Big C, I know you don't want to spend the $, but I would recommend System Mechanic Pro. It guards against viruses and malware and has good assortment of other tools, as well. It cost around $40.00, but well worth the price. I havn't had a problem w/viruses or malware since I installed. I have been using close to a year now. You can try it free for thirty days. You can download from the site
www.iolo.com or purchase at places like Walmart, Target, Best Buy, etc. I should also mention, that you renew it every year, but they offer discounts if you renew early.