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Introduction
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Motto: Si vis pacem, para bellum. This outstanding list has been compiled by one of our senior security editors, Antti Koponen. The products are listed with the best free products first (non-free products are always at the bottom of each category), as judged by Antti. Antti's current choices for protection on his XP workstation and Vista laptop have been marked with ►. The products are almost exclusively free with some exceptions: (a) Products where there is no free alternative (b) Good products that offer a lifetime license (c) Exceptional products If you think this list has too many options to choose from, try Gizmo's Security Advice Wizard. Please inform us for dead/false links with the form located at the end of this list! Probably the Best Free Security List in the World (c) 2009 Antti Koponen Index |
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Realtime protection (on-access)
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Anti-virus: Anti-malware: Security suite (anti-virus, anti-malware and firewall): |
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Tools for most common viruses: Removal tools for specific viruses: Malware removal: Additional AV-spesific tools |
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File scanning with several scanners: Online-scanners (FF=also Firefox): |
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Limited versions of commercial firewalls: free Firewalls: Simple firewalls (inbound only): Gateways: |
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Behaviour blocker: Classical strong HIPS: Classical lightweight HIPS: Anti-keylogger: Registry protection: Anti-executable: White-listing anti-executable: Drive firewall: File/Folder Monitoring Software: Anti Dialer: |
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System & Program Files Protection: Drive-by-download blocker: Memory firewall: Address space randomization: System lockdown: USB-firewall: |
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Hardening tools: USB-autorun cleaning USB-autorun disabling Script-file protection: Protection against scripts embedded on web pages: Protection against flash embedded on web pages: SRP (Software Restriction Policy): Adding user rights: Limiting user rights: Determining user rights: Running program with dropped rights: |
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Sandboxing (for browsers/IM/etc): Light sandboxing in browsers: System virtualization: Rollback software: Desktop virtualization: Virtual players: Virtualization software: Virtualized browser: Portable OS: Linux live CD: |
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Windows-system security analyzing: Windows-system security analyzing (OS+installed programs): Installed programs: Searching for drivers: CD With All Current Drivers for Windows XP: Package for most important media addons: |
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Anti-phishing/malware browser plugins: Real-time link scanning: Manual link scanning: Anti-phishing Firefox plugins: Ad blocking: Pop-up blockers: |
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Blacklists for Explorer: Internet proxy+blacklist: Host File management: Host files (blocking malware and advertisements): Caching/filtering and blocking pseudo-DNS server: Internal proxies: External proxies: Better DNS: IP-blocking: Parental control: Spam filters SpamAssassin |
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Collection of tools: Free VPN connection: Free online proxy: SSH and SFTP client: Anonymous browsers: Anonymous browsing tools: Detection of web bugs: Spoofing mac address: Control referrers: Secure HTTPS server: Cookie-control: LSO killing: Key scrambling: Virtual keyboard: Versatile tool for safeguarding banking session: Password management: Protection against search data profiling: E-mail encryption: VPN sofware: Checking your own ip: Browsing without a trace: Removal of metadata: |
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System monitoring and diagnostic: Process/startup/etc scanners: Autorun/startup/etc scanners with analyzing help: Realtime process monitoring: Searching files and processes: |
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Port checking: Botnet diagnosis: Network traffic monitoring: Network traffic analyzing: |
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Versatile cleanup tool: Process killing: File shredders: File killing: Killing registry entries: Device&driver analyzing: Registry editing: System cleaning: Collection of tools: Alternate data streams: Uninstallers: MRU-list deleting: Removing unwanted (preinstalled) Windows/software: |
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File rescuing from Usb-drive/hard disk: File rescuing from memory cards: Rescuing files from corrupted hard disk: Unstoppable copying: Rescuing files from broken CD/DVD: Write error resistant DVD:s: |
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Versatile tool for encrypting: Hiding files: Encrypting files: Encrypting with virtual drives: Encrypting for usb-drive: |
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Data Backup: Portable backup: Online-disk: Registry backup: Programs for mbr backupping and restoring: Creating images from hard disks on-line: Backupping hard disk with Live-Cd: Hard disk cloning: Hard disk cleaning: Backup drivers: |
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Boot-CD: Boot-CD registry editor: Rescuing and troubleshooting: Recover a hanging system: Solve problem drivers: Repairing of broken internet connection: Fixing settings: |
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Guides: Remote control Restore Corrupted Folder Options and Advanced Settings: Tool for balancing process CPU: Tool for downloading and updating a collection of tools: Automatic analyzing of EULA: Security program lists: Guides for malware removal: Best security forums: Updates from Microsoft: AV-laboratories: |
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Eicar test virus: Test spyware (for experts): System shutdown test (for experts): Keylogger-test: HIPS-tests (for experts): Tests for PC: Firewall/port tester: Router crash test: DNS security test: Other security tests: Anti-rootkit tests: Browser tests: Test sites: |
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The best protector: LUA UAC-control Better UAC Vista Firewall control Repairing of broken internet connection: Miscellaneous: |
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Windows 7 firewall control CD With All Current Drivers for Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7:
The update servers of the free version of Avira Antivir are undersized. For this reason the first update may take a long time - an hour or even more. As the install package comes with very old virus definitions, one is not well advised to continue surfing without the update process being finished. One can speed-up the first update by downloading the latest Avira updates here, then double-clicking the Avira system tray icon and choosing Update > Manual update, and searching the downloaded file with the file manager thus opened. You should keep watch on the Avira updates. Double-click the Avira system tray icon. Then click the Configuration button. A new window is opened. Choose Expert mode. Click General > Security. Now check Show notice if the virus definition file is out of date and choose Alert if last update is older than 2 days. One may occasionally meet update problems also in the future, but Avira should usually update itself on its own approximately once a day. As Avira has market-leading heuristics, small lags in updates are not as fatal for Avira as for most of its rivals. However, if Avira regularly fails to update, consider changing to another free AV. In the free version only malware detection. Removal included in the paid version. Probably the Best Free Security List in the World (c) 2009 Antti Koponen |
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Please rate this article
I admire the time and effort to put together such an extensive and comprehensive list.
