Indeed you prefer to secure your Windows XP installation?
In that respect are 2 classes which the advice I’ll identify bequeath decrease below.  Preventive processes accept a “before it happens” approach to securing your Windows XP install.  Postmortem methods take an “after it happens” approach, and needless to say le’s hope everything is taken care of in our preemptive efforts.  However, in real life things never work out exactly as you want them to.
In that respect is a a few principal issues we are going to cover, which include:
Preemptive · Firewall / Network Security · Internet Explorer Browser Security    Postmortem · Antivirus Solutions · Malware Removal Solutions
PREEMPTIVE
Firewall / Network Security
the infamous Windows XP firewall.  You could find out a lot negative subjects about using the Windows XP firewall, merely as the interest by not accepting any compatibility issues, this is by far your best bet!  The purpose of turning this on is to keep the baddies out.  Essentially, you are locking the front door to your house.
First, turn it on:  START > CONTROL PANEL > NETWORK CONNECTIONS > LOCAL AREA CONNECTION > PROPERTIES > ADVANCED tab > SETTINGS > select ON
Although in that screen, click on the EXCEPTIONS tab.  Make sure that the following ARE NOT checked:
·    File and Printer Sharing
·    Remote Assistance
·    Remote Desktop
Click OK and you should be good to go.  Be sure to never install TWO software firewalls on the same computer!!!
Internet Explorer Browser Security
Install SpyBot S&D on your computer
On the facility of SpyBot make sure to enable “TeaTimer” which will actively monitor your browsing and prevent any identifiable nasties from getting on your computer.  Another major benefit to SpyBot is it “immunizes” your computer from certain known attacks.  You can, through the SpyBot interface, have the software immunize your computer from all known threats.  This is a great feature in itself!  If you are ever concerned that you may have caught something, you will be able to ever run a SpyBot scan of your computer.
POSTMORTEM
Antivirus Solutions
I advise and apply AVG because my antivirus solution.  I accept applied a lot AV solutions in the past, but AVG offers the most ease, usability, and effectiveness compared to any mainstream solution on the market for home users.  AVG has a FREE edition which is excellent and automatically updates and scans your computer on a daily basis.  It can be downloaded and installed here:
Malware Removal Solutions
approve, and so we have SpyBot installed, but why would we want another solution?  Aside from the fact it is FREE, you should be acutely aware that a single solution cannot cover every spyware, adware, or malware floating around on the Internet.  Them could comprise good to apply different intersection just to cover your bases.  Lavasoft’s Ad-Aware Personal edition is just the solution for this and can be downloaded an installed from:
If you common sense that your computer accepts comprised compromised or exactly while you’ve a few costless time and need to take extra caution against malware, update Ad-Aware and run a scan on your computer.