Free Internet Security Software
Yes, it’s true, there are free Internet security programs available out there. Normally these programs consist of either AntiVirus or Firewall and you’ll need to have both to completely protect your computer. You can mix and match from different companies but please be aware that we have not tested the various combinations yet so can’t be sure if there are any conflicts between programs.
Often the free versions of a product are a watered down copy of the full version so you may not have all the features that that a paid version does. So you should make sure you understand what the differences between the free and non-free are and take the appropriate actions. In the case of the free antivirus software, you’ll often have to do the updates manually, not a big task but easy to forget.
Please note that free security software is normally just for home use, you often can’t use it in a commercial environment.
We still recommend getting a single Internet security suite as the best possible protection, which will require a cash outlay. In addition we think many of the security software companies do a great job and highly recommend supporting them by buying a full version. However, for those on an extreme budget or those that need protection for a short period while they investigate the best paid option we think the following options are some of the best.
Firewall
ZoneAlarm Firewall
PC Tools Firewall
AntiVirus
AVG Free AntiVirus
Threatfire
Avira AntiVir
Avast Home edition
a-squared Free
AntiSpyware
Lavasoft AdAware Free
Spybot Search and Destroy
a-squared Free