... how can I keep my security up? I mean I don't want this to be a hobby to keep Firefox Updated?????
You can start by not using IE; it is the single worst security hole in Windows. You'd be better off using firefox with no AV than using IE with all of them together.
Macafee and Norton are the two worst commercial AV products out there. They take over your computer to the point that *they* use all available CPU cycles and leave none for you. Delete them, then download the tools that delete what their uninstallers refuse to.
Then go to firefox.com and download and install firefox. Use the Custom selection and don't install the Google toolbar; you don't need it. Make firefox your default browser. Right-click the desktop background, select properties, click the Customize Desktop button, unclick IE and click My Computer and Network. And don't install any other browser toolbars. You don't need any of them and they only serve to slow down your computer and take up valuable display space.
Now go to free. grisoft.com and download version 8 of their free AVG program. Version 8 scans incoming email, incoming web, and search engine results in your browser (telling you whether or not the links have malware in them). It can perform scheduled scans of your hard drives.
That takes care of the computer. If you do not have a hardware firewall between you and the internet and you are using some form of broadband, go buy a linksys, netgear, dlink or any other brand router/firewall and install it between your computer and your 'modem'. Then go into its management web interface and turn off or disable UPnP (a feature that allows the computer to open any ports it wants to, thus defeating the purpose of the firewall).
Now use your organic computer when browsing the web and don't click on any and every pretty or flashy link you see. Have an idea what you are looking for and decide before visiting any web site whether or not you will trust that site to be clean of malware.
If you have teenagers using your computer, lock them out; give them their own computer that can be reloaded from scratch periodically. Then reload it periodically so they don't get comfy with the idea of downloading (stealing) hundred of gigabytes of music and videos. They'll learn to keep backups of important information.
At this point you will have the most reasonable protection from internet miscreants for the money you will have spent. Yes, you can get better protection, but your computer will be less usable and it will cost you a lot more money. Yes, you can isolate your computer from the internet; it's most cost effective, but you miss all the benefits of internet communication.
Reasonable protection at a fair price. Firefox, AVG, router/firewall and your organic computer will do a lot to keep your electronic computer humming along smoothly.