Secure Your PC in 10 Easy Steps - How to do it??

The danger: malicious computer users can gain access to your computer over the Internet, stealing and deleting data and potentially implanting viruses and Trojan horses.

The cause:

The major irony of Microsoft's shift from non-password protected home operating systems like Windows 98 and ME to the password and access-list based 'security' of Windows 2000 and XP is that your data is actually less secure by default.

Thus, one need have a very strong password to have a secured PC

its funny seeing some of the replies. I have never got my PC crashed/virus affected. for the record i dont use windows and hence no problem of installing those antivirus softwares/spybot search n all. switch to Linux if u believe "Prevention is better than cure". Its free too. just my two cents 

Here is the 10 step to secure your pc.

1) Always keep clean ur pc from dust, animals*(Pets),Water all the physical element that can harm ur pc .

2) Use proper voltage of eleticity & ups with good back up power.Use good power source.

3) Do not use pirated software.For examlpe if u use pirated vesion of windows OS it can cause a lot of problem like downloading updates which is very imporatant from ur computer security aspects, may be there could  some vulnarabilities in ur OS which can be only recovered by geting updates.

4) always use strong passwords to ur pc which is very important. Use  a pssword which stong and not easy to crack.

5)Use updated antivirus software which is registred.Antivirus software with featurers like antispyware,antirootkit,network shield, mailshield,antiphising is very good to use.

6) Configure ur firewall very well,like port filtering,block all kind of malicious web sites.

7)Always be careful when u r in connection of internet.

8)Make sure that the software that u r going to using is not mailicious or have some vulnarabilitites that can be exploilted.Always update ur software.

9)Keep ur pc in safe place that it can't be theft.

10) finally Always remind that ur pc is a machine do not misuse of that.

Another tool is Spybot - Search & Destroy. This works a lot like Adware, but having both will further protect your computer.
It detects and removes spyware, a relatively new kind of threat not yet covered by common anti-virus applications. Spyware silently tracks your surfing behaviour to create a marketing profile for you that is transmitted without your knowledge to the compilers and sold to advertising companies.

If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you haven't intentionally installed, if your browser crashes inexplicably, or if your home page has been "hijacked" (or changed without your knowledge), your computer is most probably infected with spyware. Even if you don't see the symptoms, your computer may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging. Spybot-S&D is free, so there's no harm giving it a try to see if something has invaded your computer.

maximum problems r caused by third party installations. ppl shud be careful b4 doin that, only install products from a known company. dont use crack or patch very often as usually it contains virus or trojan. Nvr alter ur registry unless ur well aware of the pros and cons. always clean ur registry using a good software. use a proper UPS and spike guard to protect it from voltage fluctuations and hence system crashes. remove lan from ur PC durin thunder. these r the few things wich can be done to protect and secure ur pc for a long uninterrupted run.. 

Instal and anti virus,

After using internet delete all cookies,

disable remote assistant and automatic updates

never open unknow mail