I dumped Norton a couple of years ago and use AVG which has worked great. I would also recommend coupling that with Malwarbytes, Spybot, Ad Blocker and a good firewall. Running the NoScripts application if using Firefox is also a good idea.

Two things I would like to mention: 1) In addition to Microsoft Security Essentials and AVG free antivirus programs mentioned in the article, another decent free one is called Avast. All three of them were recommended by Consumer Reports two or three years ago. 2) Microsoft word programs can be opened with a wonderful FREE office productivity suite called OPEN OFFICE. If you haven't used Open Office, you should try it and download a copy. It can do easily 85% to 90% or more of what Microsoft Excel and Word can do and unless you are a professional user using it for work every day, you will never notice what little there is missing. I use Open Office and I find it to be an excellent free alternative to Microsoft Office. And it's $450 that I don't have to spend.

The best free anti-virus is Microsoft Security Essentials, hands down. All the other ones feature annoying pop-ups, upgrade prompts and other annoying things that are unnecessary.

I don't put much faith in Consumer Reports for things that most consumers really don't know much about (cameras, audio, computers, sports cars, etc) unless you want the minimal level of them. They just are not into it. ........................................................................................................................................................................................ I read several security and windows newsletters and they all recommend Microsoft Security Essentials. They and the testers that they know indicate that it works really well and is simple. I have used the full price packages in the past and they have had nasty issues of messing up the computers and software.