lean and mean

I've got everything on this computer of mine stripped right down to the essentials except when it comes to KIS 13 and because it was interfering with a System Restore I began to seriously consider how much of KIS I actually need. So here's the question: what does an average Joe need to remain untroubled by viruses and malware. There is so much going on in KIS 13 and so much of it is interlinked that I really don't know what to turn off or if there's a leaner and meaner security system out there that won't get tangled in my innards unnecessarily. Anyone who knows KIS 13 will know it is very effective but at what cost?

I read on this site that an activity monitor is also needed - is that true?
Will MSE and the W7 firewall really do everything necessary because if it will then I will be one happy camper.

'Activity Monitor' The impression I got was that it is software monitoring our applications in real time looking for unauthorised activity. I don't know if such a process is necessary or not. I may be naïve, but it seems to me that if you scan what comes in, when it comes in, and make sure it is clean then that should be the beginning and end of it all. As I say, maybe I am dreaming. I also don't like lots of apps having unrestricted access to the web but Kas has some odd system that ties firewall settings to the Application Control. It's all too much in my opinion which is why I'm looking for a lifeline.

Normally any security software expects you to know minimally what it does, as there is no "magical recipe" that you simply install and forget about it and yet it protects against everything. Antiviruses often needs to setup the level of protection (and system load) for active scanning and firewalls needs rules to be specified according to the user's needs, to give examples.

Kaspersky I think is among the best antiviruses and don't seems to be overly intrusive too. The MSE suggested is just average in comparison, but it seems to favor the "set and forget" way as it has little option to control behavior. Seems like it's designed for people that don't care about security.
For a firewall, if you don't really know how to use one, I would suggest to leave without one, as they will only get in the way.

Thank-you Alejandro. I do know how to run the firewall (took a bit of learning but I eventually got there) but in order to restrict access to the web you have to also control program behaviour in Application Control because they use the same settings. It seems like every app you ever use wants unrestricted access to the web and I don't agree with this, but restricting access affects its regular behaviour because of the link with Application Control. A perfect example is that you have to disable KIS in order to run System Restore: not a big deal, I agree, but it indicates the level of interference. I still wonder if simply monitoring everything that comes in and restricting everything that is going out is not the holy grail we should be searching for.
I will say this: KIS has kept my computer completely free from trouble for three years now.

Hi Guys; yes, I'm getting the picture and the picture is multi-dimensional. I've had excellent security performance from KIS and I nearly know how to run it and when to turn it off. It does have a very, very comprehensive approach and I keep discovering new features all the time (when I have the time) including the ability to separate application activity control from firewall control that appears to be new this year; although it will take me till next year to set it all up.
Thank-you for your help, it has got my approach into focus at last.