hey guyz, i know i might sound lame by using norton anti-virus 2005, its just that i know what other alternative products are available to me. Norton has been allright too me, but it takes heaps of time to load when im booting up windows, i also use ad-aware and spybot against spyware, i recently added microsoft's anti-spyware to the software list but i've recently discovered that the error log grows each time it scans... i had to delete a 4GB :eek: error log file two weeks ago! I have sp2 which comes with a fire-wall... but i'd like a better firewall to play around with... any suggestions on which type software to use for anti-viruses, spyware, and firewalls

My suggestions:

Antivirus

Nod32 (http://www.nod32.com/home/home.htm)

Firewall

If you have a broadband connection (DSL, cable, etc), I would recommend getting a hardware-type firewall such as those available from SMC, Linksys, or Netgear; and a software firewall; either the XP firewall, or one from Sygate (http://www.download.com/Sygate-Perso...l?tag=lst-0-1), or Kerio (http://www.download.com/Kerio-Person...ml?tag=lst-0-1)

Spyware and Adware

Ad-Aware SE (http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-...ml?tag=lst-0-2)

Spybot Search and Destroy (http://www.download.com/Spybot-Searc...ml?tag=lst-0-1)

SpywareBlaster (http://www.download.com/SpywareBlast...ml?tag=lst-0-1)

Other cleanup utilities you might like to try

CounterSpy (http://www.download.com/3000-8022_4-10337358.html)

Ewido Security Suite (http://www.download.com/Ewido-Securi...ml?tag=lst-0-1)

Naturally, you need to keep everything updated in order for it to be effective.

You may find this thread somewhat informative as well:
http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread16365.html

thanx dlh6213.. great help!

You can now find more complete information here:
http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread27519.html