Safer? Never!

The internet is not overly safe, this is more true then ever today now that Hackers have built up a share information further the law still has not caught up with this problem and this allows for a the hackers to rampage. Also today's hackers usually focus on the internet because that allows for more money then it does attacking a single system. Those thieves do not have to fear anyone but each other and trust does not go along way among them, but that in the worst case scenario means a loss of several thousand a month. But since the hackers still make more then enough money that does not matter to them, of course that annoys them to lose that kind of money. Yet, since the governments can not do anything, such as suing or imprisoning hackers.
The problem is a) tracing is not easy almost impossible and b) even if hackers are located that does not guarantee that the hacker has to face legal actions since the problem is the lack of evidence most often accompanied with these crimes.

How can normal home-user protect themselves against those attacks?
Well first the user should keep the computer updated, using a current browser is the first step into that direction, those would currently be Firefox 2.0 or Internet Explorer7 while I would suggest using Firefox, IE7 is a good browser too.
Further using good Anti-Spyware programs and keep them updated, of these one can use more then one I for one use all of the ones listed here (they are also free of charge), Spybot Search&Destroy, Windows Defender (I only started using this recently but must say it has worked reliably until now), Adaware Personal edition.
Now after these programs comes the Anti-Virus which has a wide variety I offer three different ones here that have good names but there are many more, Avast Home edition(this one is free), Norton 2007, NOD32, the latter two both charge money.
Next would be a software firewall, (the integrated one for XP is not good), Zonealarm, Comodo and Norton Firewall(This one costs money).
All of these are good software programs, and further all of the different kinds should be used, Anti-Spyware, Anti-Virus, Firewall and New Browser all of these should also be kept up to date. Since otherwise they are not effective, if you use a high speed connection you should scan at least every 5-7 days with slower connections it is still suggested but not as important since the slower systems are more likely to be left alone.

One Interesting bit of information many of the new hackers come from Romania, and they are accepted to be the best or among the best in the world.

Relevant article:
Tackling the hackers face-to-face (BBC)
Cyber criminals move focus to web (BBC)