Everybody always has their computers security in the back of their minds. If you don't, your just not paranoid enough or have actually spent the $5000 to buy the top-of-the-line security software and hardware to make your computer and network near impermeable. I say near because no network, no matter how secure, is never completely un-hackable.

There is always a way in. Anybody who thinks their network is completely and totally unbreakable needs to have his head flushed to clean out the space between his ears. This nation has been raised with a click-click-next mindset. You install a program and you just click through it cause you want to get done with it. Do yourself a favor, click Custom Install and just look at what is being installed.

• Instant Messengers- Just about every IM you install (With the exception of MSN) has a Toolbar they want to install into your web browser. Each one has it's own "Anti-Spyware" or "Anti-Phishing" plug-in. I have seen computers with 7 different toolbars... I had 5 inches on the screen that showed the actual web page, no joke. Whenever you install an IM program, click on your Custom Install link, and make sure the IM is the only thing that is being installed. Each Toolbar you install will fight with the others, the Yahoo Anti-Spyware will fight with the Google Anti-Spyware and slow down your web page loading times.

• Web Games- I have a Sister In-Law that is a web game addict. You don't have to play it on the web necessarily, but it interfaces with it. The big ones I have noticed are Big Fish Games and iWin Games. Both of those have a background program that just sits there using up resources to tell you when new games come out, or when there is an update to the games you have installed. Try to steer clear of those. Most of those games come in a CD format at your local Wal-Mart or Target, and when you do the CD install, you don't get all the messy additions.

• Google- Wonderful company. Love their search engine, love Google Earth, but every program you install of theirs they try to push their Google Desktop Search into your computer. You don't want that thing installed. More resources better used elsewhere.

• Anti-Virus and Firewall Software- Running more than one Firewall or Anti-Virus program is very bad for your computer, they both fight with each other AND use the same resources independently that they would if they were the only program. Symantec (or Norton to some) is my AV of choice. I keep having too many issues with McCafee not too. However, I have seen people with Symantec or McCafee installing the other AV in addition to the one they are running because something made them think they had a virus (My article on AV2008). Then they have all sorts of issues.

Using any of these tips will help to increase the security of your computer dramatically. Each toolbar or IM program has with it a new Security Vulnerability. The more programs you install that have to access the internet, the more hols you open in your firewall. Think on that ;)