1. Actually at workyou need to protect yourself against unauthorized access to your machine. See ifyour boss will allow you to password protect it. Simple to do with XP. With earlier editions of Windows you will need to enter the BIOS during the boot process, possibly by pressing delete. Here is a quote from Softstack on how to do it.
"By setting a boot password, you can make your computer prompt for the password every time it is restarted.
You can set the boot password in the BIOS when your computer is starting up. Usually the computer tells you when you can enter the BIOS (press Del to enter setup). The BIOS is different for different computers. If you check the documentation for your computer, it should tell you how to set a password. Or, if you feel comfortable exploring your BIOS, simply enter setup and look for a security or boot option.
Note: Be careful when searching! Changes made to the BIOS can affect your entire computer. If you make a change that you are unsure of, choose the Exit without saving changes option. This will undo any changes that you have made to the BIOS in a single session.
After you have set the boot password, choose the option to save changes and exit. This will restart your computer and ask you for a password every time you boot your computer and every time you re-enter the BIOS.
Be sure to remember this password. If you forget your password, it is extremely difficult to reset.
Since the new boot password gives no protection once the computer is turned on and the password has been entered, anyone can access your computer after it boots, unless you use a screen saver password in addition to a boot password."
I also like to put up a "phony desktop" to defeat the casual passerby in case my machine is turned on and the screensaver isn't running. Click printscreen to take a pic of your dektop with no apps running. Go to Paint and paste then Save the pic. Then set it as your wallpaper and set your desktop to hide all icons. Open adesktop toolbar so you can still access them, then hide it. To be really mean, I mean thorough, change your arrow cursor to the hourglass as well. A sophisticated user will figure out what you have done, but it will take him a couple of minutes--enough time to hit him in the back of his head.
I have read a couple of articles in the recent past which assessed and compared antispyware progs. Both found Adaware to be the best, and stated that to be really efficient run more than one. I would like to read the source for Spybot being the best.
