I suck at Windows.

[darcyl]

Antivirus
Norton/McAffee - BAD, avoid like the plague.
AVG - GOOD, definately download it.

Firewall
The only benefit that Zone Alarm has over Windows built in firewall is that it will block outgoing traffic as well (so if your machine gets infected, it won't turn into a zombie and start trying to attack other boxes). But Windows firewall is good enough.

PC vs Mac Comments
I'm sure glad that I don't have to worry about viruses and firewalls on my Mac! Of course, I also wish that when something goes wrong with one component I didn't have to have my entire logic board replaced, or have to wait a full week to actually enjoy my Mac because only authorized repair depots can do the work and the parts need to come in from the states. There's always tradeoffs...


DL

 

[htdefiant]

Antivirus
Norton/McAffee - BAD, avoid like the plague.

I could not have said it any better myself

 

[Cam]

If you've got a decent firewall I don't think anti virus software is really important. My computer is online 12 hours a day using nothing but windows firewall and it chuggs away quite happilly! I'd recommend slipstreaming the lastest version of windows onto a new cd and reinstalling it but you dont sound like you're all that competent! I spent years building computers for my family and extended family and the only difficult bit would be updating windows, because my cd version of xp didn't have a firewall. I'd end up having to install windows 3 or 4 times on a computer becasuse it kept on messing up! You'll like windows, there's a lot more freedom to get what you want done done.

 

[surfwax95]

...but you dont sound like you're all that competent!

You just gave me waaaay too much credit when it comes to Windows.

 

[wytwolf]

Well the zone alarm has become too popular for it's own good. It's the number #1 target for sypware and viruses. Like windows popularity has come to shoot it's self in the foot. Spyware and viruses will deactivate or hijack the zone alarm firewall.

 

[Kilted1]

I've used avast on all my pc's since last year it's free and updates itself

http://www.avast.com

 

[NanoBite]

I blame Bill Gates and the internet for all this.

 

[[email protected]]

DON'T USE NORTON AV! I used it for a long time...until a virus totally blew up Norton AV and the Norton Firewall! It ran right by and it took me a month to get the whole mess cleaned up.

As a long, long time PC user I suggest the following:

AV: Bitdefender Free Edition...it's free and probably the best AV program available. It stops most viruses cold. I downloaded it after Norton let my system get infected and it was successful in keeping the virus from spreading any further. Try this program ASAP in order to find out if your computer is still infected. There is also an online version that you can use for a quick scan to evaluate your current situation.

Firewall: Since you're not familiar with Windows, I would suggest just using the Windows Firewall. If you think you can handle something a little more in depth, use the Free Zonealarm Firewall. It still works great even though it's been around a long time.

Anti-Spyware: Spybot & ad-aware. Both are free and work great.

Is it necessary to have all of this? If you're not familiar with Windows and your girlfriend was successful in infecting your computer in one try, I would say yes, these are all needed. Make sure to keep them all update on a weekly basis though. And make sure you are actively scanning, using the deepest technology available for each program, at least once a week.

Cheers.