OT: Software Recommendations

[deccan]

Hmm, thanks for all the suggestions everyone. A reminder, though, I want to be careful, but I don't need to be paranoid...

And since I'm such a neophyte at this and have never used a router before, how are networks usually set up? Is it:

Phone Line -> Home Server -> Router -> Other Computers

Or:

Phone Line -> Router -> Computers

If I used the first configuration and run a software firewall on the first computer, do I still need to run them on every individual computer? I prefer to spend my CPU power and memory on games rather than security software, so I'd like my programs to have as little a footprint as possible and as PvK suggests, only run antivirus and spyware checking software occasionally when I need them as opposed to having them in memory all the time.

I confess that I'm still using IE and Outlook, but being on dial-up means that it's so much of a pain to download lots of new things. I suppose I should change those too as soon as I can.

For reference, currently the service is expected to be 256 upload / 64 download, 6 Gb data transfer limit for about USD300 per month with a minimum contractual period of 12 months and about USD250 for installation charges. And all these prices are pre-sales tax.