Spyware adware malware

If you are running Windows 8 and do not run an administrator account or turn off user account control, Windows Defender is probably a reasonable choice. If you are using Windows 7 Vista or XP then you will not get virus coverage unless you use Microsoft Security Essentials. MalwareBytes is less tolerant of the less dangerous forms of malware (adware, tracking cookies etc.) than most antivirus software, but the free version does not automatically scan files when they are downloaded or accessed. 

Thanks sycraft. I will be checking that out. Haven't heard of ESET before, but am getting tired of various aspects of Avast.

The best defense IMO is to run MSE/Defender and STAY AWAY FROM pRon SITES!!  

I use the Microsoft Defender plus a paid version of Malwarebytes.  I have not had any problems but I'm limited on sites I visit and do not click on links in any e-mail.   This combination does not cause any DPC Latency issues and does not conflict with Sonar.
 
Everyone zaps Microsoft but its probably the most widely used.  I do some PC support and I've recommended the Microsoft and Malwarebytes to all my clients, and all except one are using them and not having any security issues.

A sandbox will protect the host system from most malware. But if you only run programs within the sandbox, then the sandbox is in effect the system, and if it becomes infected, you will need to clean it up or re-install everything in the virtual space. If you are browsing in a sandbox (browsers like Internet Explorer and Chrome already run inside a sandbox of sorts) and download and install a program on the host system (either deliberately or inadvertently) then a virus payload has access to the host system. So an antivirus program is still pretty much a requirement for safety for almost all users.

I noticed I did not say a word about Comodo's bad side. Comodo security system is a good thing if the user knows how to configure it so it does not give you constant trouble by asking questions and locking up new apps. I am not a master in IT but I was able to configure Comodo in a reasonably troublefree state although I just in case usually put the hips and sandbox off when I install stuff. The key in my opinion is to put Comodo in Clean pc mode which is relatively trouble free.I think it is worth the minor hassle because it gives me a safer Windows 7 system.

If you want to go as far as something that covers every aspect, Kaspersky is hands down the best protection you will get. The problem I had with it is that it's resource intrusive. I could see using it for something like a medical computer where you were storing files but for a studio computer, that much security is a mistake because what you gain in scanning features, you lose in freed resources.

Sycraft
For free, Windows Defender (included in Windows 8, called Microsoft Security Essentials and available for download for Windows 7) is probably the best. Reasonably low resource usage, about 90% catch rate. It works ok.
 
Personally, I recommend ESET NOD32. It is not free, but it very good. Very fast, very stable, and high catch rate, more like 98-99%. Plus you can configure the scanning engine to exclude certain file types (so like I exclude NKI, NKM, WAV, FLAC, BFDLAC, and so on, all the audio stuff) to keep usage down on intensive stuff.

I got NOD32 and I'm liking it so far.  Especially like the exclude all audio related files, which I did.  Nice and unobtrusive, with a smaller footprint.  Thanks for the recommendation.

thanks everybody for the input. I do have the Windows Defender up with 8.1 and will probably get Malwarebytes. PS I don't download anything but music software related stuff on my recording PC.
;)

WSS

I happen to like Avast's free antivirus software, and MalwareBytes.  They both work well enough for me, and I have installed them on well over 100 computers I have built for folks over the past 3 years.
 
Backups and common sense go a long way towards reducing the pain/agony for when something DOES go wrong.
 
There MUST be a level of discipline for any security/backup/recovery process plan  to work properly.
 
Bob Bone
 

@Robert: I mean the free version's install ways.