Six Of The Best Free Security Downloads
You might be surprised to find that the range of available free security software makes it difficult to single out the best free internet security software downloads for Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 or even older Windows based systems. As a matter of fact you can find free security download in a variety of categories some of which you may not even have considered. Security for your Windows XP or Vista computer using well selected free software can be as good as or better than store bought.
INTERNET SECURITY AS A ‘TRIANGLE’
Because of the range in quality of free internet security software downloads for Windows XP (from worthless to phenomenal), you can’t just randomly pick a free product and expect it to work. Only consider well tested and reviewed free security software products as potential contenders. If you find an interesting free security program that does not appear to be in wide use or well reviewed, you certainly should not install it on any XP or Vista based computer especially if the computer is used to store sensitive business information or is running mission critical operations.The problem is that it certainly would be very difficult to tell if the free firewall or antivirus software is protecting your computer is functioning correctly or even working at all! While it is often easy to determine if some types of software such as a game is malfunctioning, you may have no idea if your security software is functioning correctly. When internet security software fails, it may do so without any warning as to its failed status. While not all online risks are extreme, why should anyone have to face any of them.
When talking to our clients we often refer to the concept of internet security as existing in a triangular shape. This idea of a triangle allows for consideration of all three main groups of downloadable security software. Antivirus software, firewalls and antispyware programs make up the primary classes of protection for your Windows computer. You would find other types of security software that will provide additional protection within the center of the triangle. While using this analogy of a triangle is helpful, new hybrid function software products have complicated the design a little. This idea of three types of security software will be followed to allow us to quickly cover our six favorite internet security programs. There are a number of exceptional free security software products available to fulfill each region of our triangle concept. A few of the top internet security downloads will be reviewed in this article.
FREE ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS
The range of top free antivirus software downloads available for your Windows system might surprise you.The free Internet Security Suite from Comodo is in my opinion the absolute best free antivirus product. Comodo makes money working with enterprise security and other corporate solution products so decided to offer their personal security products to all users free of charge. Almost a year ago Comodo created a security suite from their free antivirus and firewall products. Comodo Internet Security finds and removes viruses from desktops and even networks protecting in real-time using proactive heuristic analysis to intercept unknown threats. Comodo can block malware before it has a chance to run by using host intrusion detection. New virus update files are sent to Comodo every day to keep it current. Like Comodo Antivirus, PC Tools Antivirus Free is a great but little known program. PC Tools is better known for two other Windows products, Spyware Doctor and Registry Mechanic. Unlike Comodo, this product does also come in a paid version with live customer support and more rapid updates but the antivirus protection is identical. Frequent database updates and real-time protection a key features of the free antivirus product from PC Tools. Deep virus scanning power is a key feature of PC Tools Antivirus Free Edition to allow you to be confident of your virus protection. There are not any problems under Vista for either of theses products.
FREE FIREWALL SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS
When looking for a free firewall for your Windows XP or Vista computer you will find fewer to choose for when compared to a couple of years age. This really is not of any concern because the two very best free software firewalls for Windows XP and Vista are still running strong. Zone Alarm Free Edition is on most short lists of top free firewalls to protect Windows based systems. While not a universal choice, many users consider this to be the best choice available. The popularity and wide use of ZoneAlarm has made it the best understood and most reviewed free internet security firewall. While suitable this still is not our favorite free firewall download. You cannot find a better firewall than the one included in the free Comodo Internet Security suite. While good the free Zone Alarm has less features that the retail versions of firewalls they offer for Windows XP and Vista.Simply put, Comodo Firewall may the absolute best firewall free or paid to protect your Windows XP or Vista computer. Many reviewers called Comodo Firewall the best stand alone firewall in existence. The new free Comodo Internet Security suite is a compelling blend of Comodo Antivirus and Comodo Firewall.
FREE ANTISPYWARE SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS
There are quite a few great free antispyware software downloads available for your Windows computer. While many internet security products can only be run as one per class, antispyware often works best with two or three running at the same time. In addition to Windows Defender from Microsoft, we have also added Spybot and Spyware Terminator to give an extra measure of spyware protection. This antispyware trio has been performing together for over a year providing enhanced spyware protection and no problems.
If you select one of the free security software products from each of the three main groups, the combination should provide you with more than suitable internet security protection. Once you have taken care of the three primary security groups, you then can begin to consider secondary security products such as those dealing with spam, privacy issues, content filtering and select from some of the more exotic classes of free internet security software.