how can i protect my computer from threats (viruses etc.)?

Well there's plenty of free options for security. You should try Avira or Avast for an antivirus. For anti-spyware you should get Malwarebytes. As long as you keep them updated and do regular scans your computer should be fine.

http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware...

http://www.free-av.com/

You Can download AVG as in another answer but also go to www.threatfire.com and download threatfire it is designed to work with other antivirus and spyware programs it does not work like most antivirus programs which protect from known viruses it protect against behavior if some program or site is acting in a suspicious manner it will stop action and tell you and ask wheter to block it or let it continue if it is a program you trust let it continue if not tell it to block the action

I have used it for 2 months has stopped 5 viruses and 3 attacks

I will recommend the following security programs to protect your computer from threats :--

1. Kaspersky antivirus for the viruses issues

2. Malwarebytes for the malwares issues

3. Superantispyware for the spywaers issues.

Please update all these above softwares before start the scanning process.

You can protect your computer from virus or other malwares by following these steps .

1 Download and intall the AVG 8.0 on your computer .

2 Update your AVG antivirus software .

3 Scan your computer with AVG antivirus software

4 Remove all the malwares , found while scanning with the AVG .

5 Restart your computer .

This will protect your computer from all virus or malwares.

Norton is, in my opinion, the worst anti-virus ever. I think this because it slows down your system a LOT, it cost's money when there are many other BETTER anti-virus programs out that are free, and when if you have it installed too long and a virus screws something up, it becomes nearly impossible to uninstall.

Some programs I would suggest are(from top to bottom):

AVG Free (http://free.avg.com/download?prd=afe)

Avast (http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html)

And for Ad-ware/spyware:

Ad-Aware (http://www.lavasoft.com/)

Spybot (http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html)

Good luck. Hope this helped!

Yea there are free ones like the ones listed above and also Microsoft has a good program called windows defenders and workers perfect.http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamil... You can buy it if you want for a little more features but the free one is pretty good

How to Prevent Viruses from Intruding Your Computer

http://how2.uuuq.com/How%20to%20Prevent%20Viruses%...

Useful Firefox Add-Ons for Secure and Fast Browsing

http://how2.uuuq.com/Useful%20Firefox%20Add-Ons%20...

Windows Security Tips to detect the virus and delete it manually

http://how2.uuuq.com/Windows%20Security%20Tips%20t...

I would say you use a software called Malware.

Click the link below to download it for free.

http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware...

It is a great anti-virus software that you can download.

DOwnload AVG. Its free and its all I use. It scans your computer regularly and will get rid of infections

Here's the link, hope it helps

http://free.avg.com/

please rate!