It takes more than just antivirus software to prevent infection. Fortunately, following the few simple steps outlined below can provide a good measure of security in very little time. Install antivirus software and keep it updated. You should check for new definition updates daily. Most antivirus vendors offer automatic daily updates to home users, but some - such as Norton AntiVirus - do not. Here's my recommendations for the Top Windows Antivirus Software.

F-Prot Antivirus is top-notch protection, though perhaps more suitable for users already experienced with antivirus software. Manufacturer's Site Pros Detects 100% of ITW viruses; 96.34% of Zoo viruses Includes F-Prot for DOS for commandline scanning; User-defined integrity checking

PC Tools AntiVirus 4 now includes Intelli-scan. Intelli-scan is a highly optimized scanning mode design to quickly scan your critical areas of your PC for active threats. A newly designed scan screen also provides you with the option to perform one of three scans: a Full or in-depth scan, a Custom Scan which lets you select specific locations to be included in scans, or an Intelli-Scan.

Computer viruses still pose a major threat to corporate networks despite the lack of a major outbreak for two years, according to leading UK IT chiefs. The last serious mass-mailing virus attacks to hit both home PC users and businesses were Sasser, Bagle and MyDoom in 2004.

Many home PC users may have been infected after a large-scale sustained Trojan horse attack that took place over the weekend, security vendors believe. The Trojan, named 'Storm Worm' by antivirus vendor F-Secure, first started to spread last Friday as extreme storms engulfed Europe. The email claimed to include breaking news about the weather, in an attempt to get people to download an executable file.

People who use both IBM Lotus Notes and McAfee VirusScan Enterprise may want to hold off on upgrading to the latest version of the McAfee software. Installing McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.5i on a PC that also runs the Lotus Notes email client can lock people out of their mailboxes, the two companies have confirmed. Lotus Notes is a commonly used email application, particularly in larger organisations. McAfee, the world's second-largest antivirus company, released VirusScan Enterprise 8.5i in late November.

All major security software makers, as well as many smaller ones, will have products available for Vista when the operating system is launched to consumers on 30 January, Microsoft said. That's a different story from last November, when Vista was released for businesses. At that time, only one major security company, McAfee, was ready.

Though Microsoft has made leaps in security over the years, even more challenges lie ahead as additional devices go online, company executives said yesterday. Only last week, Microsoft released Windows Vista and Office 2007, promoted as the most secure versions of the operating system and productivity products yet. And it has been nearly five years since company chairman Bill Gates sent out his "Trustworthy Computing" memo, which said the software maker was turning its focus to security. But that doesn't mean Microsoft products are now watertight, said Craig Mundie, chief research and strategy officer at the company.

Online criminals are turning away from threatening companies with massive cyber attacks in favour of encrypting a victim's data and demanding money to release it, an antivirus expert has claimed. Eugene Kaspersky, head of antivirus research at Russia's Kaspersky Labs, told the RSA Conference in San Francisco the use of so-called "ransomware Trojans" is a key trend for 2007.

Microsoft is working to expand its security response and research operations beyond their current base in Redmond, Washington. Over the next six months, the software giant plans to establish teams in Europe and Asia for round-the-clock coverage of security incidents and to support customers of its security products, Vincent Gullotto, general manager of security research and response at Microsoft, said in an interview at the RSA Conference.