Probably the Best Free Security List in the World

Updated 17. April 2014 - 0:26 by ako
Introduction

This article contains a comprehensive list of free security-related programs or web applications for Windows XP and later Windows PC-based operating systems. The few non-free programs on this list are included because they are of high merit (in our opinion) and lack a comparable free alternative. This list also includes links to webpages that contain security-related information.

We don't give specific recommendations on this list except for the personal suggestions of the list authors. If you are seeking recommendations then check out Gizmo's Freeware "Best Free" webpages (links to them are shown in the list with ) . Gizmo's Freeware also offers free personalized security advice via the Security Wizard.

We usually list a given item on this list only once, putting it where we think it best belongs. However, sometimes we list a given item more than once if we feel strongly enough that it belongs in multiple locations.

We check all links with Web of Trust. Only links that are rated by Web of Trust as green are shown as hyperlinks. Links that are rated by Web of Trust as yellow are shown as obfuscated links; in such cases copy and paste the obfuscated link to your browser's address bar, then replace [COLON] with : and [DOT] with . to change the obfuscated link into a valid URL. Links that are rated by Web of Trust as red aren't shown either as hyperlinks or obfuscated links. Links that directly link to files are shown as obfuscated links.

We usually don't test the programs or web applications on this list. We usually don't scan the programs on this list with antivirus software.

We usually don't check these keys for a given item: " Adware that may or may not be optional," " Includes software recommendations via OpenCandy," or " Nagware." We usually check key " Program that works without installation" for a given program by using only online information, not by testing the given program.

We encourage you to use the comments section below to let us know about dead links, incorrect links, links to malicious websites, links that include malicious software, incorrect or missing keys for a given item, items that could be added to the list, programs that work only on pre-Windows XP operating systems, or any other issues. You may also use the comments section to tell us about your experience with a particular program or web application. We value these suggestions and look carefully at each one.

Legal Disclaimer: Terms and Conditions for Using This Site.

Short URLs for this page: http://tinyurl.com/free-security, http://bit.ly/DQNn0, and http://goo.gl/nw5c.

This list is maintained by volunteer editors ako, J_L, and MrBrian. 
Probably the Best Free Security List in the World - Page Index
 
Keys (some of these keys are usually not checked by us; see Introduction for details)

$ Not free.

Program that works without installation. May or may not be portable. Other version(s) that use an installer may also be available.

Web application.

Provides only malware detection. May have paid version(s) that includes removal.

CNet download link or other downloader with adware.

FF = Firefox, Ch = Chrome, IE = Internet Explorer, OB = Other browsers, AB = All browsers.

Image itself links to a Gizmo's Freeware "Best Free" webpage. Not a key in some cases.

Image itself links to a Gizmo's Freeware webpage other than a "Best Free" webpage. Not a key in some cases.

Adware that may or may not be optional.

 Includes software recommendations via OpenCandy (potentially unwanted).

 Nagware.
What's New
The newest items in this list are shown in the table below.
Date
Items added
9-1-14 Ace Backup, Iperius Backup Free, Nero BackItUp Free
10-1-14 Diladele Web Safety, Avira PC Cleaner, #totalhash, Email Guardian, Tin Hat, Parrot Security OS, it-sec-catalog, more
13-1-14 Diceware random words method, Making Random Letter Passwords Memorable, How do I use dice to create random strings of letters and numbers?, Passwordcard Generator, How to Create a Secure Master Password, Bruce Schneier's method, Rumkin.com Strength Test, Passwordcard Generator Cardtype 1, MrBrian password storage method #1, MrBrian password storage method #2, Methods and programs for splitting a secret into multiple parts, Methods of password backup and recovery using challenge questions, Myphrase: Strong and Memorable Passwords from Your Own Words, Spelling-Error Tolerant, Order-Independent Pass-Phrases via the Damerau-Levenshtein String-Edit Distance Metric, KISS Privacy, Network Monitor
16-1-14 Nightweb, OpenNIC, more:2
18-1-14 Express Zip, 7Backup, Cookies
24-1-14 Snowden Tribute, Shield for Chrome, Firewall Builder, Norton Identity Safe, Fireclam
28-1-14 Kahu Security, Cache Killer, 
2-2-14 ReadOnce, Automatic System Restore Maker, , Virtru, nCrypted Cloud, Extension Defender, Yunio
7-2-14 FileSearchy, grepWin, , Privacy Guard
11-2-14 ChrisPC DNS switch
14-2-14 , IPFingerPrints, Random Agent Spoofer, f4ubcd, pCloud
20-2-14 Unseen, ShazzleMail, Google Hacking, , How to generate strong passwords with Google Chrome without third-party extensions, Retina Community
16-3-14 ProxyMonster, Software Restriction Policies (feature of Windows) Tutorial #2 - http[COLON]//www[DOT]nsa[DOT]gov/ia/_files/os/win2k/application_whitelisting_using_srp[DOT]pdf, MrBrian's AppLocker rules, Parental Controls (feature of Windows), Software Policy, Wilders Security thread on Software Policy, Tuersteher Light, Wilders Security thread on Tuersteher Light, Using Comodo Internet Security as an anti-executable, Process Blocker
30-3-14 RunasRob, RunasSpc, BuddyBackup, Advanced Port Scanner, SuperScan, Feature Settings Check for Desktop Solutions, Ambush IPS, SetACL, NoVirusThanks Anti-Rootkit, Event Log Explorer
2-4-14 What is a Proxy Server?, What is the difference between a SOCKS proxy and an HTTP proxy?, Shadowsocks, List of proxifiers, BarbaTunnel, ReQrypt, TorWall, Torcap, BufferShield, Freenet, Comparison of Tor vs. I2P vs. Freenet, Internet censorship circumvention, List of Anonymous Networks
4-4-14 Webroot Secureanywhere (the trial version is a very good cleaning tool) $
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Comments

