Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ham Sandwich 
Use Microsoft Security Essentials for AV. Don't go overboard on the software firewall and get something bloated.
The best security though is to keep the computer up to date. Make sure Windows gets updates as soon as they're available and make sure you applications get security updates as soon as they're available. A lot of infections happen because people are using out of date software that has a known vulnerability being used out in the wild.
Run Secunia PSI to scan your computer for vulnerable applications. Update any that are found to be vulnerable.
Run the Filehippo Update Checker as well. It will check a few of the common applications like Flash and Adobe and a few others that are commonly exploited.
There are some applications that are commonly targeted by exploit packs. Make sure those applications stay updated. If you don't need to use one of those high target apps then uninstall it.
Some commons ones to watch for and make sure they're updated:
Java (the full Java, not the JavaScript). Uninstall Java if you don't really need it. If you do need it then keep it up to date. There are active exploits going around right now targeting old versions of Java.
Adobe Reader
Flash
Shockwave
Microsoft Office
Apple QuickTime
RealPlayer
Any web browser or application that has an embedded web browser
+1 on everything said here. Excellent post!
Honestly, the most important thing you can do to keep your system clean is practice constant vigilance, and think about what you're doing online. I have minimal security measures in place (MSE, hardware firewall, default windows firewall). In the past I've used different free AV programs, but apart from that I haven't done anything exotic, security-wise. I have never, in ten solid years of computer usage (and across the eight or nine computers my family has had through the years), suffered a single malware infection. Think about it. If you're ferreting around the backwaters of the Internet (I'm not judging! 
), then the chances you'll come across some nasties are a lot higher. If you're pirating stuff, it's almost a certainty you'll get malware somewhere along the line. But if you keep your nose clean and use common sense (e.g. don't blindly click stuff or open e-mail attachments from people you don't know), then you don't need to do anything ridiculous as far as security. I'm not suggesting you do any of these things. But if you don't, your chances of getting infected are much lower than if you do.
Robbers aren't interested in the house whose lights are on and which has a security sign out front. They're after the low-hanging fruit, like the guy who leaves all his lights off, has no cars in the driveway, and leaves a window open or a spare key under the doormat. Similarly, malware makers have quite enough targets in people who don't care at all about security to waste time trying to barge into your system if you don't come to them first.
And don't buy the "Macs don't get malware" crap if you hear it. OSX consistently falls first in exploitation challenges. The reason it doesn't get infected as often is because it has a fraction of the market share of Windows. It's not a lucrative target for malware makers, but as its popularity, visibility, and the notion that it's impervious increase, chances are good the amount of Mac-focused malware will balloon. Regardless of which platform you use, good old common sense is your best defense.
