These days you can find virtually anything on the internet, certain things for a price and the rest of them free of charge. This is true for anti-virus software, firewalls, and spyware/adware blockers. These programs to keep our computers malware free and running in tip top shape without the slowdown of Trojans and spy send all our personal information to their creators. If you are like many people out there you can shell out lots of money for programs that are supposed to keep your computer clean and running optimally, such as Norton and McAfee. These programs are fine and dandy if you bother they are quite expensive ($39 per year to McAfee and Norton anti-virus base software, internet security suites can easily execute a more than $70) and slow down your computer up to the speed of the turtle with all extra addons and ' intrusion-detecting-virus-scanning-database-blocking-popup-alerts-that-annoy-.
The-Hell-out-of-you-and-show-up-for-no.-Reason', or you can use free software and achieving some of the best protection, you get less headaches and less than fresh.
Antivirus programs
Two antivirus programs, I recommend is avast! v 4.7 anti-virus and AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition. They are both fully compatible with Windows 98 and leave, yep that includes Vista too.
Avast! features antivirues:
Standard shield protection in real time
IM shield for the protection of instant messaging
P2P security P2P shield
Internet mail to the email protection
Protection for Microsoft Outlook/Exchange.
Web Shield for the protection of HTTP
Shield of network that protects against well-known network worms
Audible alarms
Analysis of start-up
Also a GUI fully skinnable
Surprisingly avast! is not a hog of system resources, the only windows that popup is a small over the icon on the task that said you that a new update has been installed. Avast! receives regular updates almost daily to make sure that your virus database is always up-to-date. It is also compatible with according to AV-Comparitives (an independent site that rigorously tests software antivirus scanning and virus detection capabilities) avast! 95% of tested viruses detected and received the designation of "Advanced" in their tests which is the second highest rank.
A disadvantage of avast! is that even if it's free after 60 days, you must register via their Web site and you receive one year renewable registration key in your email. Avast! overall is a free antivirus that is easy to use and update, software truly good solution while providing superb protection with is several different scanners.
AVG Anti-Virus Free features:
Periodic analysis
Scans of E-mail
Ability to heal infected files
Hopping virus to organize the infected files
AVG is also hardly a pig resource with its system minimum to 16 MB of RAM and 20 MB of hard disk requirements. The scan time is medium compared to other antivirus software and even in analysis AVG does not use that many system resources. And according to AV-Comparitives AVG Anti-Virus was still better than AVG 97% of the possible virus detection in there test scan received the ranking of "Advanced +".
Spyware/Adware removers
For solvents and spyware, you can watch of Lavasoft Ad - Aware 2007 Free and Microsoft Windows Defender 1.1. They provide optimal spyware and malware detection both are fairly easy to use.
Ad-Aware 2007 features:
Windows Vista Compatible
Customizable themes
Damage repairs left by malware
Clears internet waterways
Network of volunteers of free software updates and support for security in the world
Ad-Aware 2007 has been downloaded more than a quarter of a billion times, scored a 4 out of 5 stars on a Download.com review writing and it takes only 3 minutes to perform a smart scan on my system.
Features of Windows Defender:
Extremely easy to use with a simple interface
Updates downloaded and installed automatically
Very few resources used, system capable of doing things normally while scanning
For your protected real-time protection while surfing the web.
Microsoft Windows Defender is a strong spyware detector and what makes them even better is the protection in real time which is available with free software. Most free software leave the free version and include only if you pay. The only disadvantage is that it only works on Windows, duh.
Firewall
The two good firewall that I can recommend are Firewall ZoneAlarm and Comodo Firewall Pro. I found easier to install and use ZoneAlarm, but Comodo has all the options that a user would need to manage its network and monitoring of the firewall.
Comodo features:
System intrusion prevention host to lock the file access critical and block malware before it installs
Firewall network engine to prevent the internet connection advanced programs
Analysis of application behavior to detect the activities suspicious application
A white list for trust close to a million applications
Comodo Firewall is good for those who want the best use of their firewall and want to be able to use all their options and parameters for the extreme network monitoring application. According to PC World Australia Comodo Firewall even better than most paid for competitors.
ZoneAlarm features:
Inbound intrusion detection system
Ability to which programs create outbound connections
Compatible with Windows Vista
ZoneAlarm is very easy to use and install, and when it is used you'll see strand unless there is something crazy going on in your firewall. When a new program attempts to access the internet a pop up window from the taskbar shows and requesting permission, after acceptance or refusal of access, you can select a check box to prevent it from request once again.
Each of these programs can be used to help secure your computer system and network of hackers, intruders, viruses, spyware and Trojans horses. As each has different features available to its users and offers slightly different levels and types of protection then do not hesitate to do more analytical research before making a final decision. Also not double up on the firewall or antivirus programs, because those who can cause a multitude of conflicts between them as a general rule is that one firewall or software antivirus on a machine. With spyware detectors and removers, you better take at least one, because they all detect them different spyware to have full protection, you will want to ensure that you have a few good programs for this task.
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