Re: Which is the best Firewall & Virus Checker ?
I've come to this thread late - maybe too late. But for what it's worth, here goes.
I first started using Norton products back in the nineteen eighties - anyone else remember Norton Utilities? Taught me everything I ever needed to know about how a hard disc works. However, I wouldn't allow Norton AV anywhere near my computer. Yes, it is a good anti-virus and always works well in tests, though not significantly better than many others. However, as Kriss100 mentioned it also install hidden files all over your hard disk and slows your computer right down.
If you install Norton (or if it comes free with your computer) and you decide not to use it, you may end up having to edit the registry because the Norton uninstall programmes don't actually uninstall everything. It can be a real pain (thought not always, I admit) getting other antivirus software to run on a machine that once had Norton installed. Rant mode off.
For anti virus I use AVG (I pay for the pro-version) and Avast. I'm actually very impressed by Avast which catches things other AVs have missed. It is free, but it does insist on talking to you, which I hate.
I'd second the comments above about a NAT hardware firewall. They don't cost a lot and are worth getting, but have a software one too. To be honest, the firewall with XP second edition is not at all bad and coupled with a NAT router will do the job.
All of the free firewalls mentioned work fine if you want to go that route. I've found that ZoneAlarm doesn't always work well with a home network, but others haven't had that problem. We have Sygate installed on some of our machines at home/office.
Most virus writers target common software, so avoid using Internet Explorer and Outlook Express. Mozilla Firefox and Opera are excellent browsers and Thunderbird will handle your mail perfectly well.
In the end, as others have said, avoidance is the best option. Don't visit dodgy websites and don't post your email address on websites, bulletin boards or anywhere else where automatic 'address harvesting' software can read them and target you with SPAM.