Astroman, I don't believe you need to panic, but I do believe you need to take some action.
1. if Norton subscription is running out, you should be able to renew it online through the software. If not, then google for their phone number and call them on the phone to renew the antivirus subscription service.
2. never depend upon Microsoft to protect you from anything... but do keep the critical security updates (2times/month on Tuesdays) installed on your computer
3. if you use a Microsoft email product (Outlook or Outlook Express) go into the settings and be sure that messages are not set to "preview" and not to be marked as "read" after a certain length of time. this will prevent automatic activation of malicious scripts in emails
4. don't send emails to big lists of people, unless you use blind copy. tell your friends they AREN'T friends unless they use blind copy, too. when you receive an email "to" a long list of email addresses, keep in mind you are possibly being automatically added to each of those persons' email address books. then, if one of them gets a virus which mails out the address book contacts, you get the virus mailed to you.
5. and most important - if you use norton antivirus, understand how "Automatic Live Update" works. (In my work, it seems most people have a misunderstanding of this, which could put them at risk unnecessarily.) It will check every day to see if a Live Update virus definition has been posted, and if there is one, will download and install. New definitions are posted on Wednesdays, and frequently more often than once a week. HOWEVER, there are new definitions every day in the form of "Intelligent Updates", which must be downloaded manually by you, and then installed. Frequently the time difference between Live Update and Intelligent Update can be as much as 5 days. If you want protection from the newest viruses, download the Intelligent Update every day! More information at the Help and Support menu on NAV, "Symantec Security Response"
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/
