Kitz Forum
Computer Software => Security => Topic started by: dave.m on July 29, 2007, 09:32:42 PM
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This is very out of date, and some recommendations for current tools would be welcomed.
FREE SECURITY and HOUSEKEEPING TOOLS
FIREWALLS
REMEMBER that you can have a software Firewall on the computer and a hardware firewall on a router but NOT two firewalls on a computer.
After installing one of the following Firewalls, check with the Security Centre (Start -> Control
Panel -> Security Centre -> Windows Firewall) that the Windows Firewall is OFF. Some installations will turn it off automatically but some do not, SO CHECK!
Ashampoo Firewall (http://www2.ashampoo.com/webcache/html/1/product_2_0050__.htm)
Comodo Firewall (http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/)
Note! Comodo Firewall is now part of Comodo Internet Security Suite = Comodo AntiVirus + Comodo Firewall
Outpost Firewall (http://filehippo.com/download_outpost_firewall/)
PC Tools Firewall (http://www.pctools.com/firewall/)
Webroot Desktop Firewall (http://www.webroot.com/En_US/consumer-products-desktopfirewall.html)
Zone Alarm (http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/catalog/products/zonealarm_free_firewall.jsp)
ANTI-SPYWARE, ANTI-MALWARE
A Squared Free (http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/)
Ad-Aware 2008 (http://lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php)
Malwarebytes (http://www.malwarebytes.org/)
Spybot Search & Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html)
Spyware Blaster (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html)
Spyware Doctor AntiSpyware (http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor/)
Spyware Terminator (http://www.spywareterminator.com/)
SuperAntiSpyware (http://www.superantispyware.com/)
Windows Defender (http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx)
ANTI-VIRUS
REMEMBER to only have ONE Antivirus programme running at any time.
You can have more than one installed but only one running.
Avira AntiVir PE (http://www.free-av.com/en/download/index.html)
AVG AntiVirus 8 (http://filehippo.com/download_avg_antivirus/)
Avast (http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html)
BitDefender Free (http://www.bitdefender.com/PRODUCT-14-en--BitDefender-Free-Edition.html)
Comodo AntiVirus (http://antivirus.comodo.com/)
Note! Comodo AntiVirus is now part of Comodo Internet Security Suite = Comodo AntiVirus + Comodo Firewall
PC Tools AntiVirus (http://www.pctools.com/antivirus/)
Spyware Doctor With Antivirus 5.5 SE (http://www.download.com/Spyware-Doctor-with-AntiVirus-Starter-Edition/3000-2239_4-10816521.html)
CLEANERS
ATF Cleaner (http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Secure-cleaning/ATF-Cleaner.shtml)
Ccleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com/)
Eusing (http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_cleaner/registry_cleaner.htm)
Malwarebytes (http://www.malwarebytes.org/)
TOOLS
CWShreader (http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Popup-Ad-Spyware-Blockers/CWShredder.shtml)
Microsoft Power Toys (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/Downloads/powertoys/Xppowertoys.mspx)
Recuva (http://www.recuva.com/)
Smitfraud Fix (http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/files/smitfraudfix.php)
Vundo Fix (http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/VundoFix.shtml)
DEFRAGMENTERS
Defraggler (http://www.defraggler.com/)
Diskeeper Lite (http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=1207)
These are only some of the FREE software to help protect you computer.
There is a lot more at the following download sites.
http://filehippo.com/ (http://filehippo.com/)
http://www.majorgeeks.com/ (http://www.majorgeeks.com/)
dave
(Edit, Note added to Comodo Firewall and Anti-Virus. 07-11-08)
(Re-edited and updated 06-11-2008)
(edited & updated 31-08-2008)
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Good post dave and fletch - Thanks for compiling that - I'll sticky it.
Other posts to favourite security software are always welcome :)
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Any, really free, Registry Repair software would be very welcome. All the ones I've found are limited trials.
Waiting hopefully.
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Astral,
What sort of repair do you need to do?
I use Ccleaner to keep on top of any rubbish accumulating, and don't seem to have any problems.
Found this one but, as with all registry freeware, some one says it is great and someone else had a disaster with it.
http://tinyurl.com/yqvvol
I have not tried it, just found it with a bit of help from my friend 'G'.
dave
ps Do you use Ccleaner?
If not they have a very good tutorial.
Tutorial Video at: Using Ccleaner (http://www.timeatlas.com/tutorials/Ccleaner.htm)
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Hi dave.m
I used to have a copy of PC Tools registry cleaner which came on a magazine disk. I haven't been able to reactivate that cos I think there was a product key which i have lost, and anyway it is now a new version.
I don't know what I want to do, except keep my PC running reasonably smoothly. PC Tools seemed to do this. You scanned and it repaired; simple as that.
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What I have been doing lately, because of people having problems of various difficulties with the free downloads offered in the CA magazine, is trying to download and replicate their troubles and then try to get out of the mire caused by some of them.
Once a solution is found, or when I am baffled and fed up of trying to sort their problems I then uninstall the damned thing and run Ccleaner to clear the registry of all traces of it.
It works well for me and I do not appear to have any problems with the registry.
PC Tools' Registry Mechanic from here:
http://www.pctools.com/registry-mechanic/
It is a time unlimited trial and will do some work but to use fully you need to register it.
dave
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I like McAfee's free site checker. It puts a green tick (or red cross!) next to sites returned by Google to show whether any site has been recorded as causing malware or spam problems. There are versions for OE or Firefox. For other browsers you can book mark the site and make individual queries.
It is available as a free download at www.siteadvisor.com
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Hi all I use this FREE Regcleaner and found it very good the first time I used it I removed 6/7 old security entries,
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Registry-Tweak/RegCleaner.shtml
fletch.
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This is a VERY good site that should be bookmarked:
http://www.nowyoudo.co.uk/
dave
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Nice summary kinda site :)
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I have a kind of strange liking for installing something like Windows 95 or NT every now and again on an old PC and hook it into the network and just "enjoy" that kind of back to basic feel where USB doesnt work properly or at all you have to use floppy disks for drivers and so on...
However the point of my post is how it is a pain in the backside finding any security software (particuarly firewalls) which will run on these older, perhaps even "legacy" operating systems. Thankfully AVG Avti Virus Free Edition still supports NT no questions asked, and works on 95 if you have DCOM installed and enabled. Apart from that my installations are rather insecure.
What is really iritating is how sometimes the system requirements are not clearly shown on the software producers website. Sometimes you have to download it first only to get a message about incompatibility or more annoying it installs and they at then a DLL file or some other error occurs.
Ah well, I guess the software market has nothing to gain by supporting older OS. It is frustrating as I couldn't care about a having recent software, just a firewall application which is fit for purpose.
What is equally frustrating is that I seem to care about such an issue. Dont worry, I am gradually getting out more.
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Outpost Firewall V1 is well out of date.
Outpost Firewall V1 was the only free version from Agnitum. The developments have gone through V2, V3, V4, 2008 and are now at 2009.
Having been through all these versions, and seeing what's in the later versions, it only highlights what's missing in V1.
While V1 was fine it its day, I would suggest one of the other free firewalls.
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This post is very much in need of an update. I might give it a go if I get any spare time. If anyone else is willing to contribute please do so.
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You're right, and some contributions would be very much appreciated. I'll add a note to the original post.