Windows

If you're using Microsoft Windows, here are a few recommended steps to take immediately upon reading this, if you have not already done so.

1. Install a Firewall. This will close all your ports from being accessible from the public internet.
2. Install antivirus software. Make sure you are getting the latest virus definitions (information about the latest viruses) with your configuration. This is important, as new viruses are released daily.
3. Continue by Patching your computer.
4. Install both Spybot as well as AdAware SE Personal and run these regularily to search for, and quarantine spyware. It is not uncommon for one of these to find spyware the other missed, hence we recommend both.
5. Install another browser for surfing the internet such as Mozilla Firefox or Opera as Internet Explorer has a long history of security incidents.