In today's world, everyone needs to protect their computers from viruses. There are a number of things you can do for free to keep your computer safe from viruses. Below are the few tips on safe computing that you should follow even with good automated anti-virus protection.

Update Your Self:

This not only applies to your anti-virus software, but also your operating system, browser and email client. Most viruses take advantage of known security problems in your computer's software. There is almost always a patch available for the software before viruses appear on the scene that take advantage of the vulnerabilities. If you use Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office, Windows Update and Office Update respectively provide an easy way to keep up-to-date with security patches.

Common Sense Need To Be Used:

Most virus infections wouldn't happen if the computer user would think about what they are doing and use a little common sense. If you get a strange looking email message delete it instead of opening it to satisfy your curiosity. If a message, even a normal looking one, has an attachment you were not expecting to receive, don't click on it to see what it is. Much of the secret to safe computing is smart computing.

Don't visit Questionable Sites:

Don't visit questionable sites like those with pirated software (warez sites), hacker sites, or sites that promise you software keys and other ways to break the law.

Be Little Different From Others:

Almost all viruses use flaws or features of Microsoft products. Using alternative software, especially Web browsers and email programs will thwart most viruses. Mozilla is good choice for both Web browser and email client. Using a non-Microsoft operating system such as Linux can also be a good choice for some. These measures won't prevent all viruses but they will greatly improve your chances of not becoming infected with the most prevalent viruses.
You should use software that you install that can prevent infections instead of finding them after the fact.

I'd like to add a few:

- Sandbox: Don't trust anything? Run stuff in a virtual sandbox like VMWare
- There is more than Windows: Linux, OpenOffice, Mac OS. Nobody is forcing you to use Windows.
- Nothing is for free: What do you have to give in order to get something? Information? Email addresses? Fill in a form?