• Never open e-mail attachments, unless you are 1,000 percent confident in their content. I tell people who want to send me attachments that they need to describe in the body of the e-mail what the attachment is and give me the file name. Otherwise, it goes straight into the trash.

• Never click on anything that says you have won a “prize.”

• Do not download or install weather “bugs.”

• Do not download wallpapers, screensavers or games unless you are 1,000 percent sure of their origin and safety.

• Do not download or install any file “sharing” or “transfer” program. There are many viruses and rootkits on the Internet masquerading as songs and videos. Use programs like Limewire at your own risk.

• Do not use instant messaging programs unless you know that they are virus protected and properly configured to deny anonymous connections. The default settings will not do.

• Do not download or install any “Web search helpers” or “toolbars,” such as CoolWebSearch. If you want to search the Internet, use Scroogle, Blackbox or Metacrawler.

• Do not download or install any “clock updaters,” or date/schedule “managers” unless you are absolutely sure of their origin and safety.

• Do not download or install programs from anywhere other than the original program Web site. For example, there are many virus-laden versions of AOL Instant Messenger posted to malicious Web sites.

• Do not download or install any “PC Health” or “PC Repair” programs.

• Do not download or install any “Web accelerators” or “download managers” unless you are absolutely sure of their origin and safety.

• Do not download or install anything to “speed up” your Internet connection.

• Do not let any Web site “scan and repair” your computer unless you are absolutely sure that it is safe. When in doubt, don’t.

• No gambling or porno sites. They load you up with spyware. No kidding.

Next week: Internet security and software.