I would like to suggest that the best and simplest security is to use a live Linux disk. Never a security problem. Never.
I love -- depending on my day and mood -- to use any of the following distros:
LinuxMint
www.linuxmint.com
Puppy
www.puppylinux.com
Simply Mepis
www.mepis.org
Slax
www.slax.org
Ubuntu
www.ubuntu.com
Thanks! Good hint.
Thanks for the a² information. Whether it's fully installed or portable one. I like the info. I think you have gave us very useful information to check and consider. Love you and your works.
I'll rate this post of yours to encourage you to provide people with more helpful and considerable information :)
Btw, I do think you can remove that "Probably" word on the title :D
Thanks! I'm happy if the information given here is found useful! :)
Hi by (no removal) do you mean that there is no uninstall option once installed?
Thanks.
The use of this term usually means that a software can detect something but will not remove it or otherwise deal with afterwards which means you would need another program to complete this process.
Yes. Many commercial free programs encourage this way to by the full version.
I vote that the name be changed to
The Best Free Security List in the World
As there is no probably about it.
Great work
I agree with this 100% but to avoid possible legal complications the title would need to be "qualified" in some way. Even just a "?" at the end would be enough. Something like "The Best Free Security List in the World (challenge it!)" would be another option because that might induce people to post other lists we haven't seen yet containing information which might be of use here too. Whatever, I've always admired the work ako has put into compiling this list and how much is also involved with keeping it updated.
Thanks to both of you for kind words. :)
As a modest man I prefer to have the name as it is now. :D
Shouldn't FortiClient be listed as a Suite? It includes antivirus, antispyware, and a firewall.
Thanks!
Startup Control Panel:
Startup Control Panel is a nifty control panel applet that allows you to easily configure which programs run when your computer starts. It's simple to use and, like all my programs, it's very small and won't burden your system. A valuable tool for system administrators!
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml
Sidki's Proxomitron config:
http://sidki.proxfilter.net/prox-news.html
Thanks, I'll check these.
Hi all,
Quick comment and question,
Why do you have the list repeated on "all" the pages but the comments by posters start over in their numbering?? Kind of a waste of space to repeat the list on 'each' of the pages, and sort of confusing to start post numbers over beginning at 1 on each of the pages!
Also, why is there no way to get a 'printed' version/format of the pages?
Thanks a bunch!
Sincerely,
Sue
Good question, I'll pass it!
Iobit360 and AdvancedSystemCare removed:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=29681&st=0
Thanks for your great list. FYI, Norton Security Scan is no longer part of the Google Pack, at least in the US.
Corrected! :)
ako
Hello Ako,
Thank you for providing and maintaining such a great list. I've recently linked to it over at Calender of Updates, where myself and the Site Admin. would like to post in the calender there any updates to the list when they occur.
See here: http://www.calendarofupdates.com/updates/index.php?s=&showtopic=23791&vi...
Is it possible to be kept informed when the list is to be updated and the changes that are to be made?
Best regards,
RedDawn.
Hello RedDawn,
Thank you for your interest for this list. As the list is for looking for solutions when needed, I personally don't see informing about updates too important. However, I've been asked the same at Wilders, so we could do the following: when any major changes have been performed, I'll post a note to this thread:
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=249469
Is this OK?
No reply yet. Reddawn, please contact me with the contact form.
Hi Ako,
I replied a couple of days ago but it must have got lost. Possibly due to this sites problems over the last few days?
I don't seem to be able to find the contact form, but will check by the thread at Wilders every now and then.
