Since I first wrote an article on the ten best free security applications, a number of new programs have been released that I have had the opportunity to test. Some applications such as Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic, Spyware Terminator, and several others have replaced previous recommendations; so this updated list.
avast! 4 Home Edition
This anti-virus application is a winner, scanning files on demand and on access, including email attachments. It alerts you when it detects mal-ware through its real-time shield function. An important feature is a boot-time scan option which removes mal-ware that can’t be removed any other way.
Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic
This anti-virus program offers comprehensive protection with an easy to use interface. In the three months I have been testing Avira I have been impressed with its performance, and I have come to rely on it as my primary anti-virus program. I highly recommend this one.
Spyware Doctor Starter Edition
Spyware Doctor Starter Edition from PC Tools is an excellent choice, as a secondary line of defense. This free version of the award winning program, with its easy to use interface, is used by millions of people worldwide to protect their computers; it’s reported there are a million+ additional downloads every week. Be aware however, there is no real-time protection offered with this version and this is the reason I recommend this application as a secondary scanner only.
Spyware Terminator
Having tested virtually all of the major anti-spyware applications over the last year or more, I’ve settled, for now, on Spyware Terminator primarily due to its strong real-time protection against spyware, adware, Trojans, key-loggers, home page hijackers and other malware threats. In my view this is the definitive free anti-spyware application.
Ad-Aware 2007
Having used this application for years the latest release does not disappoint. Ad-Aware 2007 Free remains the best free spyware and adware remover available. It does a relatively good job of protecting against known Trojans, dialers, malware, browser hijackers and tracking components. The only downside with the free version is real-time protection is not included.
ThreatFire 3
ThreatFire 3 excels at blocking mal-ware including zero-day threats, by analyzing program behavior. Again, this is one of the security applications that forms part of my front line defenses. I have found it to have high success rate at blocking mal-ware based on analysis of behavior. In fact, since I installed this application 6 months ago I have not had to deal with any security breaches.
Comodo Firewall
The definitive free firewall, Comodo Firewall protects your system by defeating hackers and restricting unauthorized programs from accessing the Internet. I have been using this application for 6 months and I continue to feel very secure. It resists being forcibly terminated and it works as well, or better, than any firewall I’ve paid for. This is one I highly recommend. Amazing that it’s free!
ZoneAlarm
The free version of ZoneAlarm lacks the features of ZoneAlarm Pro’s firewall. Its program control asks you regularly whether to allow programs; for some this can get to be intrusive and annoying. But it’s been around forever it seems, and it can’t be shut down, or out, by mal-ware.
WinPatrol
Do you want to get a better understanding of what programs are being added to your computer? Then WinPatrol is the program for you. With WinPatrol, in your system tray, you can monitor system areas that are often changed by malicious programs. You can monitor your startup programs and services, cookies and current tasks. Should you need to, WinPatrol allows you to terminate processes and enable, or disable, startup programs. There are additional features that make WinPatrol a very powerful addition to your security applications.
SnoopFree Privacy Shield
SnoopFree Privacy Shield is a powerful application that guards your keyboard, screen and open windows from all spy software. I have been using this application for quite some time, and I have been amazed at the number of programs that have requested access to my keyboard and screen. In particular, programs that I am in the process of installing. If you’re serious about privacy, this is a must have addition to your security toolbox.
19 responses so far ↓
Need Free Security Programs? – 10 Of The Best! // March 6, 2008 at 12:57 pm
[...] Read the rest of this great post here [...]
Need Free Security Programs? – 10 Of The Best! // March 6, 2008 at 1:35 pm
[...] josecorona wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptSince I first wrote an article on the ten best free security applications, a number of new programs have been released that I have had the opportunity to test. Some applications such as Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic, Spyware Terminator, and several others have replaced previous recommendations; so this updated list. avast! 4 Home Edition http://www.avast.com [...]
