Here's a checklist that you can use to help protect your home office computers from spam, viruses, spyware, hackers, and other Internet intruders.

• Use an Internet firewall. An Internet firewall helps screen out hackers, viruses, and worms before they reach your home office computer or network from the Internet.

• Update your software. Regular software updates can be crucial to keeping your home office computer or your home office network as secure as possible.

•   Use antivirus software. Computer viruses can have serious effects on your business. They can slow down your work, destroy important documents, and more. You can help protect your home office by using antivirus software. 

• Use antispyware software. Spyware can steal valuable information from your computer, take control of your Internet browser, or interfere with your work by sending you large amounts of advertising. 

• Be careful with e-mail and instant messages (IM). Even if a message appears to come from someone you know, a file attached to an e-mail message or IM could contain a virus, so be sure to contact the sender by some other means to gain added assurance that the attachment is valid. Also, never reveal personal or financial information in a response to an e-mail request, no matter who appears to have sent it—your home office may be the target of a phishing scam.

• Back up your computer. Create and maintain a backup schedule so that you don't lose important files.

• Use strong passwords and change them often. Strong passwords give you better security against intrusion by hackers and thieves.

• Don't let children use your business computer without your supervision. Ideally, you should not allow your children to use your home office computer. If your computer needs to serve both your business and family, be sure to supervise your children whenever they use it.Teach older children not to download programs or open e-mail attachments without your permission, because they might contain spyware or viruses.

Source: Microsoft