Few things in our society today are as important, at least from a personal computer standpoint, as trying to prevent malware.
With hundreds of thousands, if not millions of forms of malware, how can you possibly keep yourself 100% safe? You can't.
All you can do is be prepared as possible.
Your first step in malware prevention is: 1.
) Up to date anti virus and anti spyware.
This is probably the most key thing to have.
With a paid for, up to date form of anti virus and anti spyware, you are far more equipped and ready to prevent malware from every infecting your computer.
2.
) Don't open up e-mails, or click links that don't make sense.
Pretty self explanatory.
If you don't click on crap, you won't get hit with crap.
Pretty simple, huh? 3.
) Don't visit illegitimate sites.
If you're not old enough to understand this, just don't go where you wouldn't want your parents to see you going.
For those of you old enough to go there, don't go there.
Even the BEST anti virus/anti spyware program is bound to let in some form of malware at some point, nothing you can do about it.
4.
) MySpacers and Facebookers beware! Want to join that new group where you need to click a link to sign up for something? Or maybe you need to click the link to show your support or perhaps to download the application or module...
Double check to be sure it's real, or legal.
If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
These are the most basic of steps if you want to prevent malware.
Best of luck!