Let's face it; today's busy techno-world is full of hackers, viruses, spyware, and all sorts of other nasties just waiting to get into your computer. Whether you just browse facebook and check your email, or run a bustling ecommerce site, you're at risk.

The first and quite possibly most powerful defense against cyber attackers is easy and free. Browse smart. Don't open emails and attachments when you're unsure of the sender, stay away from the inappropriate sites, and don't use Peer To Peer networking programs such as Limewire, Kazaa, and BitTorrent. Any of these activities result in leaving the virtual door to your computer wide open with a "Free Stuff" sign hanging near the doorway. It's just bad.

The next step is by far the easiest. Buy a good antivirus - I recommend AVG, McAfee, and Kaspersky - and set it to run every day. It would be simplest if you leave your computer on every night and just have it run at say 3:00 AM. It'll be done in the morning and you won't have to worry about a thing. Some people may claim that their free antivirus is just as good, but look at it this way - you get what you pay for. If, for instance, you're relying on AVG Free to protect you and it was just as good as the paid version, why would AVG even sell the paid version?

Even with good browsing habits and antivirus software, you're not 100% protected. If there was one program that could do that, it'd be the only program out there. The fact is that there are nearly an infinite number of viruses out there and that number grows every day. Keep your antivirus program up to date and be safe and smart online, and chances are good that you may never see a virus.

Should one get through, there are a number of different routs you could go. The most efficient is a cleanup that nearly any store in the area can do for you. Geek Squad at Best Buy in the Kentucky Oaks Mall, Tech Depot at Office Depot next door to Books A Million, and The PC Doctor on Hinkleville Road are just a few of the shops in town that can take care of a virus infection. Speak with one of them and they'll be able to recommend the best route to cleaning up your computer and getting you back on track.