Internet security software

If you are just trying to protect a single machine connecting to the internet the two applications I generally use for a Windows machine is ClamWin and Avast.

ClamWin is a basic virus scanner which can provide some basic virus monitoring. It is a little difficult to configure, but it is free and Open Source.

Avast is a bit more of a full featured desktop protection software and it is free for non-commercial use (it is around $40 for a single license).

"Best" is a very relative term and it changes over time. However, I have, over the years, used McAfee's Internet Security. They have recently added a few more suites to their line up. I have also tested Norton's security suites such as Internet Security and Norton 360. Which one do I think is the best? If reviews are of any significance, Norton 360 gets the highest ratings from CNET editors but has been trashed by users. Similarly, the most recent version of Kaspersky's Internet Security suite has received the highest ratings from CNET editors. Yet, generally speaking, users seem to have a love-hate relationship with any security software. I have not seen a need to switch away from McAfee's products but if I were to, I would definitely go towards Norton 360.

In a nutshell, you cannot go wrong with either McAfee's or Norton's suites (and probably Kaspersky's suites). Generally, at the minimum, the software you use should have 3 components: anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall. Anything else is just icing on the cake and may not have much significance in the context of your needs. Prices are another issue. May I suggest that you shop around local and online stores (Staples/Staples.com and Outpost.com come to mind)? You can get any of these software for close to nothing after rebates.

Hope that helps.