the free ones like AVAST, AVIRA etc also have paid versions they make their money from those and are wonderful in that they also offer a free version to help those who can not afford to pay, the free versions have a bit less on them than the paid versions of course. It benefits everyone when each person can have good updated programs on their pc which is why many of the companies do offer a free version. In pay versions Kaspersky is an excellent choice, it is likely the one I would choose if I used a pay version it or Nod 32. I personally use AVAST free on my windows machines and feel it is an excellent product. The main thing to remember is layered security so along with your fully updated Antivirus you also need good antimalware programs like malwarebytes and superantispyware which are also free which should be updated and run full scans once a week or so. In addition having spywareblaster is another layer that protects you while online and requires no scans just update it weekly and hit the enable all protection button so the shield is green. And of course a firewall, if you have a properly configured router you have a hardware firewall there protecting you but you should have a software one also, vista and windows 7 have a decent one built in. SpywareBlaster SUPERAntiSpyware Free I think you have malwarebytes already? you will of course have to get Trend Micro fully removed from the pc before changing to any other antivirus program. as important these days is to make sure everything is kept updated and patched using Secunia tool makes that easy Secunia Online Software Inspector (OSI)

Well, I believe that they are exceptional, or I wouldn't have used them, but I am expecting that TM Internet Security is going to be doing the same things for me that those other programs would have. In fact, on its first scan, it did find 112 things to fix, which Malwarebytes hadn't found, in spite of my having had it do a scan every morning.

OK, I ran the MBAM and it found nothing. Here is the log: Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.39 Database version: 2421 Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 7/15/2009 10:34:00 AM mbam-log-2009-07-15 (10-34-00).txt Scan type: Full Scan (C:\:) Objects scanned: 194825 Time elapsed: 1 hour(s), 5 minute(s), 50 second(s) Memory Processes Infected: 0 Memory Modules Infected: 0 Registry Keys Infected: 0 Registry Values Infected: 0 Registry Data Items Infected: 0 Folders Infected: 0 Files Infected: 0 Memory Processes Infected: (No malicious items detected) Memory Modules Infected: (No malicious items detected) Registry Keys Infected: (No malicious items detected) Registry Values Infected: (No malicious items detected) Registry Data Items Infected: (No malicious items detected) Folders Infected: (No malicious items detected) Files Infected: (No malicious items detected) Last antivirus update and run was yesterday with nothing reported. I am using AVG free 8.5. Was considering going to Avast from what I've read. My hourglass icon is not staying on as long as it was. Can't remember when I did a defrag on this computer, maybe never. Thought about this when it took so long to run the TrendMicro. Found a Win XP (Simmons) book which should have the instructions. I copied suggestions from ravencajun of Jan 4, 09 and plan on structuring my security along those lines. Also need to find those 17 files that need deleting, "vulnerable"? Hopefully I'm fairly safe for now. Thanks all for your prompt help, you've saved my toast again.

is that a complete suite by trend micro? does it contain an antivirus program as well as a firewall and antispyware? I personally do not like the suites but that is personal preference. Trend micro is a good brand for antivirus. I would not get rid of superantispyware it is a manual scanner and I would continue to update it and do weekly scans. If it has the antivirus and the firewall you could get rid of avast and zone alarm. IF it is just the antivirus you could get rid of avast. Trend Micro offers about 4 different products. IF it is this one Internet Security 2008 it has an antivirus, 2 way firewall and an antispyware. I have no idea about their firewall, how good it is, or their antispyware. That one cost $49.99 a year for 3 computers.