So probably the majority of questions I get asked are about antivirus or spyware.
Let's make this simple, Viruses and Spyware (generally referred to as Malware) are the leading cause of computer problems. If you use Windows you are vulnerable to them. They will slow your computer down, keep track of every little thing you do, pretty much whatever someone thinks would be funny or profitable.
So to answer this problem hundreds of companies have stepped up to generously sell you yearly licences to products that help remove or prevent your computer from being infected.
However there are plenty of great free programs available for download.
Antivirus:
Personally, I run AVG free 8.0. It is a tidy and easy to use program that is easily customizable yet by default is strong enough to do almost anything. It will scan e-mails and attachments, daily or weekly scanning, and automatic updates.
I used to run Avast! but found it to clunky. The user interface was not as easy and by default the program announced when it did simple tasks like update.
Spyware:
As for spyware I definitely suggest Spybot Search & Destroy. It has a solid interface and is easy for a novice to setup or it has a long list of advanced features for those who know what they are doing. My only suggestion is during install to unclick the realtime protection "TeaTimer" option. If you leave this on you will be a bit safer but you will be hounded with question boxes every time you try to do pretty much anything.
Other than these two program the best advice I can give is watch what you are browsing\clicking on. You may also want to use a browser other than Internet Explorer. FireFox or Opera offer a lot more features and a lot less bugs.
