New computer. What are my hygiene options and duties?

OK, I should’ve asked this a month ago when I got my new laptop. But now my Norton has expired and I’m getting popup reminders from them every 17 seconds.

Is there freeware out there that’s reliable?

In 14 years with computers, I’ve only ever had one obvious virus that I knew of, and that turned out to be adware that I had unknowingly agreed to download when I downloaded some other software and this was bundled with it, technically with my permission because it was in the fine print of the “terms and conditions” I agreed to. That was next to impossible to remove. But I’ve never had another problem that I know of. So I’m generally pretty good about hygiene.

But I want to keep it that way. Should I pay the $50 Norton fee? Are there better ways to go? I.e., cheaper? Automated is good, but I don’t mind scheduling a scrubbing on a weekly basis or something.

Any and all suggestions are welcome.

I have always used AVG free edition which is automated by default, though you could just run a scan whenever you feel like it instead. In my experience, and according to people more knowledgeable than me, AVG at least equals Norton in its virus protection capacity. With AVG running and a periodic scan with Ad-Aware I have not had any issues with viruses or other malignant processes on my computer for more years than I can remember.

I only use Spybot Search and Destroy. If I do have a problem it can’t fix, I sometimes use AVG.

Another AVG free edition user for the last several years. It seems to work fine.

Avast or AVG. Anything but Norton.

Microsoft Security Essentials is free and works pretty well as far as I can see (on a couple of systems I have installed it on, including my daughters laptop).

Otherwise AVG.

Si

I used to use AVG, until version 8 when it all turned to crap.

I now use Avast. Inevitably that will also turn to unusable nonsense one day, and I shall change again to whatever is coming up behind.

ZoneAlarm for your firewall. Free.

I use the standard Microsoft Firewall and every few months run MalwareBytes and Advanced SystemCare Free or when and if things start to seem unusual, but that is extremely rare.

Download the latest version of Firefox. Disable Internet Explorer.
To disable IE go to: Set Program Access and Defailts, select Custom, set Firefox as the default web browser, and uncheck ‘Enable access’ to IE.

Additionally, download the ‘Web of Trust’ extension for Firefox. Really helps to avoid bad sites you’re unfamiliar with.

Other things to note:
-When you are installing any freeware programs, they often slip in the little ‘checked’ checkbox which allows some random toolbar or software to be installed on your computer. Avoid installing any unnecessary 3rd party software at all costs as they may sometimes be packing something which can make your system or browser vulnerable or even contain a virus.

-Be very cautious when installing software you may download from a private or P2P source.
I live by these simple standards and never encounter any viruses or issues unless I stray away from them. My computer is usually on and online 24 hours of the day. 90% of my use is via web browser, 10+ hours per day on average. If anyone should be getting a virus, it should be me, but I don’t. So long as you follow some simple steps you should be fine and won’t have to install any programs that are required to run in the background (which take up additional CPU).

Another vote for Microsoft Securty Essentials. I was an AVG fan until aout 3 months ago. Their latest version is a real hog & put me off AVG for good. MSE solved all that.

Don’t run as admin (or on Vista or XP, don’t disable UAC). That will do you more good than anything.

There’s a wealth of information in the OP of the new, improved Have a Computer Question? Read this first thread.

Thanks everyone. I downloaded AVG and Ad-Aware. I tried to install the Microsoft thing, but I got an error. I’ll restart in a while and try again.