Software and Tools for PC security

The best things in life are free.

The Free Country-Free Anti virus software, free firewalls, adware and trojan removers
This page has the software I recommend the most as well as many others. I have made it easier for you to get the most popular programs, by listing them below with the download link.

AVG anti-virus
I swear by. I have used it for about 5 years and have never had to do a complete system rebuild from loss of data like I often had to do with Norton anti virus, which didn't detect the virus until it was too late! Best of all it's free! Throw Norton in the bin, its crap!

Spybot
is the best spy ware removal and detection program ever. I have tried others but this is still the best! Yes it is free! I have donated to these guys because its fantastic that they have given us such an excellent program which is way above any others on the market which cost. After you try the product, perhaps you will also consider donating to support them and their work.

Registry Cleaners and Utilities

Keep your PC clean and running without crashes, and start up problems.

Tune up Utilities 2008
Works with Vista. Download for 30 days free, full features, no restrictions, and no commitment to buy.

Ad aware
Detects and removes spy ware, hijackers, dialers etc. The Standard Edition is free for non-commercial use only.

Hijack This!
A general homepage hijackers detector and remover. This is the program to use when you are asking professionals what is wrong with your pc running like it has a virus, or internet pages and popups. It is only for advanced users.

Firefox
This browser is safer than internet explorer. No more accidentally closing windows, neat and tidy in tabs.

Sometimes a virus will make your anti-virus program in-operable. So here are some free online virus scans. The only one here that I know and have used before is Trend.

Freedom Virus Scan

Jotti's Online Malaware Scan

Trend Micro Online Scan
This is the european version as it supports a wider range of browsers.

Free Firewall Programs

Zone Alarm
Zone Alarm is an easy to use and free personal firewall that is used by many people on the Internet. The free versions allows you to decide which applications you can allow to access the Internet, but does not allow you to block specific IP addresses. This is a Windows firewall.

PC Tools Firewall Plus
I haven't used either of these before, but I have just downloaded this one to replace my Sygate firewall. Sygate used to be fantastic but it's not maintained any more and of late was causing a few problems.

Ok, if you can't be bothered reading just do three things-

Install AVG anti virus

Install a firewall

Install a spyware remover

What you need to know!

If you are going to visit porn sites, hack sites, serial numbers and cracks, P2P downloaders like limewire (for example), you are asking for big, big problems.

If you have to download stuff/music, there are alternatives to limewire etc. which don't install spyware or virii with the application. Try downloads.com, Free Downloads centre or Tucows. These sites have hundreds of free to try or use programs and applications. Stay away from serials and crack sites, they're bad news!

Don't open links that come in an email, especially banks, paypal, or ebay. (I get lots of these email spam, I look at what the link is going to when I put the mouse over, so I know its some evil person trying to steal passwords and money). Don't click on any buttons you see in flashing ads at the top of some random page. Just use some common sense, and protect your valuable data! Its just not worth the frustration and stress that follows!

Anti virus program- Never run a PC without one! NEVER!

Firewall - Keeps the nasties out. Don't be ignorant, I learnt how to use one on my own, so should you!

Every few days to a week run spybot or ad aware, there's no excuse, these programs are free!

Registry Mechanic removes entries that are orphaned, make your system crash or no longer needed, as well as malaware induced entries! I really like this program, and three years of use has never deleted anything that caused me problems afterwards, so I trust it.

I hope by your visiting this page or downloading some of these vital programs it has or will save you some heartache. Not to mention if you don't know how to do a reformat on your own PC it will cost you around $90 an hour for someone else to do it.

The only time I need to reformat my computer now, is when I decide it's time to start fresh, in that case I have already backed up my data and I pick the best time to wipe it clean. In my experience I have learnt some valuable lessons.

I purchased Symmantec GHOST AWESOME!!! So what I did was reformat (wipe clean-delete everything). Then install my operating system, then spend the next few days installing all the programs and applications I need/like/use. (First one is always anti virus scanner).

Once all that fiddly time consuming stuff was done, I installed Ghost, made a copy of my C drive and stored it on DVD and a backup on another drive.

If I ever have to wipe my machine clean again, I just boot up with that DVD click GO, I can't say enough good stuff about this program, it saved SO MUCH TIME AND STRESS!!!!!!!

Don't be a dumbass-get smart!

I hope these suggestions make your life a whole lot easier, less costly and protect your data, and mind!

Good luck!