If you browse the internet of open email without having security updates and without having a virus scanner, you should probably be doing something else with your time.
There is another free and relatively painless preventive, which I use with my business clients.
I do occasional backups of System State. It takes about two minutes and can be scheduled.
Restoring System State after a virus attack takes about ten minutes — including a reboot and reinstallation of updates.
I recovered four machines by this procedure. It’s a lot less painful than tracking down spyware removers, and a lot faster than reformatting. Unfortunately I need tricks like this, because the companies I work with do not restrict internet access, and given enough users, some will install almost anything.
Or you could just run an operating system that isn't a cheap whore for every virus, worm and other bit of malware around.
I recovered four machines by this procedure.
Well, you hope so.
The problem with "restoring" owned machines is that you can't ever be sure that you got everything.
Security best practice for a compromised machine is format and re-install from known, clean media.
Unfortunately I need tricks like this, because the companies I work with do not restrict internet access, and given enough users, some will install almost anything.
No, the unfortunate part is that you think this kind of thing is necessary.
I don't :-)
OK, I'm pretty good about security updates.