Protecting computers for free
Although the IT security vendors would have you believe otherwise, protecting PCs from the vagaries of spam, malware, viruses and trojans not forgetting phishing and spam attacks - is not always an expensive option.
Several enlightened vendors offer free entry-level products in the anti-virus, malware plus adware spotting and anti-phishing sector, hoping that consumer users will either upgrade to a more complex - and paid-for - product, or the free consumer software will be remembered when they make business software purchasing decisions.
AVG (formerly known as Grisoft) is responsible for the excellent AVG Free Anti-Virus software that protects a Windows PC from most viruses and malware.
60 million users around the world - many of them in developing countries - rely on AVG to protect their computers.
The software, which has won awards from PC Pro and others, is wholly automated and, whilst customer support is purely online, the product has been available for several years and widely recognised.
Viruses, trojans and other malware can be loaded by a new type of PC security problem known as Adware.
Originally developed to flog us all stuff via pop-up adverts, adware has evolved into a malware medium, but Lavasoft's Ad-aware is another free application that Windows PC users would do well to investigate.
Although not as automated as AVG's software, Ad-aware can be updated and run once a week to protect against the latest forms of security problems for PCs.
The software also has a neat anti-infection module that loads into memory every time the PC is booted and stops any naughty stuff in its tracks.
The third free application PC users should complete their security triumvirate with is BullGuard from the Danish firm of the same name.
Released at the start of the year, this free anti-spam filtering software integrates with most email client software, including Outlook Express, and stops spam in its tracks.
Unusually for a free-to-use application, the software has free 24/7 live support and is obtaining plaudits from computer publications the world over.
Why is it free?
Simple, Bullguard uses data anonymously from the free software to keep its business users protected against spam using up-to-date spam email lists, so the free software effectively gives it a free research database to tap into.
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By: Steve Gold, guest blogger.
