Protect Your Computer

Install a personal firewall to control the information that goes to and from your computer, therefore preventing unauthorized access to your information.
Use an Internet browser that supports 128-bit encryption.
Disable the AutoComplete option for online financial companies or secured sites. The convenience of saving user details and passwords when logging into websites makes it very easy for those accessing an unprotected device to do the same.
Keep your operating system and browser up-to-date. Software updates often include security enhancements that you can usually download free from the particular software provider.
Save or "bookmark" frequently visited and trusted websites to your list of favorites, then access those sites through your saved links.

Install anti-virus software on your computer to minimize the risk of your computer getting infected.
Configure the anti-virus software to automatically notify you when new updates are available for download and to scan all in-coming and out-going emails.
Daily, or at least once a week, perform a complete scan of your computer for viruses. These scans can usually be scheduled to run when you are asleep.

To protect your computer against spying or Trojan horse programs, ad/spyware scanner software is recommended.
Make sure that the anti-spy software is updated on a regular basis and that it is scanning to detect any ad/spyware.