Who says safe computing must remain a pipe dream?

I am regularly asked what average Internet users can do to ensure their security. My first answer is usually, "Nothing -- you're gone."

But that's not true, and the reality is more complicated. You're a goner if you do nothing to protect yourself, but there are many things you can do to increase your security on the Internet.

To curb the torrent of spyware and viruses, antivirus and anti-spyware software is a must. Use it -- either a combined program or two separate programs. Download and install the updates, at least weekly and whenever you read about a new virus in the news. Some antivirus products automatically check for updates. Enable that feature and set it to "daily."

More useful resources on how to battle spyware are provided below:

Six anti-spyware apps tested
Call it spyware, adware, malware, or tracking software, those hidden bits of code may be broadcasting your innermost secrets to the world. Here's how to put a stop to it.

Computer Associates eTrust Pest Patrol v5
The anti-spyware application CA has recently added to its eTrust security portfolio is called Pest Patrol. You probably have already heard of Pest Patrol -- it's been around for quite some time. Installation of the Pest Patrol application was very straightforward.

F-Secure Internet Security 2005
Installation takes quite some time and part of the process involves removing other similar applications (eg antivirus and anti-spyware programs). This could potentially be a problem if you are one of those paranoid users who does not trust a sole application to provide the level of security required on the desktop.

Lavasoft Ad-Aware Professional
With virtually the same interface across all its products, each Ad-Aware version basically adds more levels of features and functionality. This makes the proposition very attractive for administrators who have possibly already been using and are familiar with other versions of the Ad-Aware family.

McAfee AntiSpyware 2005
Immediately upon the conclusion of the installation routine, the system updated the spyware definition files. The package ships with the McAfee SecurityCenter component that allows users to centrally monitor any other McAfee security products they might have installed (such as VirusScan, Personal Firewall+, Privacy Service, or Spamkiller).

Trend Micro OfficeScan Corporate Edition 6.5
OfficeScan, when used in conjunction with Trend Micro's Control Manager 3 application, facilitates centralised management and reporting features that some network administrators of larger systems may crave.

Websense Enterprise v5.2
The developers at Websense have taken a lateral thinking approach when it comes to combating spyware on the network. Instead of looking individually at each desktop machine's registry entries and hard drive files, Websense takes the whole network into account.

Trend Micro PcCillin Internet Security 2005
Trend Micro's PC-cillin Internet Security is an excellent all-in-one antivirus/firewall solution that won't break the bank.

Spybot Search and Destroy
Spybot Search and Destroy is adaptable for both beginning and power users, and it's a great way to keep your home PC free of spyware. Best of all -- it's free.

Ad-aware Standard Edition 6.0
If you're a penny-pincher, the free version of Ad-aware 6.0 is a good choice for spyware protection.

Norton AntiVirus 2005
If Norton AntiVirus 2005 is long on dependability, it's short on sizzle, adding only a few modest enhancements to last year's version.

Battling spyware in court
In what could prove to be one of the great second acts in Internet history, erstwhile king of spam Sanford Wallace takes centre stage this week as exhibit A in a federal crackdown on invasive online advertising software.

Fight back against spyware
Spyware is a growing annoyance for users and organisations. With these techniques we provide, you can help get spyware under control.

The spyware inferno
In this issue of Industry Insider, venture capitalist Sharon Wienbar explains why discussions about spyware ultimately end up resembling Dante's nine circles of Hell.

Dell's anti-spyware campaign in swing
Although as many as 90 percent of home computers have been infected with spyware at some time, a majority of PC owners don't know how to solve the problem, according to a recent poll.

Gates: Microsoft to offer anti-spyware
Microsoft plans to offer its own anti-spyware software, Chairman Bill Gates said, although there was no information on pricing or when the software would be available.

Spyware opponents win another battle
The United States Federal Trade Commission won an important victory in its fight to protect consumers from spyware, the software that tracks unsuspecting Web surfers, bombards them with advertisements and sometimes even steals log-in information and passwords.

Mozilla readies Firefox 1.0 release
After 19 months of development, two name changes and more than 8 million downloads of its preview release, the Firefox browser is finally turning 1.0.

How to Track Down and Control Spyware
Most users who have spyware installed on their computers are unaware that it's even there. The issue is further complicated by the fact that spyware comes in many forms and operates in different ways. Some spyware programs pose a serious threat to a user's privacy and security, while others are simply a nuisance. This paper will attempt to describe the spyware you are likely to encounter and show you how to block it or remove it from your system.

How Spyware and the Weapons against It Are Evolving
Spyware has reached epidemic proportions and is only getting worse. Recent statistics indicate that approximately 95 percent of the world's PCs are infected with spyware. Unfortunately, removal techniques that worked just a couple of months ago are no longer effective in many cases and new types of spyware being released are more advanced than most computer viruses. This paper will discuss why the spyware problem has gotten so out of hand and more importantly, what you can do about it.

How Spyware Prevention for the Enterprise
Spyware, like other information security threats, will continue to evolve, and incorporate new and different installation and information gathering techniques. As such, any enterprise solution must embrace an in-depth spyware defense that is powerful and flexible enough to cope with the unpredictable evolution of spyware and other hybrid threats. This comprehensive approach to controlling spyware functions as a high-performance, flexible, gateway-installed solution to defend against current and future spyware, without impeding business processes.

How Spyware: A Hidden Threat
With spyware's rapid proliferation, organisations are in critical need of anti-spyware technology. Although many point solutions claim to do the job, the most effective defence involves a fully integrated security system with antivirus and anti-spyware on a single platform. This empowers IT administrators to more efficiently manage a coordinated defence against all forms of malware -- including the growing threat of spyware. This paper defines spyware plus other extended threats and explains how to protect against them.

Copyright © 2009 CBS Interactive, a CBS Company. All Rights Reserved.
ZDNET is a registered service mark of CBS Interactive. ZDNET Logo is a service mark of CBS Interactive.