Can someone suggest software that can be hidden and and passworded that will stop others from downloading any files to my computer but enable the normal browsing of the internet. Many thanks...

You can never be fully protected from viruses..but there are several things you can do to prevent "most" attacks..First Of course you need to have a good firewall. Get ZoneAlarm at ZoneAlarm.com..Download the free version. Next you need an Anti-Virus program. Avast or AVG are the best free ones..Avast.com. Then go to http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html and download spywareblaster and spyware guard..These will immunize your system of the most known malware\spyware programs. Finally download SpyBot Search and destroy from http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/ I recommend running a scan everyday before you sign out of the computer. Also its good practice to disable the guest account in the User Accounts options located in control panel..While your there put a password on the account you use to log into windows. Also while in the control panel..go into the system option..and go to remote desktop connection and turn it off. If you do all of those things your computer will be 100% less likely to receive attacks. Good Luck VeL

Thanks for the reply, have downloaded the suggested software and will follow your suggestions. I would like to stop my kids from downloading anything on my computer. They need to use it for browsing for school projects etc. Its very difficult to monitor this especially then their buddies are over and they get carried away. I cant always there to check what there doing and not going to argue with them anymore. I dont mind them using my computer, I just want to stop any downloading of any files. Any help please would be appreciated.

What you can do is create a User account for your kids in windows at first create the account and give it administrator privelages. Then while inside their account open up internet explorer and go to Tools then Internet Options. Click on the security tab, the internet (globe) should be highlighted. Next Click on Custom Level Scroll down to the option that says "enable downloads" Turn it to disabled. While your there, If you would like you can go over to the last tab which is labeled "Restricted Sites" and you can enter any sites in there that you do no want your child access to.. For example r0tten.com Also if you know of a few sites you dont mind your kids downloading from for example Yahoo.com..you can go the the "trusted sites" option and put the sites in..and they will be able to download from those. After you have finished with that portion. I recommend going to the next option. Which is the Privacy tab and move the slider up to Medium-High. Finally go to the Content Tab. And enable the content advisor. Here you can adjust that slider to filter out sites which contain vulgar and adult-themed material. The rating system is as follows. Level 0- G Level 1- PG Level 2- PG-13 Level 3- R Level 4- NC-17 Choose whatever rating you think is appropriate when your finished it will prompt you for a password..enter something kinda complex..and close the browser.. Last..Go back to the user accounts and remove the administrative privelages from your kids account and click "limited account" this will prevent them from being able to make any changes to system settings on the computer. And most important put a password on your account. Problem should be solved..your kids should be safer. Anyquestions just ask.

I should add when you are doing the content advisior (adjusting the ratings) you have to adjust the ratings for each category. There are 4 categorys Language Nudity Sex Violence Each have their own settings via the slide bar. VeL

Presently using Firefox, will these settings apply or is this only when using IE? Many thanks for your time...

Yes..After you make these changes in Internet Explorer. Open firefox and go to File then Import. This will bring up a dialog box that asks if you want to import Internet explorers Options into firefox. Click next then select which things you would like to import. The first selection "internet Options" is the one that you want to import to bring the same security settings over to the Mozilla browser. VeL