NEVER open email from anyone you don't know.

NEVER give out personal info to an inquiery via email. Call the company\institution in question or go to the company site you have bookmarked to verify they have indeed contacted you to validate.

NEVER click the link embedded into an email from any company to avoid phishing tactics.

Possible consequences of ignnoring above advice


NEVER click on any popup that appears on your desktop.

NEVER use the 'Close' button, instead use the Windows "X" (upper right corner) to close a pop up ad that looks like a Windows warning.

You may already be infected, see here on what to do next:

I think I'm infected, what now?


NEVER surf without av\firewall or anti-spyware security apps, all properly updated, as well as an updated OS.

NEVER click 'OK' to a download box, unless you know what it is for.

NEVER DL anythng without first reading the EULA.

NEVER DL anything without first checking it out.(forums, magazines, reviews)

Possible consequences of ignnoring above 4 items of advice


NEVER surf the web without getting more security tips and information at TeMerc Internet Countermeasures

Great and simple summary
Although you should also be careful with emails that you get from people whom you know (attachments, links etc.) as they might have been infected.

And I also like that last point

Yeah, the last one was rather sweet.

I didn't see anything regarding the latest attacks on IM's listed ie: never accept friend requests you dont know, Never open attachments and links in IM's that you dont trust.

Edit: I forgot to add social networking sites to the above such as Facebook etc. where you can be the victim of not only Malware but ID fraud too.

Just thought these were valid NEVER entries to add too.

Funny, I was looking at that and thinking the same thing, I need to update it.