Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 is a safe and secure web browser that is suitable for production usage. It is the most patched and updated web browser on the market with the largest share of users worldwide. I use it on occasion and I feel safe doing so. Disabling unnecessary ActiveX and toolbars along with add-ons helps to keep the web browser running smoothly.
I use Symantec Norton 360 version 4 along with paid versions of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Super Anti-Spyware Professional. I also downloaded and installed EMET, Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer, FileHippo, and Secunia PSI. These essential utilities keep me very safe and secure even while running Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit as an Administrator.
The problem with free antivirus, anti-malware, and anti-spyware software is that they don't compete against their paid commercial versions for the very best protection possible. Then, there are the annoying reminders to buy them to receive the maximum level of protection available from each software vendor. Or, there are limitations that are imposed for trial software. These are the factors that motivated me to buy my security software. I very rarely run into viruses, spyware, or malware and when I do get an infection, my security software cleans it out quickly and effectively.
For those that don't want to pay for protection, I say that you may want to reconsider because your life is on your computer nowadays and you deserve the very best protection available. That costs money. Even being very careful is not enough with the number of hideous dangers available on the Internet or your local area connected network.
Of course, there are plenty of bad software applications that break computers or wind up bricking them. AVG Free 2011 did so which required its users to take complex steps to resolve the problem.