| The web can be full of hazards these days as | | | | well. If any vulnerabilities are detected, the information |
| hackers and malware developers strive to get | | | | regarding the vulnerability is shown. In addition, a link to |
| important information such as credit card information, | | | | the latest version of the application that patches this |
| user IDs and passwords to paid subscription websites, | | | | vulnerability is supplied if provided by the developer, |
| social networking sites, e-mail accounts, and other | | | | making it easy for people to keep their most important |
| personal data. Other people simply want to wreck | | | | programs up to date. |
| havoc on a multitude of computers connected to the | | | | CCleaner |
| Internet for entertainment purposes. Fortunately, there | | | | At first glance, CCleaner is more of a system |
| are a number of computer security programs that you | | | | maintenance tool rather than a security tool since it |
| should install immediately so that you can prepare for | | | | specializes in cleaning out all of the junk files in the |
| the threats. | | | | computer such as the Internet cache of the different |
| Microsoft Security Essentials | | | | browsers and other temporary files. The security |
| Microsoft Security Essentials is Microsoft's first | | | | aspect of the program can be seen once you start |
| attempt to combat viruses floating around the net. It is | | | | using it to clean up any private tracks that are left |
| presented to be extremely easy for people to setup | | | | behind so that other users won't be able to see. This |
| and runs in the background without eating up too many | | | | includes recently open files, cookies, Internet browsing |
| resources, making it an ideal solution even for older | | | | histories, and other links. It can also be used by more |
| computers that do not have much RAM. The best | | | | experienced users to check what programs will run on |
| thing about this software is that it is free for all licensed | | | | startup. If any suspicious programs are listed, you can |
| Windows XP users and above. Virus definitions | | | | securely remove those entries to disable the |
| update every few days so it should keep your system | | | | malware's functionality. It also has a registry scanner |
| secure enough especially when combined with the | | | | that can solve problems and improve performance as |
| Windows Firewall for blocking attacks and the | | | | well. |
| Windows Defender for combating spyware. | | | | All of the three programs mentioned above are |
| Secunia PSI | | | | freeware and should be installed immediately because |
| Unlike other security applications, Secunia PSI doesn't | | | | they do not cause much of an impact in system |
| tackle or detect any threats that are within the system | | | | performance and do not come bundled with any |
| or on the net. In fact, it doesn't attempt to make any | | | | spyware. However, you can improve your security |
| modifications of the computer itself. Instead, Secunia | | | | even more by substituting your free antivirus scanner |
| PSI scans all of the applications that are installed in the | | | | with a commercial product that can do a better job in |
| system and checks for any vulnerabilities. Some | | | | removing and cleaning malware as well as blocking |
| programs where hackers take advantage of | | | | firewall attacks. Good programs include ESET NOD32 |
| vulnerabilities include many of the Adobe software | | | | and Smart Security, Kaspersky Internet Security, and |
| particularly Adobe Reader and Adobe Flash. Other | | | | other popular commercial tools. |
| third-party browsers are checked for vulnerabilities as | | | | |