Free Personal Firewall & Internet Security Software

These are some of the best personal firewalls and Internet security products and services that are available free for personal use.

Tall Emu Online Armor Personal Firewall offers excellent leak test protection per Matousec.com and it's Scot Finnie's best firewall of 2008. Sunbelt Personal Firewall full version 30 day free trial, then reverts to free version features or purchase to keep all. See free/full comparison table on their web page. Tech Support Alert's top firewall choice. Comodo Firewall Pro was a PC Magazine Editor's Choice December 2007, and is included in "The Best Freeware", PC World, January 2007. ZoneAlarm Free Firewall 8.0 rated "good" by Neil Rubenking, PC Magazine, December 2008.

Important Firewall Installation Tips -- Before installing personal firewall software on a Windows XP computer, be sure that the firewall built into Windows XP is turned off. Never use two software firewalls at the same time. Completely uninstall one before installing another. Use the vendor's uninstall utility or if not available, use the Windows XP add/remove software tool in the control panel.  After you install a firewall, be sure to check it with a service like the Security Space Desktop Audit to make sure that it is configured correctly. Testing your firewall is the only sure way to tell that your computer is really being protected. See our installation page for more information.

Free Internet Security Software

Patches, Updates & Service Packs

• Microsoft Update -- Go here using Internet Explorer
• Patch Auditor -- Try Securia Software Inspector, KC Softwares SUMo & RadarSync

Anti-Malware

• Bots -- Try Trend Micro^TM RUBotted (Beta)
• Google Pack -- Includes Norton Security Scan for viruses & worms and PC Tools Spyware Doctor (lite) for spyware, adware, trojans & keyloggers; go here to download.
• Intrusion Prevention and Detection -- Try PC Tools ThreatFire Free [formerly Novatix CyberHawk]. See our Zero-Day Protection page for more information.
• Phishing -- Use features built into IE, Firefox and other browsers. See our anti-Phishing page for more information.
• Spyware -- Try avast! antivirus Home Edition including anti-spyware & anti-rootkit and Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Free. See our Anti-Spyware page for more information. After cleaning, use SpywareBlaster to block new spyware from loading onto your computer.
• Trojan -- Try the online TrojanScan or download a² free. See our anti-Trojan page for more information.
• Virus -- Try avast! 4 Home Edition, AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition, or AntiVir Personal Edition [no email scanner]. See our Anti-Virus page for more information.

Internet

• Ad Blocker -- For MS Internet Explorer 7, try IE7Pro. For Firefox, try Adblock Plus.
• Anonymous Surfing Service -- Try JAP or Tor
• Bad Websites -- Try McAfee SiteAdvisor, HauteSecure or WOT (Web of Trust).
• Browsers -- Try Firefox or Opera as an alternative to Internet Explorer.
• Browser Protection -- Try Sandboxie
• Content Filters -- Try OpenDNS or K9 Web Protection
• Firefox Extension -- Try NoScript to manage website javascript, Java, Flash, anti-XSS...
• Password Managers -- Try Access Manager, KeePass, LastPass, RoboForm and SignUpShield
• Wireless Hot Spot Protection -- Try AnchorFree Hot Spot Shield, AirDefense Personal Lite or WiFi Guardian. See our Mobile Security and Wireless Router pages for more information on wireless security.

Communication

• Email Client -- Try Thunderbird with anti-spam and anti-phishing as an alternative to Outlook Express.
• Email Encryption -- Try the Hush Mail email service.
• Instant Messaging Security -- Try IMSecure at 
• Spam Stoppers -- Try MailWasher or SPAMfighter Standard. For more information, see our anti-spam page.
• Zip + Encryption -- Try SecureZIP Sandard Edition for Windows Desktop 12.1

Hard Disk Backup

• Back Up Files Online -- Try Mozy Online Backup, get 2GB Free; see our Secure PC Backup & Storage page for more backup options.
• Virtual PC -- Try MojoPac to carry files and applications on a USB storage device or iPod.

Laptop Theft/Loss Recovery

• Adeona is a free Open Source system for tracking the location of a lost or stolen laptop while preserving your privacy. It works with Linux, Mac OS and Windows XP/Vista.

Cleaners

• New PC Cleaner -- The PC Decrapifier removes unwanted software from new PCs.
• Privacy Cleaner -- Try IE Privacy Keeper, CCleaner or CleanUp!
• Registry Cleaner -- Try EasyCleaner or Eusing Registry Cleaner
• Secure Erase Utility -- Try Eraser
• Security Software Removal -- Before installing new security software, use AppRemover to uninstall any conflicting security software from your computer. For Symantec products, use the Norton Removal Tool.

Website & Software Terms & Conditions

• Anti-EULA -- Try EULAlyzer [say what?], it checks an "end user license agreement" (EULA) before you install software to check for amazing provisions like it's ok to spy on you or to swamp you with ads.
• See Jumping Through EULA Hoops, Dan Costa, PC Magazine, January 1, 2008, for more information about this important issue.