Computer hygiene is important, but the paid-for protection programs are often worse than the ones you can get for free.  We have solved a lot of our clients' computer problems by removing Norton/Symantec programs.

 

This is what we have each of our clients do to prevent malware; we recommend once a week, but even once a month would do for most folks.  Once installed, and you are familiar with it, it takes 3-5 minutes each time.

 

1.  Delete temporary internet files.

 

2.  Delete the contents of the Temp folder for each user, as well as the Windows Temp folder.

 

3.  Install Windows Defender; check to see if it is working properly each week. (Vista has this pre-installed.) 

 

4.  Install Spybot; run weekly, delete/fix anything it finds.

 

5.  Install Ad-Aware; run weekly, & delete/fix anything it finds. (I prefer the "older" version, but the latest one is available here.)

 

6.  Install AVG-Free; check to see if it is working properly each week. 

 

7.  Run Microsoft Update (run Windows Update and upgrade to Microsoft Update); select "Custom", and install all updates from all three categories:  High Priority; Software, Optional; and Hardware, Optional.

 

8.  Run msconfig.com (Click Start, Run; type "msconfig").  Make sure that no new programs have been added to your start-up routine—or if they have, you know what they are and why they are there.

 

We have a folder already set up to make all this simple for our clients, with shortcuts to everything they need to do.  We also provide detailed, click-by click instructions for each step. 

 

All these programs are free, and don't require subscription payments of any kind.  Several of them have paid versions, but there is no reason to get those paid versions.

 

We also recommend two free programs that you only have to run once. These are from Gibson Labs, and they close security holes that exist on many systems. The two are:
 
Shoot the Messenger
 
Unplug 'n' Pray