Security pros have other favorite Firefox add-ons that are immediately downloaded once Firefox is on a new laptop. Not all of them are specifically for security, but they are typically tools security pros use to do their jobs.

Robert Fuller, a Washington DC-based pen tester and security blogger, also grabs such add-ons as Adblock Plus, which blocks ads and banners on the Internet that often take longer to download than everything else on the page [including needed security programs]; Web Developer and Firebug, which integrates with Firefox to give the users extra development tools they can use while browsing. It allows the user to edit, debug and monitor CSS, HTML and JavaScript live in any Web page.

Kevin Riggins, senior information security analyst at Des Moines, Iowa-based Principal Financial Group, says he needs certain programs to allow him the "full Web experience," like Flash and QuickTime. And while Apple's iTunes is seen by some IT shops as a security risk, many of those interviewed say they are quick to add it to new machines.

The reasons go beyond simply the user's desire to hear music or watch videos while working. A growing number of security practitioners produce their own podcasts, videos and blogs to share information with peers and raise security awareness among the general user population. Programs like QuickTime and iTunes therefore become neccesary tools of the trade.

Step 4: Search for all needed Windows patches IT security administrators who responded to our query said they just assume there are old security flaws lurking on new machines, so one of the first actions they take is to run Windows Update to search whatever patches the machine needs.

Atlanta-based security practitioner Ariel Silverstone, a regular columnist at CSOonline, notes that he goes looking to install "180 Microsoft patches."

David Curry, head of information risk management at Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, says he "runs Windows Update" until there are simply no more updates to be found.

Some use third-party flaw finders to see what needs patching (e.g. Secunia's Personal Software Inspector).

Step 5: Customize your AV/firewall package This one will strike the reader as obvious, to say the least. After all, these are the security basics. But there are a lot of different antivirus and firewall products on the market, so it's useful to see what different security pros choose.

Silverstone prefers AVG Internet Security for Windows machines and ClamAV for boxes running the Ubuntu operating system. AVG Technologies pitches the software as "real-time protection" against viruses, spyware and other garden-variety malware. ClamAV is an open-source antivirus toolkit for UNIX, designed especially for e-mail scanning on mail gateways. It is owned by Sourcefire, provider of the popular Snort IDS tool.