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Best Free Security &
Spyware Apps
Security and spyware protection is one area
where you don't want to skimp. Judging by the tales we've
from our customers, an unprotected PC can go from a
high-speed powerhouse to a sluggish piece of junk in a
minute. While we do recommend seeking out the best
possible protection for your PC, many average computer
users can't afford a full Internet security suite.
Luckily, there are several great free programs that
provide basic security coverage for Windows users. From
blocking intrusions and removing spyware to
detecting viruses and
encrypting your data, these 10 programs comprise the
best free security software and you can get them at
download.com.
Monitoring both inbound
and outbound traffic to your computer, this free
firewall provides excellent protection for the average
PC user. Select which programs can access the Net, or
block all traffic completely when you're away from
your machine.
The free version of AVG's antivirus
definition files daily. Customizable and easy to use,
AVG is a good free choice for unprotected users.
Detecting and removing spyware is
important, but it's even better to keep it off your
machine completely. Javacool Software's nifty utility
prevents ActiveX-based malware from installing itself
on your PC.
When your standard adware protection
isn't solving your problem, try this target scanner.
It analyzes key areas of your local drive and Registry
to suggest all possible threats.
Free of charge for all registered
Windows users, this beta program from Microsoft
detects and removes malware from your machine.
Additional tools include a privacy eraser and scan
scheduler.
Not only will this fabulous freeware
wipe away your Internet surfing tracks, it also
removes unused files on your machine to optimize
performance. A Registry-cleaning tool with automatic
backup functionality is the icing on the cake.
Using 11 algorithms for encrypting
your important data, this open-source tool provides
more functionality than many programs for sale. Once
you get past the initial learning curve, securing your
private data is as simple as mounting a local drive.
Antispyware
definition files change from week to week, but this
free offering from Tenebril catches malware that other
scans don't. The detection engine is quite aggressive,
however, so users should be careful not to delete any
It's not perfect, but this free tool
from AOL offers a solid analysis of the current level
of protection for your computer or network. The
utility diagnoses five areas of your system and
provides recommendations for improvement, if needed.
You'll need to register this program
once a year to use it free, and the interface is a bit
tacky, but it quickly scans your computer for viruses
without hogging too much memory. Looking ahead to the
next Windows update, Avast already works with Windows
Vista beta 2.
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Copyright © 2003 John Proulx All Rights Reserved
Last modified:
01/16/08 |
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