"Best" free antivirus and free firewall program?

I have McAfee now, and subscription is running out.

I don't mind paying for these programs but if there's free ones out there that will give me just as good protection, I don't want to waste my money.

Are the free firewall and antivirus just as good as payed ones and if so which would you recommentd?

I'm thinking the saying "you get what you pay for", meaning you have to pay for something of quality.

I may be wrong.

Please help me decide.

I have Windows XP and not even thinking of converting to Vista.

"Best" free antivirus and free firewall program?virus removal

Dude...

First of all, stay the hell away from vista. They are still woking out bugs,, and MANY software and games that were coming out at the same time as Vista's release, were NOT made to preform on Vista. And just because you have a Good system.. might not be "good enough" for Vista, read up on it.

(Just as good or even better you ask... ummm YEAH!)

Second, Free Antivirus!

YES, you are SMART, why?? McAfee and Norton are crap.. why? Do you know how much they would have to PAY testers on all different operating systems, different configurations etc?? Free Companies "we" are the testers so more things are caught with more testers!!

AVG makes a great one: grisoft.com