by ako on 16. November 2013 - 10:44  (112262)

Thank you!
by Menklink on 18. October 2013 - 16:44  (111562)

Love your Security List! Its a great resource that saves a huge amount of web search / app comparison and review time!!

I'm gathering 'best of' recommendations for AV / Malware protection apps so I can burn a disc for my son and found that the link associated with Kapersky, under AV-Scanners, is a dead link (see below).

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Kaspersky-Virus-Removal-Tool.shtml

If I have a choice, I prefer to download apps from their sourcing site. In this example, usa.kapersky.com, and the link below is to the Kapersky site for their Free AV app:

http://usa.kaspersky.com/downloads/free-anti-virus-scan?ICID=INT1676497

Thanks!
by Anupam on 18. October 2013 - 17:19  (111564)

Menklink, the Softpedia link is working and is not dead. Please check again. Its opening here.

Also, the link that you posted does not seem to be the right one. The right one would be here:

http://www.kaspersky.com/antivirus-removal-tool?form=1

Anyways, the Softpedia link is working and shows the current version for the tool. Therefore no change will be made.
by Adrastos on 16. October 2013 - 15:34  (111520)

I was checking out Virus Bulletin and came across this free AV
http://senvira.com/senvira-free/
Not sure if anyone has heard of this company and thought I'd post it here. Take care.
by ako on 18. October 2013 - 21:39  (111568)

Thanks! :-)
by Adrastos on 10. October 2013 - 2:22  (111357)

Hey all, I just wanted to ask a question here its related to finding a cloud Av or additional layer of protection I could add that plays nice with AVG Internet Security 2014.
Long story short I got a 1 year license in march 2013 since I was a long time user of the freeware version thought I would try it out. Back then it was doing well in the independent test but now seems its lower then the out of box state of windows 7. (I'm assuming with windows defender enabled.) So I would like to find a additional layer of protection that might help fill the gap, should I run windows defender or just leave AVG as the main protection and just use additional scanners weekly? I am tempted to remove AVG entirely and go with bitdefender free antivirus but I paid for AVG and it would be a waste to remove it and leave it.
Just want to hear what others would do in my situation I would appreciate some feedback thanks again guys keep up the great work here and god bless.
by ako on 10. October 2013 - 10:56  (111373)

Thank you for your words!

One comment (more on the forum): Consider adding another layer with different capabilities. E.g. Sandboxie or Winpatrol. If you insist on an antivirus, add Hitman pro.
by Anupam on 10. October 2013 - 6:34  (111360)

This query will not be answered here. Please post in the forum:

http://www.techsupportalert.com/freeware-forum/security/
by Adrastos on 4. October 2013 - 17:41  (111251)

Hey all how goes it came across a free All-in-one Zip alternative by a company I just recently came across for their alternative to FRAPS called Bandicam. Its used for screen shots or for creating video and mostly used in online gaming. Anyways I came across this Bandizip and thought I would let you guys here know about it so you can do your review and see if its worth adding to the list as it is freeware.

