Ad-aware

With its ability to scan your RAM, registry, hard drives, and external storage devices for known data-mining, advertising, and tracking components, Ad-aware can easily clean out your system, allowing you to maintain a higher degree of privacy while you surf the Web. New Ad-aware SE Personal is now available. Click on the "Download Now" button for the free download.

Spybot Search and Destroy

Spybot - Search & Destroy can detect and remove a multitude of adware files and modules from your computer. Spybot also can clean program and Web-usage tracks from your system, which is especially useful if you share your computer with other users. Modules chosen for removal can be sent directly to the included file shredder, ensuring complete elimination from your system. For advanced users, it allows you to fix registry inconsistencies related to adware and to malicious program installations. The handy online-update feature ensures that Spybot always has the most current and complete listings of adware, dialers, and other uninvited system residents.

SpywareBlaster

SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware--it prevents it from ever being installed. SpywareBlaster blocks the installation of spyware ActiveX controls (such as Lop.com and Xupiter) in its database, and can even prevent them from running if they are installed. The built-in Check for Updates feature allows quick and easy database updates (released frequently). Information on all spyware covered in the database is also provided. SpywareBlaster does not need to be running in the background - simply select the items you wish to be protected against (or select all items), press the Protect button, and protection is enabled. It can also block spyware/tracking cookies, and includes a System Snapshot feature, which allows you to take a snapshot of your computer in its clean state and later revert many changes made by spyware and browser hijackers

WinPatrol

This start-up manager alerts you when new programs are set to run, giving you the chance to stop them. WinPatrol doesn't remove spyware, it merely lets you choose which programs run automatically at start-up.

AVG Anti-Virus

Here, you can get your free copy of the AVG Anti-Virus - AVG Free Edition - and you will be able to use it without any limitations for the life of the product. You can also download free updates to get the latest program virus databases.

ThreatFire^™ AntiVirus Protects When Others Can't

PCs are under constant attack from viruses, spyware and identity theft. Every day you hear about a new threat to your PC. They're coming faster than ever before, they're getting harder to stop and traditional antivirus products are not able to keep up.

Will your antivirus software catch the latest malware that just came out today? In most cases, no, because it simply does not know how to detect it yet. But ThreatFire's ActiveDefense technology does, and has proven to provide up to 243% more protection when combined with traditional AntiVirus products.

Zone Alarm Personal Firewall

ZoneAlarm is designed to protect your DSL or cable-connected PC from hackers. This program includes four interlocking security services: a firewall, an application control, an Internet lock, and zones. The firewall controls the door to your computer and allows only traffic that you understand and initiate. The application control allows you to decide which applications can and cannot use the Internet. The Internet lock blocks Internet traffic while your computer is unattended or while you are not using the Internet, and it can be activated automatically with your computer's screensaver or after a set period of inactivity. Zones monitor all activity on your computer and alert you when a new application attempts to access the Internet. ZoneAlarm 5 has further hardened security to keep users and their valuable personal information safe, even against targeted attacks.

SpoofStick

SpoofStick is a simple browser extension that helps users detect spoofed (fake) websites. A spoofed website is typically made to look like a well known, branded site (like ebay.com or citibank.com) with a slightly different or confusing URL. The attacker then tries to trick people into going to the spoofed site by sending out fake email messages or posting links in public places - hoping that some percentage of users won't notice the incorrect URL and give away important information. This practice is sometimes known as “phishing". SpoofStick makes it easier to spot a spoofed website by prominently displaying only the most relevant domain information. It's not a comprehensive solution, but it's a good start. SpoofStick contains no adware, spyware, nagware or other unhealthy additives.

MailWasher Free

Have you ever wished that you could return spam to its sender and fool them into thinking that your e-mail address is not valid? MailWasher lets you do just that. You can also choose to delete a message on the e-mail server, without downloading it. MailWasher retrieves information about all e-mail messages on the server.

To check e-mail, you don't open your e-mail client. Instead, you start MailWasher, and it tells you what messages are waiting for you on the mail server. In the check boxes, you select whether to Delete or Bounce messages, then click the Process Mail button. If you have checked nothing, the e-mail is downloaded to your e-mail client as normal.

SpywareGuard v2.2 (Formerly Browser Hijack Blaster)

This program watches several components of Internet Explorer to make sure no one hijacks your browser or tries to slip spyware into it. If an invader does attempt to change your IE's home page, default Page, or Search Page, this program will let you know.

Pop-Up Stopper Free

Very few of us have a warm place in our hearts for browser windows that pop up in front of the screen without permission. The free Pop-Up Stopper prevents them (and pop-under windows) from displaying.

Crazy Browser

What TiVo can do for TV, this browser can do for the Web. I have been using Crazy Browser for over three years and absolutely love it! Crazy Browser lets you check out multiple web sites at once and spares you the popup ads. Smart Popup Filter and P3P privacy policy support help you keep tabs on who you're dealing with. The tabbed interface lets you open several sites inside one browser and makes your navigation easier. This is my browser of choice.