[workingmom]

Hi.

Excuse my ignorance, but I'm not too knowledgable about computers.

I have a Gateway laptop w/2gB running Vista. My 12 yr old son and I use it for web surfing, he plays some games, I have some Excel spreadsheets and we do some work processing.

I've had the computer for only about two months, and it came with McAfee Internet Security Suite. The trial period on the McAfee software ran out a few days ago, and I'm wondering what I need to replace it with. Should I just buy it McAfee ISS? Is it more protection than I need? Are there other things that are better, and if so, what programs would I need/should I get? I know (from reading this site, thank you very much!) that I already have a built-in firewall. Is that good enough in terms of firewall?

Thank you.

[avengeda7x]

For what you use the pc for, the built in firewall is fine.

i recommend you just get rid of mcafee by uninstalling it, then download and install avast free edition. once you regester with them by passing them your email and confirming it you have a free lifetime anti-virus.
pros include - automatic updates, real time protection, inbound and out bound email scanning.

i have been using it for around 2 years and never let me down yet.

http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

[Cheeseball81]

http://forums.techguy.org/general-se...elp-tools.html

[workingmom]

Thank you, avengeda. But then do I need ant-spyware in addition? EMail protection? Anything else?

[AV1611]

My favorite antispyware is spyware terminator

http://www.spywareterminator.com/

I would also reccommend Advanced WindowsCare, K9 Web protection, and the Opera internet browser.

http://www.iobit.com/advancedwindows...l?Str=download
http://www1.k9webprotection.com/
http://www.opera.com/download/