Stellarium, Enjoying the night sky!

For a wonderful free program that will really help explain the wonderful night sky check this out:
http://www.stellarium.org/
It is a little hungry on the computer memory but if you have 3 GB or more no sweat.
Try it out...you won't be disappointed.

Windows--Recognize multi-core processors

Make sure your dual core or quad core processor is being 'fully recognized' by the windows operating system.  If your system seems too slow for that fancy multi-core processor or if you just want to check here's how:
Click on Start, type 'msconfig.exe' in the search box and hit enter.  Select the 'boot' tab from the 'System Configuration' window, then 'Advanced' options and you should see this menu:

Just make sure the Number of processors drop down menu includes the same number as your computer/processor has and that the check box is checked.  There are other settings to play with if you dare...but that takes care of Windows seeing all the cores in your processor and if it wasn't showing your full potential you will notice a performance improvement.

Fully use your Antivirus Program

Now that you've installed and feel safer with your antivirus program here's another feature to use:
Right click on any file, folder or in "Computer" or "My Computer" any drive or device and you should see an option to 'scan' using your newly installed AV program.  If you don't see it in the drop down menu try clicking on the object once (left click) to highlight it, then one right click.  If you don't see the 'scan' option with your newly installed AV program something is wrong with that program or it's installation.  At this point by choosing 'scan' the program will do just that.  Especially useful in checking out email attachments, newly downloaded files and folders and checking out flash drives.  Use it for additional security!

Zeus virus

Concerned about the zeus virus aka Zbot, PRG, Wsnpoem or Gorhax? There is reason to be.  This is from Wikipedia:  "Zeus (also known as Zbot, PRG, Wsnpoem or Gorhax) is a Trojan horse that steals banking information by keystroke logging and Form Grabbing. Zeus is spread mainly through drive-by downloads and phishing schemes. First identified in July 2007 when it was used to steal information from the United States Department of Transportation, it became more widespread in March 2009. In June 2009, security company Prevx discovered that Zeus had compromised over 74,000 FTP accounts on websites of such companies as the Bank of America, NASA, Monster, ABC, Oracle, Cisco, Amazon, and BusinessWeek."
If you're concerned about having it on your computer and your antivirus not finding it check for any or all of these files:  

The ZEUS trojan will commonly use names like NTOS.EXE, LD08.EXE, LD12.EXE, PP06.EXE, PP08.EXE, Dnn.EXE and PPnn.EXE etc, so search your PCs for files with names like this. The ZEUS Trojan will typically be between 40KBytes and 150Kbytes in size.  Also look for a folder with the name WSNPOEM, this is also a common sign of infection for the ZEUS Trojan.  Finally, check the Registry lloking for RUN keys referencing any of these names.
Lastly and most importantly keep your operating system and antivirus program UP TO DATE!