Don't fall victim to holiday pranks: spam, viruses, spyware and credit card fraud. Be sure your protection suite (anti-virus, spyware) is updated. Subscribe to ETrust, Panda Security, Pest Patrol or Trend Micro to keep your computer and your data safe. Because I use good software, I'm warned of malicious files like the example shown here. This virus tried to creep in via an email but my protection suite stopped it.

Protection programs are important, but please do just a one year renewal on yours. Not all current software will work with Microsoft Vista, launching for consumers early in 2007. (see below).

Computers running Vista, instead of Windows XP, will find their current anti-virus software won't work. A new technology called Address Space Layout Randomization makes each Windows Vista machine slightly different than all other Vista machines. The intended effect, according to a Microsoft exec is: "Even if there is a remote exploit on one machine, and a worm tries to jump from one machine to another, the probability of that actually succeeding is very small." So, Vista's own protection suite will be providing defense.

And, you may not want the new Internet Explorer, but you might receive it anyway, via Windows updates. Now that Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) is officially available, Microsoft is trying to recapture market domination by making IE7 an automatic update. Starting this month, computers with Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, or Windows Server 2003 will automatically receive IE7. (Source: pcmag.com)

Go to jackson pollock.org and move your mouse. You'll see why. Thanks to Peg for finding this unusual example of web ingenuity.

1. Give Act software to the most disorganized person you know. All of a sudden, they'll have address lists, calendar, to-do items all in one place. One of the best programs around for small business success.

2. There are great values in handheld gadgets this year, including MP3 players, digital cameras, PDA's and cell phones.

3. Remember to use usps.com instead of standing in line at the Post Office for holiday stamps.

4. As I said in "Computer Ease" if you curse at your mouse more than your spouse, get a new mouse. A nice wireless mouse can give you more desk space too, since they are untethered and don't require a mouse pad.

5. Buy USB thumb drives in cool colors for holiday gifts. Everyone loves them, and I'm happy because people don't mind backing up to the USB drive. No more floppies, zip disks, or CDs. USB thumb drives are inexpensive and very cool. Buy them at Office Max, Staples, or any electronics store. One gigabyte of backup space costs less than $25.

Have a fun holiday season. I hope no one gives you this iPod accessory. It's the strangest tech gift I've seen this year, available at Fry Electronics.

Perhaps a more thoughtful gift would be a signed copy of "Computer Ease" or "The World Is a Kitchen." Contact me for details.

Remember, you can post computer questions on the forum at my site, www.cclarity.com.

Happy holidays,

Helen Gallagher

Phone: 847-998-6240, www.cclarity.com

Feel free to forward this issue of Computer Clarity's monthly e-newsletter to your friends, or invite them to subscribe on my site at www.cclarity.com. There's no charge.