What is the best free protection for my PC?

I have a home computer that is currently unprotected in any way. I am running windows XP if it helps.

I am computer stupid and this is my first. Needless to say I do not understand what I need & what this computer lingo is that I must protect against. I understand I cannot run 2 antivirus programs but I do not get what the difference is between those that people recommend. Spy bot, adware, firewall, antivirus etc etc etc- Sorry I don't get it??? Is there one that does it all?

Could someone please tell me in plain english what I need, a link to how to get it. If you include 2or more options of the same thing and then go on to additional things I need, could you number it so I understand that it all does different things?

**Something important to me is that it doesn't bog my PC down considerably (it's older) and easy to run. I do run Ccleaner biweekly, scan disk and defrag weekly and it helps a lot.

2008-11-16T21:24:24Z

Will Avira detect and remove viruses? How about the little sheild that put itself on my toolbar telling me I have viruses that I know I don't? I was running the demo version of Windows Live One Care and the sheild told me it was off all the time when it wasn't! Is this just gonna be an inconvience I must deal with?

2008-11-16T21:30:58Z

I installed Avira, it seemed like most agreed that was the way to go, thanks :o)

I also installed 1 anti spyware (malewarebytes) BUT i don't know what it does for me...No I am not blonde LOL!

I MAY have a firewall already, I will have to check.

I don't have a prob with pop-ups etc.

And to the Mac fan...thanks, I can't afford a Mac right now & don't understand them at all, my girlfriend swears by them too. For now I will stick to my PC.

Anonymous2008-11-16T20:43:08Z

Favorite Answer

Like you said make sure you only have one antivirus and one firewall
But you can have more than one antispyware

I'm going to stick with freeware with my answer so if you want paid antiviruses I would recommend either Kaspersky or Nod32

Freeware
1. Antiviruses
I would recommend either Avira Antivir Free or Avast! Home Edition
Avira is easier to use and has a slightly higher detection rate
http://www.free-av.com/
Avast! has boot time scanning and email scanning
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

Also I would NOT get AVG free since it has a lower detection rate than the other two free antiviruses. Also it has NO Anti-Rootkit

2. AntiSpywares(you can have more than one antispyware)
I would get a backup antispyware even if you get Avast!(which as antispyware) or get the paid antiviruses and antispyware
The free versions can detect and remove
Malwarebytes AntiMalware
http://www.download.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html
and
SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/

3. Prevention
I would recommend switching to Firefox from Internet Explorer since Firefox is more secure and has more addons
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/

Get a webadvisor
MyWot tells you if a site is good or bad
http://www.mywot.com/

Get NoScript to block malicious scripts(and all scripts) Optional.
Since NoScript blocks all scripts you will need to add trustworthy sites to your whitelist. When entering a trustworthy site you can go to the bottom right hand corner and "allow yahoo.com"
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/722
Look at the screenshots on the page
NoScript is optional though.

Get a free firewall
You may only have one firewall
ZoneAlarm Free Firewall
http://www.download.com/ZoneAlarm-Firewall-Windows-2000-XP-/3000-10435_4-10039884.html?cdlPid=10864451
OR
Comodo Firewall
Make sure to uncheck the antivirus if you have another antivirus
http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/
Pick only ONE firewall