Which antivirus software to use is particularly difficult decision to make for home computer users, who often don't have the technical expertise to sort the good oil from the marketing hype. No matter which antivirus software you select, though you will still need to practice "safe computing" to ensure your computer is not infected with a virus.

Computing professionals have usually already formed a view about which antivirus software to use in certain situations, even before those situations arise. They know which antivirus programs they prefer, and they confidently proceed to use them. They are less often found wandering the net, thinking to themselves, "I know I need some antivirus protection, but which antivirus protection should I use?"

Just as we all know now about using protection against dangerous viruses in the world of safe sex, we all know that we should be using protection against viruses when our computer goes out kissing strangers on the World Wide Web. The question is not longer whether we need antivirus protection, but which antivirus protection we should choose.

There are literally dozens of different antivirus programs, ranging in price from totally free to exhorbitantly expensive. Which antivirus program to choose, out of this dazzling array, has become a serious and stressful question for many home computer users.

The important thing is not to let the worry over which antivirus software to use paralyse you into not using any at all. No matter which antivirus program you finally decide is your life partner, you should at least grab a free antivirus program to keep your computer safe while you are shopping around to decide which antivirus is the best for the longer term.

If you are wondering which antivirus software is right for your situation, out of all the available makes and models, it can be difficult to find unbiased advice. Any manufacturer of antivirus software will happily tell you which antivirus program to use - theirs, of course!

You can check out the product reviews at Computer Island, or you can browse some of the forums on the subject. By all means visit manufacturer sites, once the choice of which antivirus software has been narrowed to a handful, but don't start there - your head will explode!

While the afficionados will argue about which antivirus program does a better job of detecting malware, or which antivirus software is easier to maintain, or which antivirus software has the best update process, the bottom line for the home computer user is simple. It doesn't so much matter which antivirus software you select in the beginning, as it matters how you deploy it.

No matter which antivirus program - or programs - you choose to run, you will need to download the updates as soon as they are released. New viruses are identified, and new fixes developed, on a daily basis. When you have decided which antivirus software you will use, bookmark their site and/or subscribe to their notification service so that you never miss an update.

Remember, too, that no antivirus program can protect you against worms and viruses that you "track in" with permission. No matter which antivirus program you are running, you must maintain "safe computing" practices - save and scan any files before opening them, and don't download and install .exe files from the internet.

There are many good free antivirus programs available. If you're paranoid, run a whole bunch of them - for example the combination of AVG7.5, Zone Alarm, Ad-Aware, Spybot Search and Destroy, A-Squared Anti malware and Anti dialer, Spyware Blaster and Win Defender should give you belt-and-braces coverage.

Why worry about which antivirus to choose? Run them all!

Seriously, though, the issue of antivirus protection is important. As a home computer user, you should be able to cover your security requirements using the free software which is available. Check out reviews of the free antivirus software programs listed above, and choose a good combination of two or three to suit your needs. Good reviews should help you to decide which antivirus software is right for you.