, find out who makes it first and then go to their site to get it. For smaller free/shareware programs, try using big sites like cnet's Download.com rather than just getting them from anywhere that shows up.

* Use different passwords for different sites.

It may seem obvious, but don't use the same login for lots of sites, because then if one falls into the wrong hands, your whole online life is up for grabs. It's a nightmare to remember lots of different ones, so why not take one and just add a few letters to it related specifically to each site you're logging into?