anti virus/anti spyware programs

[jlaak5]

My computer seems to have slowed down considerably in the past few weeks.  The question I have is in regards to Anti Virus/Anti Spyware programs.

I am currently using AVG 8.5 for my antivirus, and for the spyware programs I am using Spyware Blaster/Super Antispyware/Spybot Search & Destroy/Malwarebytes Antimalware.

My question is this...........are the free programs sufficient, or are the programs available for purchase able to do a better job of detection?

My OS is Windows XP Home.

If anybody has any feedback, I would appreciate it, or if there are any tips on speeding up my computer that would be great too!

Thanks,

Jim

[Karnac]

The free programs are sufficient..... Only run one antivirus program, one firewall, and use a couple of good antispyware programs and alternate their usage as no program will catch all threats.

Couple of good articles.....

http://evilfantasy.wordpress.com/2008/05/24/slow-computer-it-may-not-be-malware/

http://www.malwareremoval.com/tutorials/runningslowly.php

[Allan]

One AV in conjunction with Spyware Blaster, MalwareBytes & Super AntiSpyware should be fine (though AVG may not be the best AV). More important, however, is "smart computing" (know where you go on the internet, what emails to open and not, etc).

[jlaak5]

Thanks ADG,

What would you recommend for a AV?

[Allan]

As a free program I guess Avast or Avira are pretty good. I use Kaspersky on all my systems (not cheap, but I trust it / them implicitly)