Getting Started (Look Before You Leap) Before getting caught up in the frenzy of entering sweepstakes and contests, be sure to have computer security as your top priority. Having anti-virus software and appropriate firewalls can make the difference between a fun and profitable pastime or an identity theft nightmare. While having anti-virus software and firewalls is no guarantee against viruses and identity theft, they will go a long way in minimizing the risks associated with entering sweepstakes and contests online. Even with these tools, it is highly recommended that you run spyware and virus scans on your computer files at least weekly and even daily.