"The best practice is to keep everything up to date, anti-virus and anti-Spyware programs, and use it (computer) responsibly," said Jerry Christiansen, owner of Computer Crossing. "That's not a hundred percent guarantee that it won't get hit with something, but it does decrease the odds."

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About one out of every 1,000 web pages has the possibility of infecting a computer with some type of Spyware or virus, the Le Mars business owner said.

Spyware is used to collect information about the user without his or her notice or consent by, looking into the computer's hard drive to find personal information like passwords and bank account numbers.

"It's into the hundreds of thousands for viruses and Spyware anymore," Christiansen said.

For example, the program he uses to detect Spyware searches for 230,000 known types today, where as three years ago it looked for about 22,000 types, Christiansen said.

"And that's just Spyware," he said.

Those numbers don't include computer viruses -- more of which are being developed every day.

Viruses are spread from one program to another via floppy disks, Internet File Transfer Protocol (FTP) sites, newsgroups and email attachments.

In addition to using anti-Spyware and anti-virus programs, people can also help protect their computers from a security breach by not keeping personal information on them.

"I save nothing on my computer as far as passwords or what not," Christiansen said. "If someone would get in there, they are not going to retrieve anything of a personal nature."

Nick Hartman, tech manager of Midwest Computer Systems, in Hinton, said even with all the security measures in place, no computer is safe.

"You can have all the latest updates, virus protections, firewalls," Hartman said. "If someone wanted to get into your computer there is a way."

Firewalls are computer hardware or software used to prevent unauthorized access to data.

He compared it to building a fence, installing an alarm system and locking the doors around a home. That won't stop a break-in, but it could discourage burglars and direct them toward less secure homes, Hartman said.

"If you are on the Internet, be aware not every site is upstanding. There are sites that are there basically to try to do malicious things," Hartman said. "A lot of websites you can download free software. That's how they try to get into your system."

It's not only home computer users that have to be aware of threats to their computers, but also business owners and government personnel.

A virus or Spyware infiltration could mean access to confidential information or even destruction of an entire computer network, said Shawn Olson, Plymouth County information technology (IT) director.

Security of the Plymouth County Courthouse's network is strict and anything suspicious is blocked until the IT department has deemed it safe, Olson said.

"We have a policy in place that does not allow employees to download programs," he said. "That has to be done through IT."

Employees can download forms, pictures or documents they need to use daily, he said.

Many threats to the courthouse's network come through emails and those are blocked at the server, Olson said.

This week he dealt with a relatively new virus that involves fake airline tickets coming through email. In the subject line of each email an online flight ticket and a number are shown.

"This morning (Wednesday) we had 65 emails from different airlines.They trick you into going in and viewing the ticket," Olson said. "It has an attachment inside that is actually a virus that is executed after you download it."

Olson said that virus is tailored toward larger corporations, but it will probably eventually be developed for home users.

"As long as you don't open the attachment you are fine, just delete the email," Olson said.

Monitoring Internet usage and incoming and outgoing emails coming is daily routine for him, Olson said.

"Every morning I spend about an hour going through security logs making sure nothing has gotten through the firewalls that would endanger the network," Olson said. "I spend a lot of time making sure our firewalls are up to date, making sure the latest packs are running on it."

His diligence has paid off with only one malicious attack on the network that he knows of since he started, Olson said.

"In the last year I haven't seen an failed authentication toward our network which is a good thing," he said.

One of the most difficult problems in computer security, is the human aspect, he said.

"The No. 1 thing is keeping your awareness with employees," Olson said. "If they question something, ask someone in the corporation."

Whether a home or business, these experts agreed, the best precaution against computer security threats lies with the user.

"Don't give your password out. Keep it to yourself," Olson said. "Most likely unless you know the person 110 percent and where it's (email) coming from and verify it, I wouldn't open it."

Angel Box:

Possible signs that a computer could be infected with a virus.

*Computer operation is slow, and there are no system issues.

*Unusual screen displays or messages.

*Unaccounted use of memory or reduction in the amount normally shown for the system.

*Access to a specific Internet site is unsuccessful. Site indicates page cannot be displayed.

*Traveling among websites doesn't work. Page returns to one site all the time.

*A change in the length of executable (.com/.exe) files, a change in their file date/time in the directory listing.

Steps to fix an infected computer.

*Run an up to date anti-virus program. Beware it may not fully destroy the virus.

*Take the infected computer to a professional to ensure proper removal.

*Remove the hard drive and use an external hard drive adapter to look at raw data, then put the hard drive back into the system and check to make sure programs are running correctly.