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I think I asked this several months ago but it may have been lost in the big meltdown

I am setting up a Windows XP machine at home for the first time in several years. I know I need antivirus software. Right now the current plan is to install McAfee since we have a corporate agreement that allows us to use it on home machines (But I understand that agreement is ending soon)

What other utilities (spam blockers, etc) should I install and are there any good, free products out there?

Hi Bob,

I use Eset NOD32 for many years and very happy with it, one of the least intrusive AV and works a treat

AVG is a good one and it's FREE..

Avira is another good one but the free version gets you a nag screen.

CCleaner is a valuable tool as well. It not only cleans your excess files, dll's and other odd bits and pieces but does the registry too.

Would steer clear of McAfee.
A decade ago it was well thought of but it hasn't performed well in comparative tests for the last six years at least (home use that is).

Personally I use Norton 360 (ver 3.0).
Norton is notorious for being a resource hog.
But that's only by those who install it and leave it.
If you tune it properly so it only checks what you want it to check it really isn't.
Mine only monitors 5% of my system and (on this system) is working better than ever.
This version is a bundle which includes (software) Firewall; Anti-Virus; Anti-Spyware; Anti-Malware; its' own registery cleaner; De-Frag; and Anti-Phishing, to name but a few of its' benefits.

There are many app's to choose from these days.
Norton isn't at the top of the charts either but it's way above McAfee and, as stated, if you set it up right is much better than its' press.

I don't like the free version of AVG.
Again it used to be much better but even then it used to false report.
The retail version is supposed to be much better / more reliable but I haven't used it so I can only report heresay.

The only thing I really don't like about Norton any more is that it is sold as "supporting 64-bit platforms.
That would be great.., if it also supported any of my my 64-bit browsers.
Which it doesn't.
Which seems rather daft.
Especially in this day and age, and with so much pre-existing criticism.

I am using Win 7 (64-bit) which is a thousand miles better than Vista was, but I think XP may, evrso-slightly, still have the edge on it.
If you're setting yours up as part of a home network (or may do in the future), go for XP Pro.
If not, go for XP Home.

Hope it all works great for you.

Some folks here are suggesting the Free Microsoft AntiVirus. Now being primarily a Unix/Linux person I have a predisposition to avoid any thing from MS whenever possible (Yea I know i'm building an XP machine ) but should I consider the MS product? [Beware of geeks bearig gifts]

The M$ product is better than nothing, but there's been no real testing (or reporting) of it as yet.
I certainly haven't tried it and wouldn't rely on M$ for something like that.
Especially when most of the reason for needing it in the first place is targetted at other M$ products already.

I'll wait until I hear reports from people who matter about it before I think more seriously about it.

edit:
Linux is not virus free, but you'd have less of this kind of concern sticking with it than any version of Windows.

EeeeWwwwwwwwwwww Norton and McAfee..... Nod32 and AVG are much better and not resource hogs, I also use Spybot Search and Destroy...make sure that the windows firewall is enabled, keep your antivirus up to date and all should be good.

Sorry Hitty,
Windows Firewall?
Absolutely not.
Again, Windows Firewall is only better-than-nothing.
Even M$'s own Marketing Dept. admit that.
For a start it's only one-way.
I don't think there is any Firewall out there that will not perform better.

I've used Spybot, and AdAware (both of which used to be better), SpyBlaster, and others.
I don't use them at all now because Norton includes its' own version and it's better (as part of the whole bundle - not sure you can get it separately, or if it would perform the same as a stand-alone).

comodo firewal works well

Just been looking into Norton 360 some more for you and found that there is a question as to whether it would support XP in its' 64-bit platform.

XP 32-bit is fine though, along with both the 32 and 64-bit versions of Vista (PATOOEY!!!) and Win7.

I should just mention that I have not heard of (nor experienced) any bad history with Nod32 or Comodo, of the reports I have seen, and both seem to return consistently good results on the (reliable) tests.
Avira I haven't come across before and I've already expressed my view of AVG and Windows products (M$ Defender is the only M$ one worth a light, and they had to buy that - It used to be something called 'Giant' I think.).