Traveling brings its own set of perils for your laptop computer. And, with the help of the folks at PC Tools, we’ve got some tips for safe computing while on the road.

First, I checked out PC Tools’ flagship product, Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus for Windows. Running it on the laptop I usually carry while traveling, Spyware Doctor sniffed out 12 tracking cookies and three adware cookies that were not detected by Norton AntiVirus.

These types of cookies are considered low risk. But I don’t like cookies that store and send any information on surfing habits or bring on the ad blitzes.

Fortunately, no viruses were found. But Spyware Doctor will go after viruses, spyware, adware, trojans, worms, keyloggers and other nasty things that can cause you hours of headaches and lost data. There’s also an interesting free plug-in, Behavior Guard, available for the software. Behavior Guard detects zero-day threats without signatures—those attacks that are not known or haven’t been seen before.

The interface is sleek and easy to navigate.

Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus 2010 for Windows sells for a reasonable $39.95 for a one-year license. And for a limited time, it can be installed on up to three computers for the price of a single license.

Now, on with the tips—and a few notes of my own—as Americans embark on as many as 330 million trips this summer, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

10 PC Tools Summer Travel Tips

1. Be careful what you post. Thieves could follow your vacation plans through your social networks and keystrokes and could break into your home while you are away. So be sure to set your privacy settings on high. (I just have to shake my head when I see some of the details my friends post about when they’ll be away from their homes. This is one of the best tips of all.)

2. Know your networks.  Choose the safest and most appropriate wireless network while you’re checking email, Facebook and other online activities. (Don’t fall for ad-hoc networks I often see in airports that are called “Free Public Wi-Fi” or something along those lines. They can be hooked up to someone else’s computer to steal all your personal data. Many airports do offer free public wi-fi, but the network usually isn’t called that.)

3. Be smart when using public computers. Most travelers know they can check emails and say hello to love ones by using public computers at a local hotel or café. But many don’t know to check for antivirus software on these public  computers. Even visiting a secure website (https: ) can result in simple keylogger theft of your password, so avoid logging into personal accounts (such as Facebook) and instead limit your use to online research.

4. Safeguard your finances. Cybercriminals can snatch your banking information over Wi-Fi or unreliable third party online networks, so don’t log onto your finance accounts or enter monetary information online over unsecured networks.

5. Change your password often. Cybercriminals can potentially crack your password if you are using WiFi or a third-party computer.

6. Avoid file-share websites. Be careful uploading your vacation pictures and videos on these kinds of web sites, as they can leave you vulnerable to viruses and malware. (As I mentioned, PC Tools has products with behavioral protection to stop threats that have never been seen before. )

7. Turn on the firewall. A firewall protects your computer by preventing unauthorized users from gaining access to your computer through the Internet or a network.

8. Don’t click and run. If you download a map or ticket, save it on your computer and scan it before opening. Never click on the “run” program option. 

9. Stay in safe places. If you’re traveling to a foreign country, be careful about international domains, for example those for Russia (.ru) which are frequently used by cybercriminals who want to avoid prosecution in the USA and UK.

10. Keep your AntiVirus current. There’s nothing worse than coming home with summer memories only to find malware installed in your computer that prevents you from enjoying them!