What antivirus program so you recommend?

[Becky Sue]

I ordered a new Dell desktop this evening. I chose to order it without antivirus program.
I will buy Norton antivirus and install it unless you experts think I should chose another one.
Also is it better to install the antivirus program and the firewall program seperate(stand alone). Or should I buy Norton Internet Securities, and install?
I have been reading on Amazon.com other customers replies of all the problems they had while installing Norton Internet Securities 2006. Now I am nervous to buy and install it, for fear that I will have lots of trouble with it.
I know just enough about computers to get myself in trouble. Sad thing is I know more about computers than all my friends and family. they all look to me for information.
As you can see I am a worry wart. sometimes I make more trouble for myself, worrying!
Thanks for your advice.

[Ninane]

Download Avast and Adaware - it's free. I find McAfee better than Norton, also cheaper. Are you using Windows XP as OS?

[Kent]

Unless you feel compelled to buy AV or running commercial enterprise on this computer, I'd recommend going with grisoft's AVG free version. (http://free.grisoft.com/doc/Get+AVG+FREE/lng/us/tpl/v5) It works well for a number of people I know.

[slimndown]

AVG is great anti virus software. We pretty much use free software. AVG does the grunt work looking for viruses - anything it doesn't catch, Microsoft Anti Spy will. I highly recommend using Sygate personal firewall - you can find it if you type the name in the search engine. I install this baby first thing when I reload the operating system on my computer and it tells me when I'm being attacked. Best of all - ITS FREE!!!!!

[Perry]

Symantec Anti-Virus - hands down. Adaware and Sypbot for spyware. If you're running a router you'll automatically have added protection. Always keep up to date with Microsoft patches.

[matawguro]

I'm with Kent on AVG. The free version is the only anti-virus software I use. AVG coupled with safe surfing practices and keeping up to date with Windows security updates has kept me virus free for years.

[Perry]

Free software is a good thing. For the normal home user I usually recommend a more established product. On the other hand, I'm a Mac user and don't have the security issues that most Windoze users have.

Robbie, can you expand on your safe surfing practices?

[2big4mysize]

Becky Sue check with your internet provider many are now offereing free McAfee firewalls and antivirus since they have discovered protecting their customers from viruses protects them. I know both AOL and comcast offer it.

I would have recommeneded PC cillian but there is no customer service nor tech support other then emails and the 2005 has a serious issue with older PCs accessing the net. since it had been over a month of nothing other then their automated reply about it I'm never recommending them to anybody.

[womanpraised]

Vitamin C, chicken and veggie soup, and lots of hand washing.

[Brook]

I'm an EZ Antivirus girl, myself. I've been using it for 7 years now and wouldn't change for anything. It's caught things that Nortons and McAfee haven't on friends puters, it's not as inflated - both $$ and resource wise.