Rather than use the Windows firewall if you are running XP you could install Zonealarm which is free and the most popular firewall out there. If you have Vista then the Windows firewall is good. This is because the Windows XP firewall only stops incoming traffic but allows anything already on your computer to phone home when ever it needs to. Vista stops inbound and outbound unless you have allowed it.

You make no mention of an anti virus. If you have not got one then you need to get something installed in a hurry, like yestyerday. Avast or Avira are great and both are free.

Alternately you could install the new MS program linked below that takes care of everything. This is a new venture, I have it on one of my computers at the moment and see no ill effects.

Here is a link that might be useful: Microsoft Security Essentials

owbist, when you say the MS program takes care of everything, just what does that mean. What would I get rid of if I go that route. I'm actually looking for advice on which route to go. I know I want the computer to be secure, but I don't really understand what each of the programs do, or how so I look to the people on this forum for guidance. By the way, thanks for the guidance!

I found the link below to be useful. The article talks about disinfecting a virus laden pc using nothing but free tools readily available on the internet.

Here is a link that might be useful: Computerworld - Defensive Computing by Michael Horowitz

Advice. You may get 10 replies each suggesting something different, all will be valid. All legitimate programs do a pretty good job of protecting you so any suggestion made in this thread will be worthy of consideration. I have no absolute preference, I run different things on 3 computers just because I can and that gives me guidance when offering help.

Any anti virus works automatically and as it suggests it keeps viruses at bay, it updates and then scans at a predetermined time each day assuming the computer is running. Mine run about 3 a.m. For me the top 2 are Avast and Avira but I still keep AVG on one machine.

Anti malware mostly do not run or update automatically unless one buys the pro version. Currently the top 2 seem to be Malwarebytes and Superantispyware. There are others. These need to be manually updated periodically and ran. By default they all seem to be set to the quick scan because folks are impatient, I set mine to do full scan and go gardening or eating or anything else. Computer security is not a race. And despite the security programmers best efforts the bad guys always seem to stay slightly ahead.

Firewall. It is your safety barrier keeping the bad guys out and stopping those that sneak by from phoning out or using your computer as part of a botnet sending Spam all over the place. As stated in the previous post Zonealarm is the most popular. I tried Comodo but felt it needed more hands on attention than I needed to mess with. Also tried PC Tools firewall but is seemed to hog resources and cause issues on my XP machine. These conflicts can be on one machine but not on others.

Microsoft Security Essentials. As I said earlier, this is a new beast on the block. I have it on my Windows 7 computer and most reports seem favourable. Some doubters no doubt see it as another MS mess but to each his own.

Ccleaner - previously known as Crap cleaner until it became popular and needed respectability - is a great tool to clean out temp files, cookies and other junk that accumulates as you surf around the internet. Another is ATF and members here like it.

If your computer has Vista (does it?) then by default you will have Windows Defender installed. This is a good program and is fully automatic regarding updates and scans. However I would caution you to just verify it is running about once a month, more if you are nervous, jst to be sure things are doing as they should.

I've seen this more and more by PC tech writers so I'm linking to an article about pc security and how best to achieve it. I believe Michael Horowitz also wrote about it in an earlier column for Computerworld.

Here is a link that might be useful: Washington Post - Brian Krebbs' Security Fix blog

The link graylight provided is well worth the time it takes to read if anyone is serious about keeping a computer clean.

First thing is make sure you are rid of it? as it tends to leave just enough behind imbedded to give you problems, then download a good AV/anti virus, I use AVG Free it's great,yes, I have malewarebytes, but you should still have a good AV.

you will need to run the norton removal tool for your version of norton and take some extra removal steps since norton does not remove fully by using the add remove programs option.
Download and run the Norton Removal Tool
you can also get the free REVO uninstaller and run it in addition which should help remove any of the extra bits.
Revo Uninstaller
You may also need to go into your explorer to program files and see if you still find norton or symantec listed there and delete those files.

I use AVAST free for Antivirus, superantispyware and malwarebytes free for antimalware, sypwareblaster free for added protection (no scans to do with it just hit update once a week then enable all protection button)
Zone alarm pro as my firewall but zone alarm free is good just be sure not to get any of the included extras like toolbars etc they try to give you during install.
How to download and install Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware application for Windows computers
SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition
SpywareBlaster
avast! Home Edition
on the left on that page are 2 pdf files you will need to read one is how to install and insert your registration key and one is a user guide on how to use it.
additional info for AVAST can be found here
How to Install, Configure, and Use Avast Antivirus
ZoneAlarm firewall - Tutorial

That's what I love about these forums. So much great advice. I apologize that I didn't say upfront that I'm running Windows XP. I'm going to spend the weekend reading the articles that were recommended. I have to say I am guilty of running the quick scan on those programs. I quess because it's the highlighted scan I just assumed it was recommended. But, the full scan makes total sense. I'm going to do full scans today!

AVG Free Home version, is by far more comprehensive and a better AV then Avast. tried avast yrs. ago, but will stick with AVG, it's awesome!!!

I beg to differ on the AVG. I have fixed way too many computers that AVG has allowed virus to cause way too many problems. I would never recommend AVG to anyone. There are others that are better. One is Avast, another is Avira, and right now, I have the free Comodo on one machine, and have been using it for a yr or so. It has done an excellent job. Good Luck :-)Cat

Most tech support people who help with pc's for a living use and recommend AVG, and I have been using it for about 8 yrs. NP's what so ever! (different strokes for different folks as they say!) and I have personally helped many people get rid of nasty norton, and to download AVG..

AVG was once an excellent product, I am one of those that did recommend it (and used it), till they began adding too much to it with version 8 that is when they lost a huge number of their loyal users. The problems were very real and very serious. I am on many many help forums and after the problems with version 8 the norm has changed to recommending AVAST and AVIRA over AVG with out question.
The individuals that were lucky and did not encounter problems can not rule out the facts that so many many people did have issues and did have to change to another Antivirus program. On the BBR forum alone there were numerous threads on the security forum detailing the issues and pages of users who stated why they were moving to another AV.
I've ditched AVG 8

installing it without linkscanner and some of the other added components is somewhat better and AVG even lists how to do this in their FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions

decisions are personal and always should be made with full knowledge.

I like the simplicity of Microsoft Security Essentials so I downloaded it onto one of my home computers and one at my business. At home I also downloaded Zonealarm, but when I tried to download at the business it said I had to disable Cisco VPN which I have on the computer for business reasons. My questions are: Am I covered on the home computer now? And also, should I just use the Windows firewall on the business computer? The Cisco program was installed by a company we do business with and I really can't disable it.

did you follow the directions I gave for the full removal of your Norton? if not it will cause problems.

if you are using a business computer it is against all the terms of agreement to use any of the free programs on it, they are for personal home use only.

You will also still need the malwarebytes, superantispyware, and spywareblaster. Those you must remember to open weekly hit update to get the latest updates then run full scans and let it clean what it finds, spywareblaster does not do scans you simply update it and then enable all protection.

Oops, sorry! Didn't even think about not using free programs on the business computer. But, your saying that even with MSE I still need SuperAntispyware, Adaware and Spybot on my home computer?

I did not mention spybot or adaware sorry no I do not use those any longer, but yes I sure would still use Malwarebytes, superantispyware, and spywareblaster.

I never ever trust only one product and especially MSE since it is relatively new.

The others are well known and excellent at what they do. Our security must be layered, we have various programs to catch what one may let pass, with out layered protection you are at the mercy of one program and many infections now are constructed to disable security programs so if you only have one well then you have none.