So I'm finally getting my old comp back in order. However I lack a few, simple vital things. Such as a good anti virus program. Anyone know of programs available that actually protect against viruses, is preferably cheap and not available from a site that is a virus farm?

AVG, google it. It's free, it's good.

I've always liked F-Secure myself, but I'm not sure if it qualifies as "cheap".

Microsoft Security Essentials is leading the pack on anti-virus software as of the last benchmark, and it's way more lightweight than AVG.

Mac or Linux. Those are the two best anti-virus programs on the market. Linux is free.

I've used Avira and Avast, but like Avast a bit better right now.

I love how Apple's PR campaign has people still believing this.

But but... it just works!

Not antiviral, but I've found Malwarebytes to also be useful for my work.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

This. Takes some getting used to that microsoft things are actually the best to get right now though.

If you like the site marking thing that AVG does, I suggest the Web of Trust browser plugin (IE, FF and chrome). Puts an icon next to links based on a database to which users submit site reviews. Handy to avoid phising emails when you're not quite awake just yet.

Anyone use/heard of VIPRE? My (unusually tech-savvy) grandparents used to use AVG but they switched to VIPRE and hold it in very high esteem.

My workplace uses Malware Bytes.

At home, I use Avast.

please do not spread the lies like Linux or mac need no anti virus. First of all linux distros like Ubuntu linux are made to be easy to use, todo so they sacrificed security for userfriendlyness, although not as much as windows. This sacrifice makes it possible for a well placed virus/worm to collect for example online banking information.

Secondly in some countries (like Belgium) if you spread a virus to the internet because you failed to have an antivirus you can be held accountable for the damages. How does this effect a linux user? Say you are in Belgium on your ubuntu laptop, and I just sent you a funny picture of Estarra whiping the lusternia coding monkey, you forward this to a windows user who then gets infected by a hidden virus. You can now be held responsible for the damages the windows user suffers.

So yes an anti virus is needed for even Linux. And there are some great free ones out there.