Best Security Freeware - virus, spyware, spam removal, etc.

Thanks Timber!!

Yep have to remember this page - just found a couple more tools to try

This looks like a good resource to add here Majorgeeks

Lotsa the tools I recommend can be found at MajorGeeks - its a very handy repository. I'll offer a mild caveat, though, applicable to just about any of the tools; acquiring them and using them safely and effectively generally are not at all the same thing. If nothing else, carefully read the application's documentation before trying it out, and if you're still unsure of what will or won't happen, how to bring about the desired effect, avoid undesireable effects, and why, but never the less decide to go ahead anyway, don't blame the application if you find yourself dismayed by the results.

Any kind of firewall/security for wireless internet?

Any wireless router/access point should have both hardware firewall capability and wireless encryption capability. See the appliance's documentation, or vendor's website support pages, for details on configuration and deployment.

Below are several informative articles relating to Wireless Security:


ComputerWorld: Top 10 basic wireless security practices <---- don't bother - the link has expired

ComputerWorld: Best Practices for Wireless Security <---- don't bother - the link has expired

ComputerWorld: Tips on locking down your WLAN <---- don't bother - the link has expired

Microsoft: Recommended Best Practices for Wireless Security <---- don't bother - the link has expired

PC Magazine: Ironclad Security for Wireless LANs

PC Magazine: WPA Security step-by-step

ZDNet: Limit mobile risks--a security checklist


Edit to apologize - I shoulda checked all those links first - thanks to PDiddie for catching the dead ones, and mentioning it. Sorry for the confusion. - timber

Timber, I get 'page not found' (not a 404, but from the website itself) on the first four of your links above.

My fault, PdDiddie - those were links I had saved a while ago - obviously, they've gone stale. I shoulda checked 'em first. Thanks for the heads up, I'll edit that first post to indicate the expired links.

Here's current Microsoft article: Wirteless Network Security

The other three I guess are just plain gone. Sorry. For the adventuresome, a websearch on the term "wireless security" will bring lotsa hits, many relevant :wink:

So many tools!
I've been reading all of this and I am very impressed by how thorough you folks are. But why are there so many different tools? You'd think one of the big companies could bundle all of this into one package.

One might wish for that, Vinny Z (and welcome to A2K) - and there are any number of outfits out there that claim to do just that. The real state of affairs, however, equates pretty much to "One size fits poorly" - no one pill cures all ills, no one app deals with all yuckware and related inconveniences. While the best practice is Safe Hex, computer security/privacy is a moving target; the badguys try to make a living by staying one step ahead of the crosshairs. Far more important than having a loaded toolbox is knowing which tools to use, and when, why, where, and how to use them.

Thank you for that reply, timberlandko. It was a kind of rhetorical question on my part.

I'm glad to be here. I've been reading in some of the other forums. There is certainly an interesting mix of topics and posters.

I've just updated the first post on this thread to fix broken links and remove some apps which are no longer as relevant.

i like AVG free....not a resource killer

I've used AVG Pro and Spybot S&D
For years i've loaded AVG on computers running current versions of Mcafee and Norton. Neither found viruses that AVG took care of.

I've also used spybot exclusivly. It seems to work great for me.

Re: I've used AVG Pro and Spybot S&D
Hi Guys,

There is this one cool free software. I used it in my girlfriend's Internet shop to prevent users from using IE. Based on experience, IE is a spyware-and-other-crap magnet.

So, we made the people use Mozilla Firefox instead.

This software basically blocks IE (or Windows Explorer) from accessing the Internet via HTTP and/or HTTPS (other protocols can be restricted as well).

The software is IE URL Lock (http://sourceforge.net/projects/ieurllock/). Its basically an IE add-ons. You may need to disable IE's Tools->Manage Add-ons menu item so that the add-on will not be disabled.

Enjoy.. =)

I'm pleased to see other people praising Free AVG. IMO it is the only anti virus software I've not heard any complaints about.. and it is FREE.
What bugs me is that computer salespeople who want to sell the expensive anti virus programs are quick to tell pork-pies against free AVG, saying that they had it on their computer and they got a virus. What a load of BS. As soon as they start down that path I know I am talking to a liar. V.

Omg, I absolutely LOVE Opera as a browser, far better than IE or even FireFox imo!