Software Links

Free Online Scans

Those listed below are free online virus scans. Useful if locally installed software fails to function, or for a second opinion. The full scans require component downloads, and may take a while on a dial-up connection, they use ActiveX controls and therefore require Microsoft Internet Explorer.

• Housecall - Full online scan.
• PandaActive - Full online scan.
• BitDefender ScanOnline - Full online scan.
• RAV AntiVirus - Full online scan.
• Kaspersky Labs - Scans a single file, or a zip archive. Useful if you just want to scan a single suspicious file.

Free AntiVirus Software

The following are full, non expiring anti virus software. They are free, but some may require e-mail registration (free). These are downloads for Microsoft Windows Operating Systems.

• Anti-Vir (English) - This requires no registration. The update mirror can sometimes be a little slow to respond.
• Anti-Vir (German) - German version.
• AVG Free Edition - This requires an e-mail address to download.
• Avast Home Edition - First you download a trial, then you register (free) for a key for a year, then you register (free) again.

Commercial Anti Virus Software

The following are not free. I have picked those ideal for home users.

• Norton Antivirus - From Symantec. The interface to this product is very slow and uses a lot of resources. Value Added products include detecting keylogger trojans and spyware.
• McAfee VirusScan - Less resource usage than Norton.
• PC-Cillin - By Trend Micro who make HouseCall. The Anti-Virus product is part of a bundle including a firewall.
• Panda Titanium - Easy to use, low resource usage.

Free Firewall Software

The following are full, non expiring firewall software. They are free, but many require an e-mail registration for free, before download. These are for Microsoft Windows Operating Systems.

• Sygate Personal - A good, strong firewall with advanced and basic rule building.
• Zone Alarm (Personal) - Has become more bloated over the years in my opinion. But includes ad/script blocking.
• Kerio - I found the logging poor, but this may not bother you, otherwise a good firewall. Has time limited ad/script blocking features.

Commercial Firewall Software

In general, all of those mention above also have paid versions which may include advanced features, and other features such as ad/script blocking. There is also:

• PC-Cillin - By Trend Micro who make HouseCall. The Firewall product is part of a bundle including anti-virus.
• McAfee Personal Firewall - Well known company, who also make anti virus products.
• Tiny Firewall - Has full support for multi-user Windows Systems. Different users may have different rules. Judge for yourself if this is good or bad!