Q. We had a computer guy come and fix our network router thing. We have three computers. He said we don't have adequate virus/spyware protection. We use AOL. He said the AOL spyware scan should be adequate, but that we should add McAffrey (spelling?) virus protection, which you can "rent" from AOL and is constantly updated. I also have a Kerio firewall on my computer. What do you think?

A. Well, it sounds like that technician is letting you down easy. Unless I’m missing something, you’re virtually unprotected. You could be a sitting duck for a malicious attack. The Kerio firewall is fine. But you really need a firewall on all of the computers, not just yours. You also need antivirus software, and a few anti-spyware programs.

Let’s start with anti-virus protection. You need this to stop truly malicious programs—viruses, worms and Trojans. Spyware is mostly irritating. Viruses, worms and Trojans, on the other hand, can destroy your data. Or, they can facilitate the theft of your identity. The tech was referring to McAfee anti-virus software. You can get it through AOL, or you can buy and install it yourself. Either way, you should update it regularly. There are many other antivirus programs available. A few are free. You can find some on my site.

There are also numerous anti-virus scans online. You can use these if you suspect you have a virus. But they really are inadequate. An antivirus program installed on your computer will block an infection. An online scan cannot do that. So, always (ALWAYS!) install an antivirus program on each computer. One more thing, and I’ll get off my antivirus soapbox: Only put one antivirus program on each computer. These programs do not play well together. Duplication can cause conflicts, and is unnecessary

The opposite is true for anti-spyware programs. One is not enough. There is so much garbage coming at you that you need more than one program. My favorite is Webroot’s Spy Sweeper ($30). It keeps spyware from taking root on your computer, and scans for stuff that’s already there. There are some other good ones, too. I like Microsoft Defender. And I like Spybot-Search & Destroy. Both scan and protect. And both are free. Lastly, I’m a fan of Ad-Aware. But the free version (Ad-Aware Personal) just scans. You can find links to all of these programs on my site. I have several anti-spyware programs on my computer. I have never had trouble with conflicts.

Lastly, you need a software firewall on each computer. And you should activate the firewall in your router. Your manual will explain that. However, the router firewall is insufficient. It will hide your system on the Internet. But if something malicious gets on a computer, it probably cannot keep that program from contacting another machine on the Web. That ability is critical. Current Kerio firewalls hide your computer and block outbound traffic. Assuming your Kerio firewall does the same, it is sufficient. But you must have a firewall on each computer.

If you don’t want to pay for more Kerio programs, use the free ZoneAlarm Personal. That is an excellent firewall. I have a link on my site. So, here’s the deal: Antivirus programs cannot protect you completely. The same is true of anti- spyware software and firewalls. They all complement one another. If you install all of them, you will be protected.

I know that this is a lot to digest. It really isn’t difficult to grasp, once you get the hang of it. But if you find it confusing, you probably will find my security book-- Kim Komando’s Guide to Computer Security & Privacy--helpful. It is available on my Web site

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