What else should I be doing besides install?

[eddiepae]

Apologies for my stupidness in advance.

I have installed avast home edition several months ago and it works fine. It has successfully warned me about a website I was trying to access and seems to merrily get on with things without my involvement (which is what I want).  However my question is.....do I need to be doing anything else to ensure I am staying virus free?

I understand that I can scan new files and drives and data CD's etc if I wish...but aside from that should I be doing anything else. The "Help" screen doesn't actually say for us complete novices..."install the software and only act when you get an alert...except when you want to scan a specific file for viruses".

Can someone please advise?
Thanks
Eddie

[DavidR]

Security Tips & Tricks

Employ a multi application/level approach to security.
If you haven't already got this software (freeware), download, install, update and run it, these all work well with avast.
1. Ewido, a.k.a. avg anti-spyware If using winXP. or a-Squared free if using win98/ME.
2. Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition
3. Spybot Search and Destroy
4. Spywareblaster Don't install this until you are clean.

[J J]

I've heard this many times and i was wondering why the P.C should be clean before installing spywareblaster?

[DavidR]

Whilst I don't know the exact reason I would guess it is because it isn't an active/resident or on-demand tool but a preventative tool anything already on your system won't be prevented and possibly make it harder to deal with it.