Basic security advice.

[Den]

With all the attacks,trojans,viruses, which seem to be lurking out on
the (Internet)  network (Back Orifice, Net Bus, DOS, etc.), are there
some fundamental precautions one can take (as a dial-up Internet user)
to protect their Linux system? Or is Linux inherently less susceptible
to such attacks? (I realize Back Orifice and Net Bus are M$ problems).

TIA