This is a dangerous world for a computer user- threats multiply
by the hour designed to swipe your data, cripple your network,
steal your identity and in general- wreck havoc. Fortunately you
can arm yourself to battle these menaces with several top
software programs. And the best part is that these applications
are free. So strap on your seatbelt and let's get started!
The first weapon in your arsenal should be anti-virus
protection. Many of the popular and expensive programs tend to
slow down PC performance and require an annual paid
subscription. My impression is that they work no better than
their "freeware" cousins. A good recommendation/alternative is
www.grisoft.com" target="_blank">AVG Free
Edition from Grisoft. This program may not feature every
single bell and whistle offered by some of the more commercially
available apps, but it does provide rock-solid protection with
all the tools needed to keep your system free of viruses, worms
and Trojans.
Next in line: the firewall. A firewall is essential in
preventing others from breaking into your machine. These hackers
will steal your data, destroy your system or attempt to convert
your computer into a "spam zombie" (remotely using your computer
to send spam email) so using an effective firewall is a must.
Owners of Windows XP (Home or Professional Edition) may be
familiar with its built in firewall, however many options
abound. While there are numerous offerings in this category, the
www.www.zonelabs.com" target="_blank">Zone Alarm
Free Firewall is a sure bet.
Now that we have anti-virus and firewall protection, let's
address a topic I hear more and more frequently: what to do with
all of those pesky passwords? Luckily there is a stellar new
program,
CyberScrub">www.cyberscrub.com/keychain"
target="_blank">CyberScrub KeyChain designed
specifically to address this perplexing problem. Distributed
free, KeyChain stores not only your user names and passwords,
but all of your addresses and credit card details. All passwords
and sensitive data are stored under a single master pass phrase,
eliminating the need to recall scores of unique access
combinations. You simply highlight and click a password
protected website from a small browser toolbar and KeyChain
fills in and submits your log in details. As powerful web-based
form filler, the long and tedious process of typing in your
credit card and address info is a click away, making shopping a
snap. All data is protected with strong encryption for your
safety.
Of course no discussion of computer protection would be complete
without discussing the scrounge of spyware. Every bit as
insidious as a computer virus, spyware seems to multiply
exponentially with new forms of malware limited only by the
creative schemes of the evil geniuses that produce them. Spyware
can easily take control of your machine, opening and closing
your CD bay, serving objectionable browser ads, hijacking your
homepage, logging your keystrokes to steal your passwords and
more. So if you don't have protection against this menace, take
action now. Lavasoft offers a very good program,
www.lavasoftusa.com" target="_blank">Ad-Aware SE
Personal.
While this list is by no means exhaustive, it will provide the
essentials to protect your PC and data. So don't delay- your
computer needs you!
About the author:
Bill Adler is a free-lance writer based in Georgia. He
specializes in articles and papers exploring all aspects of
computer security.
