I use the personal over the pro version. -- Have a Happy New Year --

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Among the free anti virus software, AVG 7 Free and Avast 4 are more than adequate. No anti virus program, free or otherwise, is perfect. Both have automatic updates and email scanners. Both run smoothly on most systems, without slowing anything down. You should also know that AVG 7 doesn't delete the virus files but quarantines them to a Virus Vault. When you uninstall AVG 7, it deletes the Vault, viruses and all. Avast 4, provides the option of quarantine to a Virus Chest or deletion. I don't know if there is an advantage to "locking up" a virus. My irrational paranoia says to delete it and get it off my system, but I never had any problem with AVG locked viruses escaping from the Vault. I have used AVG 7 Free for a long time with good results. I am currently using Avast 4 Home Edition to test it. Some people try to go the route of redundancy, and end up with more problems. Only use one anti virus program. Using two or more will create conflict among their detectors and, ultimately, disaster to your system. Both popular browsers, MS Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox have very good anti-spyware and popup remover utilities built in. It is okay to augment these with one anti-spyware program such as Lavasoft's Adware or Spy Killer, but, as I mentioned, redundancy doesn't always pay off. There are many other variables that can lead to undetected viruses, or false detections, on one's system. Many have been mentioned by other responders. Keep Windows XP updated to the current Service Pack 2, with automatic updates checked XP's Security Center to ensure maximum security. Make sure that your AVG 7 Free or Avast 4 protection is set to HIGH. Refrain from "free" music and movie download sites that pepper each download with spyware files through their Kazaa, Morpheus and other such online file sharing programs. Most anti virus programs will not allow one to use them, and with good reason. Stray away from unfamiliar sites or downloads and don't open email attachments unless you are sure of the sender and the contents of the attached file. Make sure that your ISP is doing all that it should to filter viruses and trojan horses through its internet and mail servers. Last of all, back up your documents or use a ghost program to back up your entire drive. That way, no matter what comes along, you can restore your system. Bottom line: AVG 7 Free or Avast 4 Home Edition are both good programs when used sensibly and with the knowledge that no anti virus program is perfect. PLUS! They are free! Amen. O. Pinder O Pinder

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