Don't visit questionable sites, don't click/download random things, stay updated, scan from time to time, get behind a hardware firewall, and change your dns provider to something like OpenDNS. Oh and there is no need to have both defender and avg anti spy ware running at the same time. I don't think AVG is the best but whatever works for you. Oh and you can always get a software firewall if your on a laptop, for example comodo.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by EliteGeek on April 14, 2010 at 8:23pm

I'd recommend installing Microsoft Security Essentials. If you're on Vista/Windows 7, this will disable Windows Defender. If you're on XP, it should remove it. If it doesn't remove it, you need to do so through Control Panel>Add/Remove Programs.

Keep Windows up to date/patched. I'd also try to use Chrome as my main browser. I find it to be more secure.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Franky Juarez on April 15, 2010 at 8:53pm

Chrome secure????? :(

FIREFOX!!! :)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jeff on April 15, 2010 at 9:01pm

i think opera is even more secure, than again it comes down to the user

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by EliteGeek on April 15, 2010 at 9:05pm

Still believe Chrome is the best out of the two. Firefox was pwned at the Pwn2Own event.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wandering I on April 15, 2010 at 10:10pm

Actually chrome was the only one at the PWN2OWN contest this year that DIDN'T get hacked...firefox got nailed.

I have to kind of go with jeff on this one, I've been a supporter of Opera for a LONG time and while it may not be the most popular choice as my everyday web browser, it is definitely one of the most secure.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Gibson on April 14, 2010 at 9:01pm

you had all the right shit, but avg free is questionable versus avast and microsoft security essentials.
.

so you know how to prevent this again ;P

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jeff on April 15, 2010 at 9:03pm

i wouldn't say it is the best but it is surprisingly good

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by reaper on April 14, 2010 at 9:25pm

you are never going to be 100% safe so just take a load off and follow some common sense and continue to use the right tools like malwarebytes *with the ip filter turned on of course* and other useful programs to ward off the bugs

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by james tilton on April 15, 2010 at 8:05pm

the best way is to diconnect it from any outside line lol.
Avast is a better free virus software, and for malware and spyware i recommend spybot s&d

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by George Burgess on April 16, 2010 at 4:16am

I use AVG Free, Windows Defender, AdAware and Spybot and they have all been fine for me.