Here is the link http://www.bandicam.com/bandizip/
by J_L on 4. October 2013 - 23:03  (111253)

It's already on 19.12: http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/probably-best-free-security-list...
by Paxmilitaris on 25. September 2013 - 4:03  (110984)

Secure Erase - HDDErase link 404

Active@ KillDisk is a feature very restricted freeware. The free version only allows a one pass zero.
by J_L on 25. September 2013 - 5:26  (110985)

Thanks. I'm not sure if we should include another key for crippleware, because of extra work and its tendency to be subjective.

For example, I find one pass zero perfectly fine for virtually all real-life scenarios. The only non-theoretical purpose of extra writes is the illusion of data still there in my opinion.
by Paxmilitaris on 25. September 2013 - 17:45  (111001)

I would have liked a 3 pass solution, one pass all zeroes, one pass all ones and then another all zeroes.
It's not for theoretical data recovery, it's to find all bad sectors.
by J_L on 26. September 2013 - 1:19  (111012)

Huh, I wonder why that's the case. It shouldn't be impossible to overwrite everything with one pass, is it always like this? Does it have something to do with writing both 0 and 1 to test what's originally zero as well?
by Paxmilitaris on 26. September 2013 - 1:57  (111015)

Exactly! All zeros, then all ones to test and then all zeros to reset the drive.
by Home User on 13. September 2013 - 9:23  (110687)

21.20. Repair Internet connection:

Complete Internet Repair

Change the Link to [http://www.petrichorpost.com/]

BTW, it is OK with VT...
by MidnightCowboy on 14. September 2013 - 4:38  (110699)

There is some doubt as to how safe the new petrichorpost site is. MC - Site Manager.

https://www.virustotal.com/en/url/287b855643c70361c5a5874cdee903cfd7b194...
http://www.urlvoid.com/scan/petrichorpost.com/
by Home User on 14. September 2013 - 8:56  (110701)

VT: 2/39
Void: 1/27

Probably, FPs...

Dear ako,

*Please*, examine whether *Complete Internet Repair*
is Malicious (...)
and (IF it is...), remove it from your List.
by ako on 14. September 2013 - 11:30  (110705)

Having been travelling. I will check this soon :)
by ako on 14. September 2013 - 20:29  (110709)

The site is down....hmmm
The product (Complete Internet Repair)is distributed by many respectable sites, though.
by ako on 14. September 2013 - 20:32  (110711)

I decided to add the link to CNET. What others think?
by MidnightCowboy on 14. September 2013 - 20:46  (110712)

Needs to have a warning attached for the cnet wrapped installer. MC - Site Manager.
by ako on 14. September 2013 - 21:15  (110715)

What kind of warning would be appropriate? You can attach it yourself too.
by MidnightCowboy on 14. September 2013 - 22:55  (110719)

Just the cnet warning icon you use as per the key above is sufficient. MC
by ako on 15. September 2013 - 9:08  (110723)

OK. Thanks MC! :)
by joy90976 on 9. September 2013 - 7:44  (110612)

Just an FYI--A couple of those links in real-time scanners and malware scanners are flagged malicious by the Bitdefender Trafficlight extension, namely Crystal Security and Hazard Shield. I didn't stick around to see if there were viruses floating around....
by ako on 9. September 2013 - 9:13  (110617)

Most likely false positives.
by MidnightCowboy on 9. September 2013 - 13:21  (110623)

Crystal gets 4 hits as a phishing site and also has a bad WOT (Web Of Trust) rating but Hazard Shield does look like a false positive. MC - Site Manager.

https://www.virustotal.com/en/url/0dfed100b26c69999141765e94fbf881629688...
https://www.virustotal.com/en/url/623919975d69389af601f050fe7292ed33b09c...
by ako on 9. September 2013 - 17:02  (110624)

The Crystal security app. is clean at VT (0/47) and there is lot of discussion of it at Wilders. Just normal debugging etc.

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=317258&page=32

-Isn't G-data (one of the 4 hits) using Bitdefender?

-FOrtinet (another) has many FP:s

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=350291

-CLEAN MX (third) : Beware of Clean-mx.de - A flawed virus spam reporting system

http://www.bluetack.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=20173

-WoT is known to have lot of FP:s

I'm 99.9% sure this is FP.
by Home User on 6. September 2013 - 17:04  (110560)

*Antivirus Remover* Link is Not working!

Here, it is the correct Link:

[https://www.dropbox.com/s/o0kjx6drcxj8mc6/Antivirus%20Remover.exe?m]

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