An open letter to spammers, virus toads and hackers: Leave me alone!

I don't know why I've become a prime target for your multiple attacks, but I'm becoming sick and tired of being pestered by constant alerts informing me that my computer has been saved from another potentially damaging onslaught.

Go somewhere else! Play a game! Just stop pestering me!

I'm well protected with the latest tools from Symantec, ZoneLabs and McAfee, and while I should be grateful to you for proving that they are doing their jobs, I don't believe they have to be constantly tested.

The biggest offender is a company that sends e-mails simulating a virus to get you to purchase their antivirus software. This material not only sets off the computer's antivirus software (because if believes it's protecting you from an attack), it doubles as spam, so it's doubly offensive.

I can't emphasize enough the necessity for everyone to install - and keep current - good antivirus, firewall and spam-killing programs to fend off what has become the scourge of computing. This is doubly important for anyone with a broadband Internet connection - cable, T1, satellite or DSL - because, technically, you're always connected to the Net and can become a constant target for predators.

Programs such as Symantec's Norton SystemWorks (or Norton AntiVirus), Network Associate's McAfee SpamKiller and ZoneLabs' ZoneAlarm combine to provide what so far has proven to be the perfect defense against those dastardly dolts out there that would take great pleasure in disabling my computer, stealing credit-card information or annoying me with advertisements for everything from hard-core pornography to health insurance.

Here's how I'm winning the battle:

• Never join an "opt-in" e-mail service. These can seem enticing, offering you free gifts or magazine subscriptions -or even spectacular savings on specific items you may need. Once you check off what seems to be a harmless list of interests, they've got you and your e-mail box will be overloaded with "legal" spam.
• Unsubscribing from e-mail services can also breed trouble. This lets them know their messages are getting through and you could end up with tons more.
• Keep software that's protecting your computer current by using Live Update or other services offered by the manufacturers. The fiends attacking your computer spend a lot of time coming up with new ways to make your life miserable.
• Check the Windows Update Web site (http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/-default.asp) regularly to download new security patches and other tools designed to plug gapping holes constantly being found in Microsoft Outlook, Word and Internet Explorer. Users of Windows XP should take the time to download and install the new service pack that's now available on the site.
• Set up your antivirus software to scan every piece of e-mail - and their attachments - before they arrive and after they leave your desktop. This has frequently saved my system from disaster (up to four times in a day). If you aren't able to do this, only open e-mails from people you know and request that they never send you attachments. This can cut down on viruses, but, unfortunately, there's no guarantee their systems haven't already been infected.

More information on the programs I've been using can be found at www.symantec.com, www.zonealarm.com and www.mcafee.com, or you can check out my reviews of them on this web site.

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