Christmas Computer Infections

Here's something that may temper the joy of receiving a brand new computer for Christmas.

Hackers, spammers and spies go into overdrive in December and January, when unsuspecting neophytes unwrap new computers, connect to the Internet, and, too often, get hit with viruses, spyware and other nefarious programs.

Experts recommend no easy method of preventing infection other than updating security patches feverishly and being timid in opening unexpected emails. Of note is that new computers given at Christmas are usually vulnerable because they customarily are shipped weeks before ultimately being connected to the Internet, a time period when dozens or more security patches have been issued. Hackers rely on the fact that most Christmas computers won't have the most recent security protection.

Merry Christmas!