Useful Windows Freeware Utilities

• LavaSoft AdAware
  Spyware is the term used to describe web-cookies, applets, and programs designed to track your surfing habits in order to target advertising. AdAware finds these programs and files and will delete them for you.
  


• Spybot Search & Destroy
  Spybot is another anti-spyware application that does an excellent job of blocking common spyware in-roads. We recommend using it in conjunction with AdAware.
  


• AVG Anti-Virus
  It used to be that if you never opened an e-mail from someone you didn't know, you were reasonably safe from viruses. This not being the case anymore, good virus software is CRUCIAL to keeping your computer running well (or at all in some cases). There are several good programs on the market, but AVG offers a simplified version of their product free to home users. Getting anti-virus software is only half of the solution, though. Keep it updated--two to 4 times a month is the average
  


• Zone Labs Zone-Alarm Personal Firewall
  Zone Labs offers one of the best software firewall products available. Their free personal version has all the firewall functionality the average user will ever need. Please note that if you're running Windows XP with Service Pack 2, there is a firewall application built into the latest service pack. Running 2 software-based firewalls will cause multiple conflicts, crippling your internet connection.