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Probably the Best Free Security List in the World

Probably the Best Free Security List in the World - Page Index
9. System hardening

9.1. Guides for securing your PC:
Gizmo's Security Wizard
Ako's current choices for protection
Gizmo's Guide to Securing Your PC
Best Free Security Diet Plan
BlueZanetti
Cyber Security Tips
Select Real Security
CKnow Virus Tutorial
Invincible Windows
10 services to turn off in MS Windows XP
Microsoft: How to disable the Autorun functionality in Windows (more: XP  V )
Creating a secure domain policy in Windows 
Security Beacon – Security Check List

9.2. Limited user account (LUA):
Why you should not run your computer as an administrator
Vista, 7  another
XP

9.3. More secure browser:
Google Chrome
SRWare Iron
Comodo Dragon
CoolNovo
Yandex.Browser
Firefox
Waterfox
Opera
SeaMonkey
Epic Browser
Pale Moon 
MultiMi
Comodo IceDragon
Google Chrome Frame
Dooble     
SlimBoat

9.4. More secure PDF reader:
PDF-XChange Viewer
Foxit
Sumatra

9.5. More secure media player:
PotPlayer
VLC media player
KMPlayer
Media Player Classic - Home Cinema
UMPlayer

9.6. More secure image viewer:
FastStone Image Viewer
Irfanview
Picasa

9.7. More secure office suite:
LibreOffice
Kingsoft Office Suite Free
Zoho Docs
Google Docs

9.8. Hardening tools:
Vispa (V)
xpy
Harden-It
SafeXP
XPantispy
Security & Privacy Complete
Seconfig XP
Samurai (XP)
Accounts Tuner
Windows Worms Doors Cleaner (XP)

9.9. Anti-exploit tools:
Crystal Anti-Exploit Protection (beta)
ExploitShield Browser Edition (beta)

9.10. Protection against specific vulnerabilities:
.LNK Shortcut Antivirus
.LNK G Data
.LNK Sophos

9.11. USB-autorun disabling:
Panda USB and AutoRun Vaccine
Flash disinfector
Thumbscrew
USB Immunizer
Protect My Disk
USB Protector
AutoRun Antivirus Pro
See Also

9.12. Script-file protection:
Script Defender
ScripTrap

9.13. SRP (Software Restriction Policy):
instructions 1
instructions 2
PGS - Pretty Good Security more
Safe Admin 2
AppAdmin

9.14. Adding user rights:
Sudo for windows
suDown

9.15. Elevating user rights:
SuRun
PowerBroker Desktops

9.16. Running program with dropped rights:
PsExec
StripMyRights
1-defender
RunInsideLimitedJob  

9.17. Running program with specific integrity level:
Runasil
Chml and Regil

9.18. Improved Group Policy Editor:
Doug's Windows XP Security Console
Polsedit  

9.19. File & folder properties:
FaJo XP FSE
Attribute Changer
NTFS Permissions Tools
PathLock

9.20. Check fo privilege escalation:
AccessEnum 
AccessChk 
Dark Elevator 

9.21. Protect/restrict programs and apps:
AskAdmin (formerly AppAdmin)
Application Blocker

9.22. Hardware-based security:
Determine Processor Security Feature

9.23. Other:
Protect Windows with pfSense and VirtualBox

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Comments

by Anonymous on 5. June 2009 - 18:14  (23112)

Nice list. Some links point to finnish sites as expected, some other are outdated and other are not relevant, but overall you did a good job, thanks !

by ako (not verified) on 5. June 2009 - 21:02  (23126)

Hi!

What links are outdated? (I know there are products that are discontinued, but have included them if I find them still useful.)

by Anonymous on 8. June 2009 - 20:42  (23354)

Wow Amazing!! Someone can tell me why i didnt get this list by my rss subscription?

by peter on 8. June 2009 - 23:16  (23361)

You subscribe to a Finnish site? You speak that language?

by PsychEroc on 9. June 2009 - 0:18  (23365)

I really like comprehensiveness and this is it!
Only there are so many choices.
I'd like to know the Editor's Choice and the People's Choice (most popular) for each category. But that opens a whole other can of worms.
I wonder if Gizmo's "Top Pics" could be indicated at least.

by peter on 9. June 2009 - 6:46  (23383)

I don't really understand the last line of your comment.Please bear in mind that this list is copied from two other sites (with full permission, natch) It gets updated sometimes, so any edits made on this page will then be lost. Have I misunderstood you. PsychEroc?

by ako (not verified) on 9. June 2009 - 10:46  (23398)

Hi!

I have tried to have a kind of order "the better more close to top", but this is of course subjective at best.

by JonathanT on 9. June 2009 - 11:48  (23401)

Great list!

