Also, do not copy any file if you do not know or do not trust its source. Check the source (provenance) of files you download and make sure that an antivirus program has already verified the files before opening them. Hitting the file-sharing networks for fresh mp3 Christmas carols (the un-copyrighted kind, of course) is a good way of ending up with fresh computer viruses if you are not careful.

But let's not end this list on a down note. It's Christmas. . We'll all be safe - as long as we use a little common sense.

Vince Hwang is the global director of product management for BitDefender. He oversees all product and technology development strategies. He brings with him over a decade of strategic, operational, and product management experience that span across multiple technology domains.