Security question

I have a question concerning my security setup.

I am not looking for maximium protection
I had NOD32 and Comodo installed on windows 7 and lets just say everyday the connection kept taking longer to respond when visiting websites.

When I removed nod32 and comodo my web pages now load super fast. Around christmas holidays my nod32 license was at 14 days. What I noticed is the closer the expiration got the more slowdowns and lockups I would experience. I could be wrong, but it sure seemed like it!

What I want to know is how secure is this for a basic user?
Windows 7 firewall Domain, Private, Public
(Block all outbound except firefox and free download manager)
The only two programs I need really

Wi-Fi with WPA-2 PSK Random dynamic changing encryption scheme.
7 bar strong encryption passphrase.


The only other programs I really use are Sony Vegas 9 Pro, Visual Studio C++, and Steam for games (These have no need for internet access)

Since I am not going to dish out money for another nod32 license. What free av do you all suggest? Over the years I have put so much down on KIS, Nod32, A-Squared, Trojan Hunter, CC Cleaner, BoClean, Lavasoft Anit-Spy, Comodo Secure Connect, NOD32, Trend Micro IS, TDS, and Regsoft Reg Cleaner, and the list goes on.

While I do like NOD32 and I always used blackspears settings.xml I could not believe how much faster pages loaded once I uninstalled comodo and nod32 on windows 7 64-bit.

Back when I used to use a linksys 802.11b router. I noticed that anytime I setup the firewall other than defaults my connection got slower. Loading and viewing pretty much anything. For this reason I avoided routers until I went with DSL.

 

Microsoft Security Essentials, it's free, it's VERY good, it's nag free, and it's a little lighter than NOD32 v4 on your system.

 

Comodo internet security and avira personal or avast free. All free and all good.

 

Yep, I love it.

Avira is also a good choice -- try both out (of course not at the same time) and let us know.

 

Agree

 

Just wanted to drop back by after using the suggested av a few days.

I have been using the suggested microsoft security essentials and I must say that it is great. Its light on resources and very fast and it doesn't hold back your net connection speed like nod32 would. I was a little weary about using a microsoft av, because well 2-3 days after microsoft releases an os hackers found a way thru the new and improved 64 bit kernel on windows 7. From this perspective how safe could a microsoft av be.