keeping laptop safe

Hi, @bluesfloyd:

It looks as if your post may have been inadvertently overlooked.

One possible explanation is that you mention that you are running Win 10.
This is actually the Win 7 forum (sevenforums.com).
We have a "sister" forum for Win 10 HERE.

For Windows 10, a robust AV + Windows firewall + a robust real-time anti-malware application, such as MBAM Premium is a good approach, at least for starters.

Having said that, it appears that someone did reply to your identical post in another computer security forum HERE.
As @Firefox mentioned, there is no one "right" or "best" answer to suit all computers and users.
You will find an extensive collection of detailed articles about computer security "best practices" HERE.

The bottom line for most home users is that a layered approach that avoids clashes between overlapping/duplicate programs (e.g. 2 anti-virus programs or 2 real-time anti-malware programs or 2 firewalls) is a good one. Different applications fill different security niches.

Having said that, no program or group of programs can protect 100% of computers from 100% of malware 100% of the time.
And the most critical computer security component is the one between the chair and the keyboard, though "safe hex".

Hope this helps,

MM

Since Windows 7, the built-in firewall has been getting better and better! Use the built-in firewall, it's all you need.