With the advent of Win98SE and ME, Windows now has a button one click button to take you to an updates page.
From MS you should download security updates on any programs that you use.
Do not download IExplorer 5.5 updates or program unless you already have it.
MS offers many programs and goodies here also. You should be careful about
downloading these, as many are not needed, while others can actually add programs
to your system that will do things you don't want.
By no means should anyone download all the suggested files simply because
they are listed.
ZDNet now offers a nice way to update your other computer software.
One of the nice features here is you can signup for a weekly email that will
notify you of any software updates taking place that week.
http://updates.zdnet.com/
Comet Cursor which secretly tracks our web browsing
GoHip who hijacks our web browser and alters our eMail signature
Everyone should be using an anitvirus program
Many can be purchased at low price from local shops. Common brands
are Symantec's Norton's Anti-virus and McAfee.
You can find out about various antivirus programs, what your needs are, and what
you should look for in a personal antivirus program.
ZD Nets Antivirus How to
Spyware is ANY SOFTWARE which employs a user's Internet connection in the background (the so-called "backchannel")without their knowledge or explicit permission.
Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., has introduced legislation that would force software manufacturers to notify consumers when their products include "spyware," bits of code that surreptitiously transmit information about the user's Web surfing habits back to the software company.
The lists above are not complete and the number of spyware packages numbers over thousand