You're using XP Pro?
Rename the adminisrator account to something unguessable and give it a big password. Disable the guest account, in both places. Password generators are available at grc.com
Turn on the windows firewall, it works. Don't let ZA or McGagme or Symiantec turn it off.
Copy in a hosts file, a real one has at least 10,000 entries. Don't match to the loopback device, 127.0.0.1 . Match to the null device 0.0.0.0, or just plain 0 . komando.com will have a site, or you can google.
Run as a limited user, NOT admin or a power user.
Use FireFox with adblock + filter updater, noscript, user agent switcher, fasterfox, and scrapbook.
Do this, and be free.
You can add ZoneAlarm or Spybot Search and Destroy or Adaware if they don't drive you nuts.
And don't run as admin! And when you shut down, WinXP will ask if you want to install updates, never do so. Even though you've done all this, it's downloaded all sorts of spyware without installing. This is where you're pwnd.
Or you could have bought a refurb Mac Powerbook G4 15 inch like I did. Happy computing.
The hardware firewalls will let you put time restrictions and URL restrictions on your kids surfing. Not a bad idea if you have kids.
Why?
Turn on the windows firewall, it works. Don't let ZA or McGagme or Symiantec turn it off.
So run two software firewalls?
Copy in a hosts file, a real one has at least 10,000 entries. Don't match to the loopback device, 127.0.0.1
Why not?
And when you shut down, WinXP will ask if you want to install updates, never do so.
Why?