Secretly, I do it too. But I strongly preach against it to end users that don't really know what they are doing in computers.

I have been into computer since the first ones came out (long before there was "the internet") and have a good idea how to stay out of trouble. I too run Zone Alarm, Pest Patrol and SwatIt as well as Norton Corporate.

Hey, I may be paranoid but nobdy has gotten into it either. My family PCs on the other hand...

I also build multimedia servers based on either Windows or Linux so I am a sort of renasiance guy in the PC world I guess. I have been a Studio Engineer and Facility Engineer for a post house as well as being with NBC for over 16 years so I am all over the place. Some day I'll pick one field I suppose.

Currently I am a certified Avid editor (in my spare time) and in Broadcast sales with a major AV dealer in Ohio.

Anyway, I tell folks and beg folks, and still they think they can do it all on one machine (without an inside support person) and not miss any work on their Avid...Oh well. I keep cashing the checks so I suppose it's all OK with me.

Caveat Emptor and Carpe Feline (Seize the cat)

Sean

I agree that it is not good practice, but I am also one of those hippocrits that does it as well :). I too use my editing station for graphic/web design.

As others mentioned, be sure to do regular virus scans and check for spyware. I use both spybot and ad-aware as they seem to sometimes "catch" different things.