2008 Woodie Awards
Four free programs protect your computer
Nathan Thomas
Issue date: 3/8/07 Section: BizTech
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Internet users are a source of crime when they take advantage of unsecured computers.
One or two hours worth of effort can help greatly improve your computer’s security against internet threats.
Fortunately, it can be done without spending a penny.
Compiled below is a list of the four greatest free programs that can help keep your computer safe.
This list has four main criteria.
First, they had to be free. The programs had to be free without requiring premium upgrades. Although there were upgrade
versions available, the free versions had to be useful.
Second, the programs could not come with any catches. That means they would not come with unwanted programs or adware as part of the installation.
Third, the programs worked and were well liked.
Countless users have endorsed these programs with their
recommendations.
Last, they had to be reasonably easy to use. There’s no point to a program that cannot be operated.
It is important to note that this list focuses entirely on
Internet security.
Perhaps you already have programs that serve this purpose. But, you may also want to take additional measures such as periodically backing up your computer or setting a password upon logging in. With that said, you can find all of the following programs by searching their name at your favorite search engine.
ZoneAlarm 6.5.722
This program is a firewall. That means it limits other Internet users from having access to your computer. It helps prevent attacks from hackers. Firewalls are especially important if you have an internet connection that is on all the time. ZoneAlarm lets users decide which computer applications get access to the Internet.
It also blocks Internet traffic from coming to your computer that is risky.
When first installed, it pops up with warnings that notify you
that an application is trying to access the Internet.
You can permanently approve or deny these requests and this
setting will be remembered for the future.
This program is a necessity for those who do not already
have firewalls installed.
Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition 1.06
Adware and spyware are common sources of anxiety these days. They are the nasty programs that like to install themselves on your computer when you surf the internet. They increase the number of pop-up ads you experience. They can also invade your privacy by tracking your surfing data and sending it back to a marketing firm.
A periodic scan by Ad-Aware finds and removes these annoyances that can accumulate.
Ad-Aware requires occasional updates to ensure it recognizes the latest threats.
If you don’t have a program that removes adware or spyware, you will likely be surprised by the amount of junk that a
scan will find.
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 7.5
Viruses can wreck havoc on a computer. They can delete, alter, or steal information that is on your computer.
They can also make your computer unusable.
A periodic scan by an anti-virus program can find and remove
any viruses that may be hiding on your computer.
While there are many anti-virus programs that require payment, AVG Anti-Virus manages to do a good job for free.
Like with Ad-aware, periodic updates are vital. It’s important to note that having multiple anti-virus programs installed can
create conflicts.
Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.2 and McAfee SiteAdvisor
These are actually two separate downloads that work together. Mozilla is an internet browser.
It is the program that allows you to surf on the internet.
Firefox automatically blocks most of the pop-up ads that try to appear. It also has easy to use privacy controls to keep your information private.
It tends to have less security flaws than Microsoft’s popular Internet Explorer.
The added security of McAfee SiteAdvisor works with Firefox to warn you of potentially dangerous sites. SiteAdvisor displays a color coded icon in your browser that is green, yellow, or red.
This color depends on pop-ups, potential spam, and possible phishing sites.
These informative color codes are also listed next
to the search results of Google and Yahoo.
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