Important Firewall Installation Tips
-- Before installing personal firewall software on a Windows computer,
be sure that the firewall built into Windows 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 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 Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Patch Auditors -- Malware loves out of date software
Anti-Malware
-
Bots -- Try
Trend MicroTM RUBotted (Beta)
-
Google Pack -- Includes PC Tools Spyware Doctor
with Anti-Virus 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.
- Security
Suites --
Try
Comodo Internet Security,
Blink Personal Edition,
Fortinet or
SecureIT
- Spyware --
Try
avast!
antivirus Home Edition including anti-spyware & anti-rootkit,
Microsoft
Security Essentials (anti-virus/spyware),
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 Alwil Avast! Home Edition,
AVG
Anti-Virus Free Edition, Avira AntiVir Personal Edition or
Microsoft
Security Essentials (anti-virus/spyware). See
our Anti-Virus page for more information.
Internet
- Ad
Blocker --
For MS Internet Explorer, try IE8Pro. 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 Chrome, 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
- Search Privately -- Try
Scroogle or ixquick's
Start Page
- Wireless Hot Spot Protection --
Try
AnchorFree Hot Spot Shield
or
AirDefense Personal Lite.
See our Mobile Security and
Wireless
Router pages for more information on wireless security.
Communication
Hard Disk Backup
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
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.
|