» Need Free Security Programs? – 10 Of The Best! // March 6, 2008 at 6:09 pm
[...] AntiVirus wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt Since I first wrote an article on the ten best free security applications, a number of new programs have been released that I have had the opportunity to test. Some applications such as Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic, Spyware Terminator, and several others have replaced previous recommendations; so this updated list. avast! 4 Home Edition http://www.avast.com This anti-virus application is a winner, scanning files on demand and on access, including email attachments. It alerts you when it [...]
Pages tagged "spyware" // March 6, 2008 at 11:17 pm
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Radamés // March 7, 2008 at 5:56 am
Hi Bill:
I’m glad to see that your experience with Avira is positive. This is ironic, but I switched to AVG since the disaster that I caused mixing security apps some weeks ago. Since then, I can’t use Avira, so I went back to AVG. One thing that I like from AVG that Avira lacks is a fast update process. Sometimes the update process takes too much time and AVG is speedy in all its processes.
Frank Shanahan // March 7, 2008 at 9:13 am
My first stop when it comes to security is ProcessLibrary.com’s ProcessScanner
It scans your PC and tells you what you have on there, what it’s for and what program it’s associated with.
It also tells you if anything’s a threat
Antivirus » Blog Archive » Need Free Security Programs? – 10 Of The Best! // March 8, 2008 at 4:18 pm
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Are You on Orkut? - Be Aware - Orkut Social Network Trojan! « Bill Mullins’ Weblog - Tech Thoughts // March 9, 2008 at 12:27 pm
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Protect Yourself - MasterCard SecureCode Phishing Attack! « Bill Mullins’ Weblog - Tech Thoughts // April 10, 2008 at 11:58 am
[...] Elsewhere in this Blog you can download freeware anti-malware solutions that provide excellent overall security protection. Click here. [...]
JASON // April 17, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Don’t forget AVG
Malware Piggybacks on Greeting Card (E-card) Spam « Bill Mullins’ Weblog - Tech Thoughts // September 5, 2008 at 12:36 pm
[...] keep it up-to-date. If you’re unsure if your computer is adequately protected, then checkout – “Need Free Security Programs? – 10 Of The Best!” on this [...]
Is It You in This Video? - You Don’t Want to Find Out! « Bill Mullins’ Weblog - Tech Thoughts // September 13, 2008 at 3:35 pm
[...] you are unsure of you current security software, then checkout “Need Free Security Programs? – 10 Of The Best!” on this [...]
Dave Brooks // September 15, 2008 at 9:32 am
Just a note on Threatfire, do not install if your using Logmein remote access. Threatfire and other PC Tools software cause an issue where you loose complete keyboard control of the host system during a remote session, they are aware of the problem.
Speedup That Slow Computer - 6 Free Solutions « Bill Mullins’ Weblog - Tech Thoughts // October 13, 2008 at 12:35 pm
[...] It’s possible of course, that the performance of your computer has been adversely affected by malware infections. If you believe that’s the case, read my article on this Blog, “Need Free Security Programs? – 10 of the Best!” [...]
Google - Get Off Your Collective Butts and Fix The Problem! « Bill Mullins’ Weblog - Tech Thoughts // January 16, 2009 at 4:46 pm
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CE // February 7, 2009 at 4:12 am
I really appreciate your helpful site. I have the $ AVG and I am concerned that after installing some of the software listed here, the different security programs will be at odds with one another and cause problems. Can you refer me to some reading about what I should disable? Thanks!
billmullins // February 7, 2009 at 9:46 am
You’re right to assume conflict with concurrently running AV programs.
Simply put; only one anti-virus, and one anti-spyware application should be
run at the same time.
Not all AV programs play well together.
Bill
Slow Computer? - 6 Free Solutions « Bill Mullins’ Weblog - Tech Thoughts // February 7, 2009 at 1:24 pm
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You Won $1,230,310! Still Believe in Fairy Tales? « Bill Mullins’ Weblog – Tech Thoughts // May 23, 2009 at 11:27 am
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