My Computer Was Running Very Slow And Sometimes Freezing...

[sandyRoe]

This morning I restored it to the original settings. What's the minimum security I need to ensure it doesn't pick up viruses, malware, and the like?

[society]

My recommendation is Microsoft security essentials.

[sandyRoe]

Is that different from Windows Security Centre?

[sandyRoe]

I see it's not. I'll download it now. Thank you, Society

[sp1814]

sandyRoe:

http://free.avg.com/gb-en/free-antivirus-download

[society]

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5201

[Old_Geezer]

You need a firewall and an anti virus application as the minimum. Which you choose is up to you. Windows comes with a firewall if you wish to use that, and possibly AV as well ?

[sandyRoe]

Can I use both security essentials and AVG anti-virus?

[glasman]

Microsoft have a free one called Clamware which I've used for a long time - haven't had any problems YET.

[Old_Geezer]

It is unwise to have 2 anti virus applications running at the same time. One might confuse the other and both then fail to operate correctly.

[society]

Sandy,

I installed Microsoft security essentials

Firewall always on

And I run Malwarebytes Anti-Malware http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/ once a week. Never had a problem as yet, knock on wood :)

[society]

Forget to add I use the 'free' malware version.

[daffy654]

Glasman, I think you may mean ClamWin, if you do this is NOT a microsoft product.

I would go with MSE and would not touch AVG with a bargepole due to the fact it slows down bootup of PC and browsing the internet. It insists on checking every page before you view it, this is completely unnecessary and very annoying.

[sandyRoe]

OK. Thank you all. I've installed security essentials and I'll run malware once a week.

[glasman]

Yes, I meant Clam Win. Thought it was from Microsoft but I'll defer to your superior knowledge.

[society]

I also run CCleaner once a week or when I feel like.
http://download.cnet.com/CCleaner/

But, keep in mind whenever you run it you'll lose any saved password/s.

[askthefsteamcrew]

Steampunk Felix: Lol seems like Ralph at times
Wreck-ot-Ralph: Hey
Steampunk Felix:
Make sure to try to delete any cookies and history it can bulid up over time
Also do a disk cleanup once in a while
It can help