| These days you can find practically anything on the | | | | Ad-Aware 2007 features: |
| internet, some things for a price, and the rest of them | | | | - Windows Vista Compatible |
| for free. This holds true to Antivirus software, firewalls, | | | | - Customizable themes |
| and adware/spyware blockers. These programs keep | | | | - Repairs damage left by malware |
| our computers malware free and running in tip top | | | | - Erases internet surfing tracks |
| shape without the slowdown of trojans and spybots | | | | - Free software updates and support from worldwide |
| sending all of our personal information back to their | | | | security volunteer network |
| creators. If you're like a lot of people out there you can | | | | Ad-Aware 2007 has been downloaded over a quarter |
| shell out lots of cash for programs that are supposed | | | | of a billion times, scored a 4 out of 5 stars on a |
| to keep your computer clean and running optimally like | | | | Editor's Review and it only takes 3 minutes to run a |
| Norton and McAffee. These programs are fine and | | | | smart scan on my system. |
| dandy if you don't mind that they're pretty expensive | | | | Windows Defender features: |
| ($39 a year at McAfee and Norton for basic anti-virus | | | | - Extremely easy to use with a simple interface |
| software, the security internet suites can easily run an | | | | - Updates downloaded and installed automatically |
| upwards of $70) and slow your computer down to | | | | - Very little system resources used, able to do things |
| turtle speed with all the extra addons and | | | | normally while scanning |
| r-no-reason' , or you can use free software and | | | | - Real-Time Protection so your protected while surfing |
| achieve some of the best protection you can get for | | | | the web |
| less headache and less cost. | | | | Microsoft Windows Defender is a strong spyware |
| Antivirus Programs | | | | detector and what make it even better is the real-time |
| The two antivirus programs I recommend is avast! | | | | protection that is offered with the free software. Most |
| antivirus v4.7 and AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition . | | | | free softwares leave that out of the free version and |
| They're both fully compatible with Windows 98 and | | | | only include it if you pay. The only downside is that it |
| onwards, yep that includes Vista too.avast! antivirus | | | | only works on Windows, duh. |
| features: | | | | Firewalls |
| - Standard shield providing real-time protection | | | | The two good firewalls that I can recommend are |
| - IM shield for instant messenger protection | | | | ZoneAlarm Firewal and Comodo Firewall Pro. I find |
| - P2P shield for P2P protection | | | | ZoneAlarm easier to install and use, but Comodo has |
| - Internet mail for email protection | | | | all the options a power user would need for |
| - Microsoft Outlook/Exchange Protection | | | | administering his network and monitoring his firewalls. |
| - Web shield for HTTP protection | | | | Comodo features: |
| - Network shield that protects against well known | | | | - Host Intrusion Prevention System to lock down |
| network worms | | | | access to critical files and block malware before it |
| - Audible alarms | | | | installs |
| - Boot-time scan | | | | - Advanced Network Firewall Engine to prevent |
| - Also a completely skinnable GUI | | | | programs from connecting to the internet |
| Surprisingly avast! is not a system resource hog, the | | | | - Application Behavior Analysis to detect suspicious |
| only windows that popup is a small one above the icon | | | | application activity |
| on the task that tells you that a new update has been | | | | - A white list for almost one million trusted applications |
| installed. Avast! regularly receives updates practically | | | | Comodo Firewall is good for those who want the |
| daily so you can be sure your virus database is | | | | most out of their firewall and want to be able to use all |
| always up to date. It's also compatible with According | | | | of their options and settings for an extreme network |
| to AV-Comparitives (An independent site that | | | | monitoring application. According to PC World Australia |
| rigorously tests antivirus software on scanning and | | | | Comodo Firewall even does better than most paid-for |
| virus detecting abilities) avast! detected 95% of the | | | | competitors. |
| viruses tested and got the 'Advanced' designation in | | | | ZoneAlarm features: |
| their tests which is the second highest ranking. | | | | - Inbound intrusion detection system |
| A downside to avast! is that even though it's free after | | | | - Ability to which programs create outbound |
| 60 days you have to register via their website and | | | | connections |
| you'll receive a one year renewable registration key in | | | | - Compatible with Windows Vista |
| your email. Avast! is overall a genuinely good free | | | | Zonealarm is very easy to use and install, and when |
| antivirus software solution that's easy to use and | | | | it's in use you won't notice it unless there's something |
| update, all while offering superb protection with it's | | | | crazy going on in your firewall. When a new program |
| many different scanners. | | | | is trying to access the internet a pop up window from |
| AVG Anti-Virus Free features: | | | | the taskbar shows up and asks for permission, after |
| - Periodic scans | | | | accepting or denying access you can select a check |
| - Email scans | | | | box to prevent it from asking again. |
| - Ability to Heal some infected files | | | | Each one of these programs can be used to help |
| - Virus vault to hold infected files | | | | make your computer system and network safer from |
| AVG is also hardly a resource hog with it's minimum | | | | hackers, intruders, viruses, trojans, and spyware. Also |
| system requirements only at 16MB of RAM and 20MB | | | | each one has different features available to it's users |
| of hard drive. The scan time is average compared to | | | | and offer slightly different levels and kinds of |
| other antivirus software, and even while scanning | | | | protection so be sure to do some more analytical |
| AVG does not use that many system resources. And | | | | research before making a final decision. Also don't |
| according to AV Comparitives AVG Anti-Virus did | | | | double up on firewalls or antivirus programs, because |
| even better than AVG detecting 97% of the possible | | | | those can cause a multitude of conflicts with each |
| viruses in it's test scan received the highest ranking of | | | | other as a general rule is only one firewall or antivirus |
| 'Advanced+'. | | | | software program on a machine. With the spyware |
| Spyware/Adware Removers | | | | detectors and removers, you'll be better off grabbing |
| For antispyware protection and removers you can | | | | more than at least one, because they all detect |
| look to Lavasoft's Ad-Aware 2007 Free and | | | | different spywares so to have complete protection |
| Microsoft Windows Defender 1.1. They both offer | | | | you'll want to make sure you have a few good |
| optimum spyware and malware detection and are | | | | programs for that task. |
| pretty easy to use. | | | | |