FREE system security software and advice!

[vidster]

I have started this thread to try and help other people keep their system secure for FREE!.

I will also include anti Adware/Spyware software.

I welcome (and hope) for other members contributions but, at the same time, i would request that members do not turn this thread into a debate.

I will start with my own security software:

AVG7 antivirus.

Sygate personal firewall.

Spybot search and destroy

Ad-aware SE

Spywareblaster

Spywareguard

The last two programs will stop spyware entering your system while Ad-aware and Spybot can be run at any time to catch any adware/spyware that may have managed to infiltrate your system.

Once the programs have been installed on your pc, you need to UPDATE them straight away and then run them all.
Let them fix all the problems they find.

Make sure you update all the programs regularly and your system should be bulletproof!.

There are also various online scans that work really well.

This is an online Trojan scan.

This is an excellent online virus scan.

And This is another very good online virus scan.

[DMC]

I also like Kerio Firewall.
http://www.kerio.com/us/kpf_home.html


Also include Mozilla Firefox
http://www.spreadfirefox.com/?q=affi...&id=15903&t=79

[TimeHacker]

Yes, I think Mozilla Firefox is much safer like IE. If would you like to download a free antivirus, firewall or something, try www.allianceweb.sk I'we just found it

[Zxian]

Another couple of good utilities to have can be found at Mike Lin's Webpage. Go and download the Startup Control Panel and StartupMonitor.

Startup Control Panel gives you easy access to which programs start when you start your computer.

StartupMonitor is a program that will run in the background and notify you if any programs try to add themselves to the startup list.

Cheers!

[DMC]

I forgot about Startup Monitor. Good for novice, I perfer not using it but manually deleting what I don't need.

Also include instructions for Windows Updating.

[sirveaux]

EasyCleaner is a good registry cleaner.

[turco]

the free edition of zone alarm firewall is a pretty good choice as well

[Pam]

Hi,
I just tried to run the trojan scan twice... both times it was half way through the scan and completely shutdown the internet... has this happened to anyone else?

Normally I'm the only one using my computer but lately a lot of people and my kids have been using it and it just seemed to be running really poorly...

I have Windows XP and frequently run the following
Norton Antivirus
Adaware
Spybot
I also defrag and frequently empty my temporary internet files
I thought I was doing pretty good to keep my computer clean.
for the first time today I ran HijackThis and found a bunch of stuff and deleted some of it, I also posted a separate post on this site to see if I could get some help with the rest of the HijackThis scan to make sure I don't delete things I need...
And then I found your sticky post and decided to try the scans you had listed...

Any thoughts, help, etc would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Pam

[theBIGone]

also know, microsoft has an interesting anti-spyware program in beta stage. and downloadable from the microsoft site www.microsoft.com
found spyware that ad-aware couldn't find

[stedroyf]

I have Norton AV and spydoctor along with registry cleaner running on my PC.
Each time I reboot, it could take up to 7 minutes to be ready for use. It just seems like a hell of a long time to me. I am running Win XP, on a 1.8ghz Celeron processor.

If as is suggested one should have at least 4 or even 5 different types of security software, does that not compromise the efficiency/speed of the PCF for doing real work?

[theBIGone]

starting up NAV takes 20 secs on my pc i guess..

[NiTrous]

NAV is a system resource hog. i use PC Cillin, does the lot, boots up fast, as the AV + FW are on the same real time scan.

NiTrous~>

[daemonOS]

Use squid and all your problems can be solved w/one program. Just food for thought. *edit* might also add iptables.

[sdavis83]

Probably already mentioned however these are the ones I use for customer's machines, and I've never had any problems:

Spyware: download for free

Spybot search and destroy 1.3-----www.download.com
Adaware SE Personnel 1.05---------www.download.com
cwShredder------------------------www.download.com--helps a little
highjackthis------------------------www.download.com--really helps professional use only if not you could really screw up your machine
Microsoft Antispyware beta 1-------www.microsoft.com--origionally from a company called Giant but it still works really well
Trendmicro online virus scan--------www.trendmicro.com--now does virus,spyware, and security vulnerabilty, only works while online, not downloadable but picks up trojans, that NAV won't

Spyware: pay for this

Webroot spysweeper

[Dragonmist]

This must be the best bargain going. Go to
http://www.savapoint.com/savapoint/...&page=index.php and get Bullguard 4.5 free, just pay P&P of £2.99. When the disc arrives, load it and go to the Website and register using the username and password on the disc cover. Next day, using the same username and password, download the latest version [5.0] free of charge. Uninstall the 4.5, install 5.0, and you have £39.99 of updates for a year, all for the £2.99 P&P. It updates automatically. Firewall has 2 settings Beginner/Advanced. My daughter, who has made a hash of every other Firewall she has tried, runs this with no problems. It has built-in DNS look-up, Trace route IP address, and Ping IP remote address.