AV - Avast and AVG are both good free programs for home users. The recent comparison tables show them roughly as good as each other for detections.
FW - I would usually recommend the ZoneAlarm free version, but I’ve been hearing some very good things about the Sunbelt Personal Firewall (formally Kerio) recently. You install the full version and it reverts to the free version after a trial period.
AS - Can’t go wrong with a combination of Lavasoft’s Adware and Spybot Search & Destroy. These are two of the oldest so are usually the first place people send new malware samples to. Hijack This is also good for tracking down the tricky stuff.
Although the FW will help, one of the most important things to do to keep your home computer secure is keep up to date with OS an application patches. Almost all modern viruses and hack attacks use these vulnerabilities to gain access to a system, because people are getting better about not opening random email attachments.
Lute - Yes, in my last post I was only referring only to software firewalls. I wouldn’t deem a hardware FW necessary for the average home user. Many will have one on their router anyway.
