Antivirus Protection
The foundation for any computer's security is an up-to-date antivirus program. It's very likely that campus computers connected to a college's network have a antivirus program already installed. Home computers tend to come with a trial version of an antivirus program that must be purchased once the trial period ends. Most of these programs will update your computer automatically one or more times a week with the latest virus protection files. They typically require a paid subscription for this service which is renewable each year.
The two most popular antivirus programs are Norton (Symantec) and McAfee. Also well regarded is Kaspersky Anti-Virus. A local computer repair shop uses Kaspersky to diagnose and repair any computers brought in due to virus infections.
For the those looking to save money, Avast offers a free antivirus protection program downloadable at their site. Avast charges their commercial clients for their product, but offers a home version free of charge. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of the other products, Avast offers good security that updates frequently and works quietly in the background.