The WMF Image Handling Exploit discovered on December 27, 2005, hammers home the need to always take an active stance to protect your PC. This article provides tips for staying more secure in a hostile Internet environment. And it's not a matter of switching browsers or email clients - advice along those lines is well-meaning but falls short of real protection. In fact, Internet Explorer and Outlook Express, configured properly, can offer far more robust protection than other browsers and mail clients.

Today's viruses, worms, and Trojans often target your first line of defense, disabling your antivirus software and modifying the HOSTS file to prevent access to your antivirus vendor's website. And these same threats often block access to the Registry and Task Manager, making manual removal all the more difficult. Fortunately, with a little foresight, you can stymie these attempts to gain illicit control of your computer.

Getting stubborn adware and spyware off your PC can be frustrating. However, there are steps you can take to make the process easier and more effective. First, make sure you have an up-to-date anti-spyware scanner. Do not rely on your antivirus program to do the job. (See Top Spyware Scanners). Before running a scan, shutdown all open browser windows and applications (including email) and then disconnect your PC from the Internet. If accessible, the easiest thing to do is just remove the phone line or cable connecting the PC to the modem.

Spyware and adware often change your browser Start and Search pages to point to unwanted websites. Even if you've removed the infestation responsible, you may still need to reset the web settings. Here's how to do this in Internet Explorer.

A rootkit gives attackers full access to the system (hence the term 'root') and typically hides the files, folders, registry edits, and other components it uses. In addition to hiding itself, a rootkit typically hides other malicious files that it may be bundled with. The ubiquitousStorm worm is one example of rootkit-enabled malware. (Note that not all Storm Trojans are rootkit-enabled).

Instant Messenger worms are becoming increasingly more sophisticated - and more prevalent. To avoid infection, treat IM as suspiciously as you should be treating email. These tips will help you avoid infection:

Some viruses may not be detected, or may be only partially removed, if the system is not booted into Safe Mode for the scan. Booting in Safe Mode prevents extraneous services and programs - including most malware - from loading at startup.

Getting a virus on your system is frustrating to say the least, and can be hazardous to the health of your computer. Indeed, today's malicious software can even steal your identity and wreck your hard-earned credit rating. To help fight back, here's a list of free tools, tips, and tricks to get rid of viruses and keep them from getting back on your system.

Windows ME and Windows XP both come with a feature known as System Restore that enables users to revert to specific restore points without impacting data files. When new drivers or software are installed, the operating system automatically creates a restore point. If the installation causes problems, the system restore point can be used to rollback the changes. If no driver or software installations occur, System Restore will automatically create a restore point daily.

your mail client is just one of the steps necessary to help prevent email worms and viruses. If you have not already done so, visit the Email Help Center for tips on spotting malicious attachments and the do's and don'ts of email security. Also see Why Plain is Better to understand the risks of HTML-rendered email. The steps below apply to Outlook versions 2002, 2003, and 2007, and Outlook Express v6.0 and above. If you use an older version, you may need to update your mail client in order to take advantage of these important security features.