Q. I don’t quite get your column on free anti-virus programs. Are you saying that we don’t have to pay for these programs anymore?

A. Well, I am saying for basic anti-virus programs there is little need to use one of the expensive programs if all you need is anti-virus protection. Most of these paid programs have become what I call “bloatware” by sticking in “anti-spam,” firewalls, anti-this and anti-that until the thing bogs down your entire computer. Worse yet, we have seen a few cases where the paid subscription ran out and the product locked down, meaning the computer could not get out to the Internet at all, a sort of cruel trick if you ask me.