Vunerable acc to Symantec; now what?

[flapsforty]

Thank you gentlemen; XP firewall set up as per instructions here. One hole plugged.

However, the more I read, the more confused I get about hoq to really stop these barstewards frum stuffing up my PC.

Zone Alarm and Sybot for example; they sound like the kind of thing one should not be without. But i have read that they can create havoc when run together with Adaware, which I already have installed and am pleased with.
Have also read that some of these downloads themselves put spyware on one's PC.
What is an ignoramus to do?

(I don't mind paying for stuff BTW, just looking for things that are worth the money because they really do the job)

Bewildered from Norway.