We can take it one thing at a time if you like.Most of what you have been told to do is easy and will help your system run faster and smoother.
Number 1,and nowadays this is an ABSOLUTE PRIORITY,get a firewall!!! I use ZoneAlarm and can not recommend it highly enough.You can get a free version here:
http://www.uant.net/firewall/zonealarmguide.html
Download the free version and I will help you get it set up.
Another free program I highly recommend is AVG Anti-Virus (As far as I am concerned another ABSOLUTE neccessity,you can get a copy here:
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
These 2 programs work incredibly well together
Ok,now you have your homework,download these 2 programs. Be careful with ZoneAlarm,the wrong setting can kill your Internet connection.
I will help you set it up,but once you activate it,it will start asking you what you want to do and until we get set up,click yes to everything.
When you have done this you can post here again or email me directly.
The most IMPORTANT piece of information in this post is this:
Do NOT be "scared to mess with this stuff "
Just remember one thing...
no matter where you go...
there you are...
And there's always a way out!!!