EMCO Malware Destroyer

malware scanner

Our Rating: (Fair)

EMCO Malware Destroyer performs a quick scan for more than 7600 malware, adware, Trojans etc. The program lacks the advanced features of other anti-spyware solutions, as well as detailed descriptions or reasons for most of the detected items. It also produced several false positive results during our review. Unreliable as primary choice of protection, but may be useful as a second or third opinion.

Freeware

Comodo Internet Security

personal firewall and antivirus

Our Rating: (Very Good)

Comodo Internet Security (formerly Comodo Firewall) combines Comodo AntiVirus with a personal firewall that filters ingoing and outgoing traffic on your computer. It alerts you of any applications that attempts to connect to the Internet and allows you to permanently or temporarily allow or block the connection. Advanced users can customize the application and TCP/IP rules based on IP address, protocol and destination port, however this is not required unless you have a reason to customize the rules. In addition to application behavior and network connections, Comodo Firewall also monitors components (dll files etc.) that initiate network connections, as well as parent processes and modifications to executables (checksum verification). Other features include attack prevention (port scanning, flooding), adjustable security levels, trusted networks, activity log and more. The firewall and antivirus features can be installed individually, you do not have to install both.

This program automatically installs the Ask.com toolbar unless you opt-out.

Freeware

K-Lite Codec Pack (Full)

installs popular audio and video codecs

Our Rating: (Excellent)

K-Lite Codec Pack (Full) includes 99% of all the audio and video codecs you will ever need. Just install this pack, and you will be able to play just about any media file out there. It includes DivX, Xvid, x264, MPEG 1/2,MP3, Monkey`s Audio,Media Player Classic, On2 V6/V7 and many others. The installer lets you choose which codecs to install, or you can use the default profile which installs all of them. K-Lite Codec Pack also provides access to configuration options for each codec whenever available.

Freeware

Free Window Registry Repair

registry repair tool

Our Rating: (Good)

Free Window Registry Repair enables you to scan your Windows registry to find and remove errors or invalid registry entries. You can choose to scan the entire registry or only specific areas by using the custom scan option. The program presents you with a list of suspected problems, allowing you to inspect the errors before fixing them. An automatic backup is creates before any registry keys are removed, allowing you to restore your previous registry if you run into any problems caused by the clean-up.

Freeware

Publisher's description of AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition

From AVG Technologies USA:

AVG Free Edition is the well-known antivirus protection tool. AVG Free is available free of charge to home users for the life of the product. Rapid virus database updates are available for the lifetime of the product, thereby providing the high level of detection capability that millions of users around the world trust to protect their computers. AVG Free is easy to use and will not slow your system down (low system resource requirements. Highlights include automatic update functionality, the AVG Resident Shield, which provides real-time protection as files are opened and programs are run, free Virus Database Updates for the lifetime of the product, and AVG Virus Vault for safe handling of infected files.

Version 8.5 now includes LinkScanner's Active Surf-Shield to check every Web page for threats at the only time that matters--when you're about to click on the link.

Editor's review of AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition

• 5.0 stars

• "Don't get burned"

• Reviewed by: Seth Rosenblatt
• Reviewed on: November 9, 2008
• Version reviewed: AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.5.285

This antivirus program offers rock-solid protection. AVG Free provides the bare necessities, including a real-time shield to prevent infections, anti-virus and anti-malware wrapped up in one engine, and a link scanner for Web surfing with care.

By default, the application is set to search for new virus definitions daily, but you always can use the scheduling tool to change this. Should a virus create serious system problems, AVG creates a rescue disk to scan your computer in MS-DOS mode. The program doesn't tax your system when scanning or when running in the background and always proved effective in our tests. The new interface is much easier to navigate than in previous version, with tabbed navigation on the left assisting users in drilling down to the tools they need.

Though the free version of this program will suffice for average folks, those who demand more control should certainly consider AVG Anti-Virus Professional.

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.5.285

Tested spyware free

Download Now (60.13MB)

anti-virus scanner

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition

LATEST avg fREE EDITION

Our Rating: (Very Good)

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition is an anti-virus scanner that offers Resident Protection, e-mail Scanner, On-Demand Scanner, and Virus Vault for safe handling of infected files and automatic updates. The free version is limited in features, but includes all basic scanning functionality as well as real-time protection. It uses the same scanning engine as the commercial version, however updates are provided on a low priority basis.

This program automatically installs a Yahoo! toolbar unless you opt-out.

Freeware

ThreatFire - A Brand New AntiSpyware.

ThreatFire

detect malicious computer activity

Our Rating: (Very Good!)- Tested and very useful.

ThreatFire provides behavior-based security monitoring to protect you from malicious programs such as Trojans, viruses, malware and other threats without relying on any signature updates. It can (should) be used along with your regular anti-virus program or firewall, adding an additional level of security to your system. The program works by continuously analyzing the behavior of processes and programs on your system and immediately alerts you if it detects any suspicious actions - you can then decide whether to allow or block the activity. ThreatFire comes ready-to-use and does not require any difficult configuration, however it also offers flexible rule settings that allow advanced users to customize the protection.

Freeware