internet security..anti-virus + firewall

[delayed]

can anyone advise me please,i am reasonably new to computing and read q&a on ab a lot..i have norton security which runs out in a few days and after reading various comments from members about norton eg slowing pc down (which mine is slow & can only think due to norton) i don't really want to pay to renew it. a lot mention avast.co is a good free anti-virus.i looked on microsoft.com and they give a free 90day trial called ONE CARE which has anti-virus/anti-spyware/two way firewall? does anyone know if this is ok,or can advise please of a free firewall..thank you in anticipation.... denise..

[Buenchico]

Possibly the most common combination of (free) anti-virus and firewall software used by the regulars here in the I&T section of AB is AVG (anti-virus) together with Zone Alarm (firewall). They both do the job well and don't produce any conflicts.

AVG is here:
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

Zone Alarm is here:
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/ products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry= US&lang=en

Chris

[delayed]

thank you both for your help & advise..looking into them now..denise

[anotheoldgit]

Another useful free software to have is Spybot - Search & Destroy.