I recommend kerio as a firewall, the version im running on the desktop works well, the version I have on the laptop took a bit more configuration (mainly to turn off where it monitors all computer activity) it can take a little while to set up (ie. going through and using everything thet you would normally open that connects to the net and giving it permission to talk out) but you'd ahve to do this with any firewall. Does not slow windows down, its quite good, saved me a number of times. Search on google for kerio personal firewall (i cant find a link to it on kerios site) and its free for home users.
As for AV, I'd say norton or kasperski, I use norton, and have had not trouble, it will slow down your start up time though, but as for in windows performance, once it has loaded initially on booting the computer it appears to be fine (slowed down the pc the first time i loaded the program, but not since in about a month). I used a trial version of kasperski once, and it caused my computer to crash. I have heard it said that it is better than NAV, but am not qualified to give a solid opinion on it. Both these are paid for AV programs.
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