Mac users chortle at all the perceived security vulnerabilities that seem to inflict Windows users every single day. (Heck, even Apple highlights this in their obnoxious advertisements.) But that's all nonsense: Very few Windows users experience any malware at all, according to Microsoft. Statistics aside, if you know what you're doing, securing Windows is simple. Here's what you need to do, depending on which version of Windows you're using:
Use Windows Update to install all updates, including Service Pack 3. Then, manually install Windows Defender (anti-spyware) and an anti-virus package. I recommend AVG Anti-Virus Free which is, as its name suggests, absolutely free. Another good option is Panda Cloud Antivirus (also free).
Windows 7 is even easier to secure than Windows XP because, get this, Windows 7 is way more secure than XP out of the box. All you need is an anti-virus package. I recommend AVG Anti-Virus Free.
That's it. You're done, and Windows is secure. Just don't open any questionable email attachments or visit Web sites that make you look over your shoulder first. Common sense goes a long way online. As it does with any OS.