Anti-Virus Tools
AVG Free
AVG has been around for many years, and has practically become the de-facto standard for anti-virus on PCs running Windows; a free version is available for personal use only. The well-chosen default settings will update AVG and scan automatically and offer real-time protection, and many powerful options are available for advanced users.
Active DataComm is an AVG Gold Reseller, so if you need AVG for your company, or if you need a full-featured internet security suite, instead of just anti-virus, we can help! For more information about complete protection from AVG, please click here.
Free version available for personal use only
Microsoft Security Essentials
Microsoft Security Essentials is a comprehensive security package that deals with viruses, malware, rootkits, and more. With live protection, download, on-demand, and scheduled scanning, this is a great option for users running Windows. One of its most often lauded aspects is that Microsoft Security Essentials just does what it is supposed to do, stays out of the user's way unless needed, and isn't greedy with system resources.
According to Microsoft®:
About Microsoft Security Essentials
Microsoft Security "Essentials provides real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.
Microsoft Security Essentials is a free* download from Microsoft that is simple to install, easy to use, and always kept up to date so you can be assured your PC is protected by the latest technology. It’s easy to tell if your PC is secure — when you’re green, you’re good. It’s that simple.
Microsoft Security Essentials runs quietly and efficiently in the background so that you are free to use your Windows-based PC the way you want—without interruptions or long computer wait times.
Free for Genuine Windows
ClamWin
ClamWin is not recognized by Windows Security Center, and does not offer real-time protection, but for on-demand virus scanning alone, ClamWin is well-respected. ClamWin is GPL-licensed, open-source software.
ClamWin is based upon ClamAV, which is available for many operating systems, including Linux, Unix, BSD, and more.
Free, open-source, similar products available for many operating systems
No real-time protection, not recognized by Windows Security Center
Recommended for advanced users
Spyware, Adware, and Malware Removal Tools
Ad-Aware
Ad-Aware has been around for a very long time now, and its features and power continue to grow; simply scan your PC, and Ad-Aware will guide you through any detected threats, and remove them. Some real-time protection is available as well, but it is important to keep this tool up to date and scan your PC on a regular basis.
Free version available
Microsoft Security Essentials
Microsoft Security Essentials is a comprehensive security package that deals with viruses, malware, rootkits, and more. With live protection, download, on-demand, and scheduled scanning, this is a great option for users running Windows. One of its most often lauded aspects is that Microsoft Security Essentials just does what it is supposed to do, stays out of the user's way unless needed, and isn't greedy with system resources.
According to Microsoft®:
About Microsoft Security Essentials
Microsoft Security "Essentials provides real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.
Microsoft Security Essentials is a free* download from Microsoft that is simple to install, easy to use, and always kept up to date so you can be assured your PC is protected by the latest technology. It’s easy to tell if your PC is secure — when you’re green, you’re good. It’s that simple.
Microsoft Security Essentials runs quietly and efficiently in the background so that you are free to use your Windows-based PC the way you want—without interruptions or long computer wait times.
Free for Genuine Windows
Spybot Search & Destroy
Spybot S&D detects and removes a very large number of threats; when kept up to date and used regularly, it can be a powerful part of keeping your PC secure. This tool also offers some real-time protection as well.
Free
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
Yet another powerful tool, also offering some real-time protection, this tool will nicely round out your malware removal tools.
Free version available
Password Tools
Microsoft Password Checker
There is no need to download anything to use this tool; simply visit the site to check the strength of your passwords.
Free
KeePass
KeePass is a GPL-Licensed, open-source, full-featured password manager for Windows. KeePass uses a master password and/or key files to restrict access to a database containing all of your passwords, which can be organized in a variety of ways. KeePass stores its database in a single file, so it is easy to backup, and KeePass is "portable", so it can be installed on, and run from, a portable device, such as a USB thumbdrive.
Free, open-source
System Updates
Microsoft Windows Update
Official Updates for Microsoft Windows
Free
Firewalls
Comodo Firewall
Installing, configuring, and using Comodo Firewall may be a bit daunting for the average user, but for advanced users, it is worth consideration.
Free version available
Recommended for advanced users
Encryption Tools
TrueCrypt
Recommended for advanced users, TrueCrypt is an open-source, powerful encryption tool that is easy to use, and offers high-quality encryption to protect your data. TrueCrypt can create and use file containers, partitions, and even encrypt your system partition, on the fly. Using TrueCrypt offers excellent protection for sensitive information, such as banking information, personal medical records, or any other data that you want to keep safe.
Any encryption plan is only as good as the user's standard operating procedure, so using encryption is not a panacea; Active DataComm can help you make sure that you are making the best use of this, or any security tool. If you would like more information, please contact us.
Free, open-source, available for Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux
Caution advised - recommended for advanced users
Eraser
Eraser is a GPL-Licensed, open-source tool that will securely delete any information that you no longer need. Normally, when you delete a file on your PC, the data is still present, and can be recovered; using Eraser, however, will over-write any file, to make certain that the file is gone for good. Before you throw out that old hard drive with your personal banking information, remember to make sure that your data is really gone.
Like any security tool, Eraser only works if it is configured and used correctly; extreme caution must be exercised when deleting files, because they will be unrecoverable. We can help you get started, wipe drives for you, or help you decide what will work for your needs. If you would like more information, please contact us.
Free, open-source
Caution advised - recommended for advanced users
WinMD5Sum
Though not completely infallable, using an MD5 hash can offer some assurance that a downloaded file is intact and has not been tampered with. Using MD5 is very common, and WinMD5Sum is an easy way to check the MD5 of any file, for comparison to that supplied by the provider of the file. Verifying the MD5 hash of a file is an important part of estabilishing trust, but it is only part of the process. If you would like more information, please contact us.
Free
