Instant Alerts Get email Alerts on stories that match your interest. To choose a keyword, click here. Choose the right expert at the right price, anytime day or night, at PC World Expert Help . And anyone who uses a computer has something to fear from the Internet's scurvy crew of hackers, crackers, and virus writers, or from companies that want to track your surfing habits.
Most Internet threats affect both home and office PC users.
Some, such as viruses, are equally important to both groups. Every home user should first install a reliable antivirus program to help defend against viruses and Trojan horses, which can do anything from stealing passwords to reformatting your hard drive to allowing hackers to take command of your system. After guarding against viruses, home users may want a firewall to block potential exposure to outside attacks. To further protect against snoops, you may choose to encrypt confidential files such as financial records and e-mail. Surfing the Web presents additional dangers.