The FBI is teaming with the computer industry to help American companies and regular Internet users prevent the 20 worst computer threats -- from the "Code Red" worm to the "Melissa" virus.

The FBI also announced Monday it's putting computer security tips for home users on the National Infrastructure Protection Center's Web site with the intention of making it a one-stop shop for home users confused by most security terms. "The challenge right now is that (home users) either go to a vendor, or they go to a site that's too techie for them, so they give up," said Alan Paller, research director at the Sans Institute, working with the government on the project. All the recent Internet viruses took advantage of well-known program vulnerabilities, and the government hopes to get users and companies to patch them before the next virus appears. The list, compiled with the help of over 50 computer security experts, addresses software bugs in Unix and Microsoft Windows operating systems, as well as many common mistakes. These include using simple passwords and not backing up critical data. The all-purpose fix will help counter the thousands of hacking tools that scan through the Internet looking for vulnerable computers. Both the list and the fixes can be found on the nonprofit Sans Institute Web site. The institute's Paller said the Top 20 scanner can be obtained for free by sending an e-mail to the Center for Internet Security, using instructions found on the Sans Institute Web site at http://www.sans.org.