What's the difference between UAC-control and Better UAC?

by PsychEroc on 9. June 2009 - 13:19  (23409)

I thought it would be useful, for example, to put a star by the products that are Gizmo's Top Picks.

by peter on 9. June 2009 - 13:32  (23410)

You are very welcome to do that, but you'll have to repeat every time the list gets update (we don't know how often that will happen).

by PsychEroc on 10. June 2009 - 3:28  (23474)

Someone mentioned SafeSpace in a comment for another article, but it's not listed here.
It's no longer being developed, but just wondered if you are aware of it AKO?

by ako (not verified) on 10. June 2009 - 8:32  (23481)

Thanks for a comment. I decided to leave it out as there are developed alternatives, and for a (policy-based) sandbox I expect full security, which is only guaranteed by continuous development. SP may be still very valid, though.

A good example of a very valid undeveloped product is Processguard. It still blocks processes as well as ever.

by ako (not verified) on 10. June 2009 - 8:33  (23482)

Norton has a kind of whitelist included.

by ako (not verified) on 10. June 2009 - 8:51  (23485)

If you are willing to help here. we could think about this.

by peter on 10. June 2009 - 9:48  (23490)

Maybe that's worth explaining in the Article, at the top or somewhere in the bit "This list was kindly provided...
But it's just a sentence, I think.

by Anonymous on 12. June 2009 - 6:27  (23657)

These are for all practical purposes Windows tools, correct?
It would be nice to see a delimiter of OS applicability...just sayin'.

by Anonymous on 12. June 2009 - 12:40  (23669)

Just started using Hamachi as a free VPN solution to replace Cisco's non-Vista compatible VPN client software. It ROCKS!

by Anonymous on 12. June 2009 - 13:18  (23674)

Thanks so much for your efforts to provide this all-encompasing list "of everthing you'll ever need"!!! Am saving it in a Folder in case of future need(s)!!

by Anonymous on 12. June 2009 - 13:20  (23675)

Hi,

for virtualization I and many people use VirtualPC,
you list "Microsoft" but the name of the program is actually VirtualPC, not Microsoft.

Thanks

by Anonymous on 12. June 2009 - 13:32  (23676)

Seems you have forgotten LastPass - my favorite pass keeper

thebluejay

by Anonymous on 12. June 2009 - 14:07  (23678)

Surprised to not see SNORT, or for that matter, an entire NIDS category. Still, nice list that pointed me to a new series of tolls I wasn't aware of. Thanks

by Anonymous on 12. June 2009 - 14:23  (23680)

This is a great list. I've been around a long time but there are plenty of items I haven't encountered before. I also found a dodgy site but only indirectly from the list. Sometimes I check out the ads! Fantastic effort.

Just a comment. I like free stuff so I can try it for a while but I make a point of buying anything I need that is really good. That way I feel I'm supporting those vendors worth supporting. Usually the paid version is worth paying for so it's a win-win.

by Anonymous on 12. June 2009 - 14:25  (23681)

"Surprised a program you like is not on the list" - "the list is not complete without...." - "I prefer to use (such and such)" - "Some of the links are outdated" .......... nag nag nag.... bitch...
The list is free people and someone has spent much time and effort to present it to you... that doesn't give you licence to complain.

Try giving instead of taking and complaining. Seems it's true that our value is judged by what we charge for a service.

by Anonymous on 12. June 2009 - 16:00  (23687)

Twister is NOT free. It has a BUY NOW button. How is that free?

by Anonymous on 12. June 2009 - 16:07  (23689)

Yep, first thing I noticed too. Lastpass is absolutely brilliant. It is so brilliant, I voluntarily paid money for it!

by Anonymous on 12. June 2009 - 18:31  (23702)

A very helpful list! Thank you for putting it together.

by housecorrupt on 12. June 2009 - 18:37  (23704)

5*

by Anonymous on 12. June 2009 - 18:48  (23705)

What about Untagle? www.untangle.com
Free basic firewall to re-purpose hardware (linux-based).
I have no affiliation/investment with this group....fyi

by Anonymous on 12. June 2009 - 20:51  (23714)

Loki VPN Client (www.projectloki.com). "Loki Network Project is free VPN service and SSL based free VPN server. It is an opportunity to protect your private data (IP address, e-mail/FTP/HTTP passwords, web-sites visited, uploaded/downloaded files and etc...) and bypass certain Internet access limitations you may have at your location."

lloonn

by Anonymous on 12. June 2009 - 21:46  (23718)

I have to chuckle because this list points out my main problem with free security software -- the multitude of combinations. You have to find an optimal combination of products, avoiding functional overlap, while minimizing security holes. For example, multiple product categories offer what they call HIPS. If my firewall has HIPS, can I turn it off in my anti-malware and/or anti-virus package? Same for popup blockers, or anti-rootkit, etc., etc., etc. I've even gone through the exercise laying it all out on a spreadsheet to try and identify optimal combinations, but came to the conclusion that there's a fundamental flaw here -- these products just aren't designed to work together.

Now, if someone did some actual vulnerability testing with product combinations, I would be very interested in that. Until then, I'm willing to pay for an integrated, full-function security suite.