computerProtecting your computer is crucial if you regularly surf the web.  That’s because the Internet is full of viruses, worms, spyware, and other “nasties” that can wreck havoc on your machine.  I myself have had the misfortune of contracting a few of these over the years, including a recent bout of the dreaded XP Antivirus 2008. 

Fortunately, decent protection and support can be obtained online for free!  Below is a list of useful software and services that can will cost you nothing.  For simplicity, I have catorgized everything into three subheadings: anti-virus software, anti-spyware, and support services.  When you’ve finished reading, I suggest you do some downloading, if you’re not already adequately protected.

Free anti-virus software

Anti-virus software is one of the basic components of PC protection.  These 3 are the most popular free versions obtainable online:

  1. Avast:  I have run Avast on my desktop for years, and it works great!  The interface may look a little rough, but the protection is superb.  Features include scanning on demand and adjustable sensitivity levels.  To download Avast for free, click here.
  2. AVG:  AVG is what I run on my laptop.  I have found it to be more user-friendly and a bit more polished than Avast.  It is available in an upgraded version for a price, but for most of us, the free version is just fine.  Click here to get AVG.
  3. Avira:  I must admit that I have no experience with Avira.  However, it is highly-rated and recommended by those who do use it.  In addition, it’s considered to be amongst the easiest to use.  You can find Avira here.

Free anti-spyware/malware

There are a lot more choices when it comes to free anti-spy/malware programs.  I have listed the ones I have found to be the most useful:

  1. Malwarebytes:  If you don’t already have this installed on your computer, do so right now!  This is one of the fastest, most effective anti-malware applications on the market.  To get Malwarebytes (and I really think you should), click here and follow the directions.
  2. Spybot – Search & Destroy:  I have this on my work computer.  To me, it does a good job and has generally received good reviews.  It is available for download here.
  3. Adaware:  Adaware is yet another highly-regarded anti-malware application, brought to you by Lavasoft.  I have no experience with it, but have only heard good things.  If you want it, click here and download the free version.

Free help/support

I would guess everyone gets something they don’t want on their computer eventually.  Most of the time, the above-mentioned programs can get rid of it for you.   However, in case it won’t go away,  the following is a list of free online sources for help:

  1. Bleeping Computer
  2. Geeks to Go
  3. Cyber Help Tech

I myself used Bleeping Computer when I got an infected rootkit that was beyond the scope of my “nerd skills.”   I can’t recommend them enough, as they walked me through the whole cleansing process from start to finish.

Things to know about free PC protection

There are a few thing to consider before you get all download happy.  Hopefully, these suggestions will make the process a little easier and ensure the greatest amount of protection:

  • Never run more than one anti-virus application on your machine at any given time: It is as simple as that.  Multiple anti-virus application running at the same time can cause major problems.  Thus, uninstall any that you may already have, including those free trial offers, before installing any new anti-virus software.  However, the same does not hold true with anti-spy/malware, so download as many as you want.
  • Remember to update your applications: New viruses and other goodies appear on the Internet daily.  Thus, it is important to constantly update your definitions, so that each program will recognize new threats when they come across them. 
  • Make sure your firewall is turned on:  A firewall is your first line of defense against hackers, so make your you keep it on as much as possible.
  • Update your browser:  New vulnerabilities seem to be discovered on a regular basis.  Thus, it’s always important to update your browser, especially if you are using Internet Explorer.

Final thoughts

If you are one of those individuals who leaves his or her computer unprotected, download something now.  There is no excuse given the wide availability of free applications.  Trust me, if you leave your computer unprotected for long, a day will come when you regret neglecting it.