• I will get a virus scanner and install it on my PC. 
 A virus can do very bad things to your computer, so protect it. 

• I will update my virus scanner at least once a week. 
 An out-of-date anti-virus program is almost as bad as none at all. Keep it updated - oh, and don't forget to actually run it!

• I will get and install a free firewall.
 If you are on an "always on" Internet connection such as Roadrunner or "DSL," a firewall is your protection from hackers. Sure, you think that your ISP gives you firewall protection and to an extent, that's true. But, what protects you from people that are also behind that same ISP's firewall? Different story now, isn't it? 

• I will not perpetuate spam mail. I will check things out before I forward them to others. 
 Before you forward that email about a missing child in Wisconsin or a virus that will eat your hard drive, take a minute to see if the story is true or a hoax. There are several good Web sites which keep track of the many hoaxes. Check out http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org, http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html, or use your favorite search engine to find another. 

• I will learn to use the "bcc" (blind carbon copy) feature when I send email.
 The "bcc" field is very useful and so easy to use. It hides the recipients' email ID's so they are not displayed at the top of your note. Have you ever had to scroll through a screen or two of ID's before you got to the actual note? 
 Using the "bcc" field also protects your friends' ID's from being passed around, downloaded by people, and possibly ending up on a spammer's distribution list.
 Did you know that most e-mail services let you leave the "TO" line empty? You can "bcc" everybody and the mail will get where it is supposed to. Some email services will require at least 1 ID in the "TO" field. 

• I will learn to use the "cut and paste" feature when sending e-mail so I will not forward 16 copies of the same note with 300 addresses in it. 
 This is another easy thing to do when sending email. It makes your notes look a lot more professional and readable, and it saves the recipients a whole lot of time because they don't have to sift through lines of junk to find out what you are trying to say. 

• I will tidy up my forwarded e-mail by removing the ">" at the beginning of each line.  
 Those little ">" marks also show how many times the note has been forwarded. 

• I will run "REGCLEAN" once a month to clean out the leftover gunk in my registry for installing and removing programs. 
 Regclean is a useful tool if you are in the habit of installing and removing programs. There is always some residue left behind and Regclean will get rid of it and keep your registry from growing to monumental proportions. It will also allow programs to load faster because Windows doesn't have to sort through so much junk to find the information it needs. 

• I will consider getting a Trojan scanner, because not all Trojans are caught by a virus scanner. 
 This isn't critical, but it is another safety precaution. Most virus scanners will detect most Trojans, but not necessarily ALL Trojans. A Trojan scanner is designed to do ONLY that, detect Trojans. It does not replace a virus scanner but works in conjunction with it to keep your PC healthy. 

• I will run backups, Backups, and more BACKUPS! 
 And if you don't know why this resolution contains the word "BACKUP" three times, then put your PC back in the box, take it back to the store, and trade it in for a typewriter. 

 Happy New Year!