You must install some security software before or soon after you connect to the Internet. At a minimum, you will need anti-virus software, anti-spyware software, and a personal firewall.
You have a choice of buying commercial software, which tends to be more complete and easier to use, or you can download free software, which tends to be more basic and difficult to use. The commercial programs can be purchased at computer stores, either separately or in combination packages.
Popular commercial combination packages include:
If you choose to download free software, you should first enable the Windows XP firewall and then download and install the security software soon after you connect to the Internet for the first time. Tests have shown that completely unprotected computers connected to the Internet can be infected with bad programs within 15 minutes, so it is important to install your security software as soon as possible.
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