Regards,
RedDawn
You need not to check it actively. Just register there and mark it as "follow this thread".
You'll see the contact form if you register here.
Ako
Hi RedDawn
We did in fact lose all of the comments and some forum stuff covering a two day period after our site backup crashed. Sorry for that, but everything is back to normal now.
@Ako
Thanks, will do.
@MidnightCowboy
No bother, thanks for the reply.
Regards,
RedDawn.
haveing printer problem.hp j4580 all in one.will not print.screen comes up with "thunking spooler apis from 32 to 64 process has stopped working.how do i fix this.
"drs"
Go to ask on our forum, please.
hi,
i was wondering if you could have a look at ninja pendisk, and if it has any merit?
http://nunobrito.eu/ninja/
Thanks.
I'll check this!
Link for Doc Scrubber
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/docscrubber.html#Overview
Here is a piece of software that covers a BLIND SPOT in this truly amazing list of security tools.
The MS Office documents that we e-mail out or share via memory stick,CD or DVD contain "metadata" about the author of the document. This can also happen with PDF files.
The removal of this hidden information is highly critical in the Health Care and Legal professions.
To remove this metadata a free tool like Doc Scrubber can be used.
At this stage Doc Scrubber works on Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP.
It is possible that others that review this list of security applications might know of a free alternative that works on Vista and Windows 7.
Thanks! Very good idea. (I'm using the Microsoft's own add-on for this.)
well that's actually true...avira updat is poor,shouldn'tt be no longer rated first.
i bet it doesn't happen that often with avast..just check the avira forum personal,and you'l find a lot of complaints.
I've added above:
The update servers of the free version of Avira Antivir are undersized. For this reason the first update may take a long time, even an hour or so. As the install package comes with very old virus definitions, one is not well advised to continue surfing without the update process being finished. One can speed-up the first update by downloading the latest Avira updates here, then double-clicking the Avira system tray icon and choosing Update > Manual update, and searching the downloaded file with the file manager thus opened. You may occasionally meet update problems also in the future, but Avira should update itself on its own approximately once a day.(As Avira has market-leading heuristics, small lags in updates are not as fatal for Avira as for most of its rivals.)
Installed Avira AntiVir, then uninstalled it, when it refused to update after 30 minutes of trying various things. During the 30 minutes, the most likely reason for the failure seemed to me that their update servers are not powerful enough collectively to do the job properly, and it seemed that many others have the same trouble (2,000 Google hits for "antivir won't update"). Bye, bye, AntiVir, perhaps I will give you another go when your makers are serious about providing a proper service.
This is indeed the problem with Antivir. However: I've been told that it will update itself on its own - but forcing it will often fail. So you could have waited one day before giving up. (meanwhile use the link above to update Avira definitions once)
I've heard good things about Endian firewall (Untangle is similar). Both are free for base version.
www.endian.com
Thanks!
IOBit 360 is also reviewed here:
http://www.brighthub.com/computing/smb-security/reviews/50057.aspx
The way I see it, it's "all show and no go"...
I've done some private testing with 0-day malware. The free version of IObit was not good at blocking but scanner could remove malware quite well.
Thanks for the feedback ako. So based on your own experience would you say it has a place as a complimentary tool?
Yes. It seems to me it is close to MBAM and SAS as a scanner.
My thoughts too, plus it has the real-time protection missing from these other freeware alternatives. In terms of value at a little over 10k in use it has to be worth the system investment as a complimentary tool. I'm still advising running it as such rather than as a replacement for any other real-time software users might already have installed. It's only by getting some more feedback on this basis that we can begin to build a comparative picture of exactly what Iobit 360 finds (or not) in relation to the others.
The real-time protection of the free version is not very good. Eg. Prevx is much much better.
Unless they've changed it, the free version of Prevx has no real-time protection or malware removal capabilities, except for some minor stuff maybe? Please correct me if I'm wrong because it's been a while since I looked at this program. I guess I'm hoping that this part of Iobit 360 will improve further (bit like the AV improvements in CIS) as the software develops over time.
Yes, it removes something, but not much. But for a second opinion its quite useful. I'm presently installing it to my friends PC:s along with some free AV, like Avast.
IObit needs to keep something for the commercial version, like they have done with the heuristics.
Agreed - thanks for your input.
I've actually just replied to a post in another section saying that we still need to see exactly what the target focus of Iobit 360 is before we can judge how effective it might be, or indeed where it should fit in to someone's security setup. The tiny number of samples in this Brighthub "test" tell us nothing, especially when we don't even know what they were, how old, or how they were introduced into the system.
ip blocking:
Peerblock works much better than Peerguardian. It works on vista and windows 7. The GUI and settings are identical but peerblock has incorporated a much needed signed driver, and thats pretty much where peerguardian left off.
http://www.peerblock.com/
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