protecting my PC

[gia003]

Hi,
I have a W7 starter on an HP.
Norton (preinstalled) which nearly expired.
I use my pc quite often to buy things and for online banking operations.
How can protect it from external dangers?
What antivirus?
what malware programme?
what....what else should I do to protect myself from any danger out there.
Please keep answers simple as I am not an expert in this field.
thank you.
G.

[moro]

 there are plenty of completely free protection programs out there. I'd recommend Avast Antivirus Free Edition:
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Avast-Home-Edition.shtml

For Spyware, you could get either Spybot Search & Destroy…or SUPERAntiSpyware http://www.filehippo.com/download_superantispyware/

 Anti-Malware you could get  Malwarebytes from ' http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware.shtml
For a firewall, Comodo Firewall  is decent, http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Firewall/Comodo-Personal-Firewall.shtml

[Allan]

First, please do not follow the advice in the above post.

1) First, we recoomend you do NOT use Spybot - it is old school. For malware we recommend MalwareBytes or SuperAntispyware (regardless of what the above post may indicate, the term "malware" includes spyware ). You should also use SpywareBlaster

2) There are plenty of threads on this forum asking the exact same question. A search on the forum will answer your questions. However, when choosing an antivirus there are plenty of good choices. My favorite is Kaspersky, but it's not free. Among the better free choices are Avira and Avast

3) Most important is "smart computing" - know where you go on the web, don't open email attachments unless you know the source, etc.

4) Last, whenever possible software should be downloaded from the authors' sites, not from third party sites as indicated in the above post.

[moro]

4) Last, whenever possible software should be downloaded from the authors' sites, not from third party sites as indicated in the above post.

Of course, this best
But there are trusted sites:cnet  - softpedia -.........

First, please do not follow the advice in the above post.

sure
Avast -SUPERAntiSpyware -Comodo Firewall -Malwarebytes
not good advice

[gia003]

Thanks Allan. I do understand your advice to go and check old posts.
I  imagine this kind of question must have been posted tens of times... I prefered posting it myself to get a very up-to-date answer since the IT world evolves very fast.
Thanks again.

[Allan]

But there are trusted sites:cnet  - softpedia -.........sure
Avast -SUPERAntiSpyware -Comodo Firewall -Malwarebytes
not good advice

Some of your advice was okay, some was not. We do not want posters to have to try to figure out what makes sense and what doesn't. We've had this conversation in the past, haven't we?

[moro]

I do not deny that I followed the scientific advice from you
But what I said. some of the forum
Eventually   

[Allan]

Ummmm....... yeah, okay.

[faragas]

First, Take an image for your windows 7 in case of system failure

http://computeradvisors.net/windows-7/create-a-system-image-in-windows-7/

Second, Install a good anti virus like kaspersky "Commercial" or avira free antivirus

Then, Keep your windows 7 automatic updated and activate windows firewall for all networks.

Concerning maleware and spyware i prefer Malware bytes

[Allan]

Actually, faragas raises a great point. It has long been my opinion that everyone should use disk imaging software on a regular basis. It is definitely something you should look into.