[martin_fierro]

FYI

FREE PC PROTECTION: (Not an exhaustive list. Your results may vary. Void where prohibited. For entertainment purposes only. No wagering, please. Whattayawantfernuthin'.) (Thanks, but "Buy a Mac" doesn't qualify as "FREE PC protection")

Free Alternative browsers: Mozilla FireFox Opera Free AntiSpam utilities: Mailwasher (last free version) XTerminator Free Antiviral/Trojan protection: AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition Avast! (requires periodic re-registration) Ewido Free Firewalls: ZoneAlarm Sygate Personal Firewall (thanx KoRn) Kerio Personal Firewall Test your firewall from without with: ShieldsUP! DSL Reports Port Scan Test your firewall from within with LeakTest Free General Anti-Malware tools: Prevx Intrusion Detection (thanx TomGuy) WinPatrol (thanx TomGuy) Free Popup ad killers: Bayden Systems Popup Popper: Blocks popup ads well in MSIE Shoot the Messenger: Close that friggin' Messenger in Windows XP Free Spyware removers: Spybot S&D AdAware Microsoft Anti-Spyware Free System Diagnostics: Everest Home Edition (thanx TomGuy) Free Windows Update: Windows Update LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Explore Linux as an alternative OS: Try Linux without installing it on your hard drive, via a free bootable CD-ROM! Download Knoppix (or one of these other Linux distributions), burn the ISO file onto a CD-ROM, and reboot with the CD-ROM in its drive. If you later want to install Knoppix on your hard drive, here are some tips. Ubuntu Linux (free, user-friendly download)

[RandallFlagg]

Bookmarking. Thanks, Martin.

[goldstategop]

I've replaced Norton with Microsoft WindowsOneCare on both of my computers. Bootup time is faster and there's virus protection and a better firewall to replace the Windows default one. While its in beta, it can be downloaded for free from Windowsonecare.com. It provides complete protection and you can't beat the price. Works well alongside Microsoft Anti Spyware.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Niteranger68]

I am running Windows XP and use the following programs which have kept my PC 100% clean.

Norton AntiVirus 2005 - $40/year

Microsoft AntiSpyware beta - Free

AdAware SE Personal - Free

Spybot Search & Destroy - Free

Spyware Blaster - Free

RegSeeker - Free

Norton AV and Microsoft AS are dynamic. They actively monitor your computer and you can scan your system. The freeware versions of the other programs are mostly static. You run these periodically to scan you computer for bad stuff.

What combinations have others found successful?

(...stop me if you've heard it all before - BTE)

[Khurkris]

One of the best I've found. http://www.ewido.net/en/

They gave a micro checker that is free and amazing. D: it and check yr system. I run a lot of security and it found 2 apps and removed them. Main prog is free fr 15 days and then turns into a free prog with just slightly reduced performance. Still very worthwhile.

[JoJo Gunn]

ping

[MikefromOhio]

Linux?

but that's for commies!!! /Golden DoDo



:)

[chaosagent]

Great List!

[ThreePuttinDude]

bttt

[Chi-townChief]

Thanks and bump.