17 High-Risk Security Threats (And How to Fix Them)

Network worms. Phishing e-mail. Drive-by downloads. Data sniffed from an open wireless network. To use a computer safely in the 21st century, you have to be prepared to combat a growing number of constantly evolving security threats.

But for every potential pitfall that malware hunters expose and neutralize, there seem to be five more waiting for a careless PC user to plummet into. Your job is to anticipate and evade a vast array of cleverly devised booby traps meant to catch the unwary.

In the series of articles listed in the box at right, we address 17 top security threats that you might not be aware of, together with advice on how to defeat them.

Knowledge is power in this game. The Internet's hucksters, smash-and-grab practitioners, and con artists make a living off victims who fail to recognize the tricks of their trade. Failing to take precautions against the current wave of threats is akin to driving cross-country without a spare tire: You might get away with it, but setting off unprepared for trouble can be expensive and very inconvenient if your luck goes bad.

Related stories and areas of interest:

• Protect Yourself From PC Security Pitfalls
• 10 Quick Fixes for the Worst Security Nightmares
• Analyze Your PC's Security
• PC World's Security Center