Freeware Security Suite - 2013 Update

Way back in 2005 I wrote a post on how to build your own freeware security suite.   It's time for an update I suppose.

1. Avast! free antivirus - I'm still recommending this over the other free options out there (MS Security Essentials, Avira Free & AVG Free ).   The new version 8 is, in my opinion, a game changer for Avast!  The inclusion of a software updater feature, which monitors other applications on your PC and lets you know if there are updates for the software, is huge.  It's a pain to keep up with all the Java updates, Acrobat updates, etc, etc, etc.  Avast! will now do this for you.  Pretty freaking cool.  I predict that this is a feature that all antivirus makers will offer in the next year or so. Why wait.  If you're a nerd and you're interested in real world anti-virus test results, take a look here.  Avira Free does really well also, but I used it many years ago and wasn't impressed.  Things might be different.  Either way, make sure you at least HAVE an anti-virus app and that it's still getting updates.
2. Windows 7 Firewall Control (for Windows 8 also) - ZoneAlarm dropped the ball on a 64-bit version for Windows 7.  During their non-support period....I found something better. Sphinx-soft's Windows 7 Firewall Control provides a ZoneAlarm-like interface to Window's existing firewall.  That also means no additional software overhead, since you're using the firewall built into Windows.
3. Malwarebytes - Pretty impressive anti-malware scanner.  Works with your antivirus.  I've seen it remove some of the toughest malware out there.
4. Super-Antispyware - Another very good malware scanner.  If you're really paranoid, you can run scans with this and Malwarebytes.
5. TrueCyrpt - Still absolutely needed if you keep anything remotely confidential on your PC.  Use Turbotax?  Who's reading your tax returns when your PC gets stolen?