Keep You PC protected and running well!

[MadMan1978]

The tools below are all free for home use and provide ways to keep your computer safe.


Anti-Virus-

AVG Anti-Virus

http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10320142.html (http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download?prd=afe)


This is a good anti-virus program that doesn't take over your computer like Symantec and Mcafee products tend to do. Includes the AVG Anti-Spyware compenents as well. Please note that you should only have one anti-virus program running on your machine at a time to avoid conflicts.

Threatfire (http://www.threatfire.com/)
ThreatFire continually protects your PC against attacks by detecting malicious behavior, such as capturing your keystrokes or stealing your data, instead of only looking for known threats like normal antivirus software. By implementing sophisticated real-time behavioral analysis ThreatFire is able to stop never- before-seen "zero-day" threats solely by detecting their malicious activity.
This will complement your existing anti virus protection nicely.

Anti-Spyware-

Spybot Search and Destroy-

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html


Lavasoft Ad-Aware Free Edition-

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php

These two freebies are a good one two punch as what one doesn't pick up the other generally does.


Hijackthis-

http://www.download.com/Trend-Micro-...-10227353.html (http://www.download.com/Trend-Micro-HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10227353.html)


This tool helps you find bad items that can infiltrate your internet explorer web browser.


Firewall-


Zonealarm-

http://www.zonealarm.com/store/conte...ku_list_za.jsp (http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp)


This is a decent software based firewall that adds extra security to your PC beyond that of your broadband router.

Comodo Firewall-

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.c..._firewall.html (http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/download_firewall.html)

I prefer this firewall over Zonealarm's free software for users who are comfortable with adjusting settings. Comodo has much more reconfigurability then zonealarm. Users who like to set and forget should use ZoneAlarm.


Instant Messaging-

Trillian-

http://www.download.com/Trillian/300...dlPid=10781763 (http://www.download.com/Trillian/3000-2150_4-10047473.html?part=dl-trillian&subj=dl&tag=button&cdlPid=10781763)


This messaging client allows you to integrate most major chat protocols into one program.


Other-

Comodo Website Verification Engine-

http://www.vengine.com/products/vengine/index.html

This handy tool helps you identify malicious and phishing websites by placing different color borders around your screen. This utility does not take up much memory and is very good at sniffing out bad sites.


Belarc Advisor PC Audit-

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Need to know information about a piece of hardware in your system? need to know which windows patches are installed? Did you forget one of your software products keys? Belarc Advisor tells you all this and more!


Skype-

http://www.skype.com/

Skype is a messaging and voice client that allows unlimited call time for free using your internet connection.

[meuandthelot]

Solid list, we are due a big upgrade soon with all the protocol & Integration changes.

**Just an FYI Skype has been getting pounded the last 6 month's, most information from Exploits-Phishing are just surfacing..Please check your systems, better safe than sorry.

[centrehice]

Just get a MAC

[Rybowski]

I run a program called HostsMan. It is a host blocker that blocks 200,000 + hosts. If you run this and a spyware program and don't download anything from a non-reliable source, you don't even need an anti-virus program.