Free Anti-Virus

• Microsoft offers a free anti-virus program called Microsoft Security Essentials. This program has scored highly and consistently in independent testing by Virus Bulletin and AV Comparatives. Users who have Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 can all use the program to protect their PCs.
  
  

Windows Firewall, Critical Updates and Patches

• Every PC should have a firewall on and enabled at all times. Microsoft Firewall is a free download for XP users and it comes pre-installed on Vista and Windows 7 systems. In addition to the firewall, PC users should always download and install Windows Critical Updates. These updates protect against exploits and other malware.
  
  

Family Safety

• Windows Live Family Safety is another free program that Microsoft offers to help parents filter inappropriate content when their children surf the web. It provides individualized reports for each user account and lists which sites were visited.