This Just In

Want to save with my bank? It's guarded by a solitary security guard with a big stick. What's the worst that could happen?

You're probably not that inspired, and rightly so. Yet far too many people are running the technological equivalent. If you don't keep your antivirus and security up to date or worse, don't have any, you may as well print all you emails, documents and photos and throw them to the breeze for all to see. Then burn the originals.

Antivirus is not optional. If you are running a computer, attached to the internet or not, you must have a good AV. If you don't then you instantly become part of a much bigger problem. Any bad effects won't just impact you. Most viruses are designed to pass on the infection, either to everyone you've ever emailed or out via USB sticks and the like.

Unbelievably in the 21st century, even some companies don't run AV software. The attitude appears to be 'nothing bad has happened yet'. That's like saying I'll wait until my house burns down before I buy smoke alarms. Just say goodbye to your business data now.

Even a good antivirus program is only as good as its latest virus definitions. If your AV hasn't been updated in the last month, then it's the equivalent of the bank we referenced at the beginning. The protection technology is there but is hopelessly outmoded in the face of modern attacks.

So step 1, get yourself a good antivirus program. The free ones, such as AVG and Avast, work absolutely fine. In fact in many ways they are better than the massively overblown Norton and McAfee. Once installed, keep them up to date. You must keep them up to date. Did I mention about keeping them up to date?

Now we can all crack on with living happy, virus-free lives. Now you'll have to excuse me, my bank's on the phone.