A coalition of technology companies and others doing business on the Internet have released a list of nine steps they believe consumers and remote workers should take to protect themselves and keep their computers from being used as weapons on the Internet.

The Internet Security Alliance's (ISA) recommendations, published in its new "Common Sense Guide for Home and Individual Users," won't be a surprise to most company system administrators, but some of the steps may be new to many Internet users, according to speakers at a Thursday press conference. In July 2002, the Internet Security Alliance, which represents about 2,500 technology and Internet companies, also released its "Common Sense Guide for Senior Managers."

More consumer education is needed about Internet security, said Orson Swindle, a commissioner with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). He prefers a proactive approach, with publications like the ISA's, instead of consumers finding out about security issues when a virus is making the rounds.

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