The manufacturer of your wireless access point will periodically release updates to and patches for a device’s software and firmware. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s website regularly for any updates or patches for your device.

It’s common to use multiple computing devices throughout the day. No matter which ones you use, be sure you’re running security software that works across all of them. Leading options such as Total Defense Ultimate Internet Security can be installed on as many as 10 different devices.

To avoid unintentionally installing spyware yourself, be wary of unexpected dialog boxes asking whether you want to run a particular program or perform another type of task. Always select “no” or “cancel,” or close the dialog box by clicking the “X” icon in the titlebar.

It’s a good idea to have a separate email account just for mailing lists. That way, you lower the risk of getting offers in your inbox that are actually attempts at phishing. Keep one account just for emailing trusted friends, family members and contacts, and another for everything else.

Disabling AutoRun and AutoPlay features prevents external media infected with malicious code from automatically running on your computer.

You don’t want a system crash to destroy all of your important documents and photos. Maintain redundant backups of your data across different media types. Use cloud-based backup as well as external HDDs or even DVDs and thumb drives.