When it comes to crushing the evils of spyware and adware, AdAware is the undisputed king of the castle, and many people don’t even bother considering an alternative such is its popularity. However, there are a few genuine pretenders to AdAware’s crown, including the rather smart AVG Anti-Spyware.

Let’s start with a little dig at the developer’s slightly misleading branding of the product – AVG Anti-Spyware is not, in fact, a complete security suite because it doesn’t support detection of viruses and worms. It does though, do a sterling job at trawling your files for spyware and Trojans, and used in conjunction with a decent anti-virus app and a firewall you transform your PC into a fortress.

AVG Anti-Spyware boasts an incredibly simple interface and manages to cram a bevy of features into a single interface while still making everything look crystal clear. These options include a series of innovations not seen in other anti-spyware products, such as the ability to download test bugs, send infected files to the developer for testing, view and remove start-up apps with ease, and view reports of previously-saved scans. What’s more, it can automatically update the software online to obtain the latest spyware definitions.

When matched up against the might of AdAware, AVG Anti-Spyware performs admirably. Performing a full system scan with AVG Anti-Spyware is actually slightly quicker than its more popular rival, and the program managed to intercept several dubious files that AdAware missed. Having said this, when run the other way around, our tests showed that AdAware spotted dozens more than this that were ignored by AVG Anti-Spyware. Nevertheless, its ease-of-use, speed, and unique bug-bashing features make AVG Anti-Spyware a worthy alternative.

Download AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5.1.43 in Softonic

ZoneAlarm Security Suite is the easy-to-use, comprehensive security solution that is based on the world's best firewall to keep out hackers, viruses, worms, and other threats. It combines the most popular firewall with antivirus protection, web site filtering, privacy protection, and instant-messaging security to provide the best overall protection of any PC-security suite.Now stronger than ever, ZoneAlarm Security Suite 5.5 protects Internet users against hackers, spammers, viruses, spyware, worms, identity theft, and more.

ZoneAlarm Security Suite combines Zone Labs’ award-winning firewall with antivirus, privacy, instant messaging protection and other tools all in one easy-to-use package. New SPAM Blocker automatically stops unwanted e-mail from clogging your inbox while also protecting you from the latest “phisher” e-mails and other Internet fraud.

Download ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 7.1.078.000 in Softonic

Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) 2.0 is an easy-to-use tool that helps small and medium businesses determine their security state in accordance with Microsoft security recommendations and offers specific remediation guidance. Improve your security management process by using MBSA to detect common security misconfigurations and missing security updates on your computer systems.

Built on the Windows Update Agent and Microsoft Update infrastructure, MBSA ensures consistency with other Microsoft management products including Microsoft Update (MU), Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), Systems Management Server (SMS) and Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM).

Download Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 2.1 in Softonic

Kaspersky® Internet Security 7.0 provides you with the same proven anti-virus protection as Kaspersky Anti-Virus together with additional features including Parental Control, a personal firewall, an anti-spam filter, Privacy Control and more.

Product Highlights

• Integrated protection from all Internet threats
• Integrated antivirus protection: 1) Hourly automated database updates, 2) Preliminary behavior analysis, 3) On-going behavior analysis. New!
• Real-time scanning for email, Internet traffic and files
• Personal firewall with an IDS / IPS system. Improved!
• Protection from leaks of confidential data. New!
• Parental Control. New!
• Protection from spam and phishing
• Automatic database updates

Additional Features

• Protection from viruses, Trojans and worms
• Protection from spyware and adware
• Protection from all types of keyloggers. Improved!
• Detection of all types of rootkits. Improved!
• Protection from viruses when using ICQ and other IM clients
• Rollback of malicious changes on your PC
• Self-defense of the antivirus program from being disabled or stopped
• Tools for creating a Rescue Disk
• Free technical support

Download Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 8.0.0.357 in Softonic

Norton has been always considered to be a synonym of security. Some of their products have been in the market for years and are used by millions of computer users around the world on a daily basis. And Norton Internet Security is one of them.

This complete security suite has just released its latest version, with a noticeably better performance that makes the program run faster and an improved behavior, thanks to which you can just work with the computer or browse the web without being interrupted every now and then.

The suite includes antivirus and antispyware tools, along with two new features which I personally find very interesting: a network security monitor and an identity protection tool. The first one is especially good for wireless connections, as it enables you to prevent unauthorized accesses, while the second one protects you from phishing attacks by displaying an unattractive toolbar in your web browser.

On the downside, I found out that this program is really meant to be permanently running, as there's no option to switch it off. I know I'm not supposed to do that, but in any case there should be an easy, accessible way to temporarily turn protection off. Also, I didn't like the fact that this Norton comes bundled with the Yahoo! toolbar, although you can decline this offer during installation.

Download Norton Internet Security 2008 in Softonic

Sandboxie is an interesting alternative to traditional anti-virus/anti-spyware software. According to the developers, when you run a program on your computer, data flows from the hard disk to the program via read operations. The data is then processed and displayed, and finally flows back from the program to the hard disk via write operations. For example, if you run the Freecell program to play a game, it starts by reading the previously recorded statistics, displaying and altering them as you play the game, and finally writing them back to disk for future reference.

Sandboxie changes the rules such that write operations do not make it back to your hard disk. The key is the transient nature of the sandbox which makes it easy to get rid of everything in it. If you were to throw away the sandbox, by deleting everything in it, the sandboxed statistics would be gone for good, as if they had never been there in the first place. You maye in fact prefer to run your Web browser inside the sandbox most of the time. This way any incoming, unsolicited software (spyware, malware and the like) that you download, will be trapped in the sandbox. Changes made to your list of Favorites or Bookmarks, hijacking of your preferred start page, new and unwanted icons on your desktop - all these, and more, are trapped in and bound to the sandbox.

This is a very original solution to the perennial problems caused by adware, spyware and malware. However, it's dubious as to whether it can deal with the continual sophistication of such programs.

Download Sandboxie 3.30 in Softonic

This suite of free tools comes in the form of an Internet Explorer add-on and includes a mix of powerful security ehancements and features to make browsing a little more convenient.

There are thirteen utilities bundled into Foxie, which range from a spyware scanner to the ability to use tabbed browsing in Internet Explorer. The selection available seems a little strange given that some of the tools seem quite unrelated, but the idea is to cover everything, removing the need for users to install a multitude of software for each aspect of their online experience.

Tabbed browsing in Internet Explorer is a much-needed feature and will finally make browsing a bit easier, although it does reduce the viewing area of the browser. If you have multiple toolbars you may want to consider how much more room you can afford to sacrifice. Foxie also adds in an ASK Jeeves search bar, a drop-down shortcuts menu that lists sites according to those you most frequently visit, and a desktop search option, all very handy functions if you don’t already use something similar.

The spyware scanner is very quick and powerful, as is the disk cleaner, and "The Infinity Button" will appeal to any fans of The Hitchhikers Guide, as it predictably takes you to a random pages in cyberspace that you can then rate, send to friends or bookmark.

Foxie Suite tries to integrate the best features of Firefox into Microsoft Internet Explorer and in my opinion, succeeds to do so. Now you can have tabbed-browsing while still using the worlds most popular browser.

Download Foxie Privacy, Security & Productivity Suite 1.1.2 in Softonic

RogueRemover is a utility that can remove various rogue antispyware, antivirus and hard drive cleaning utilities. Rogue applications are applications that rather than remove spyware, provide false positives, distribute malware or spyware, advertise, or provide useless uninstallers. The main point is that rogue applications are useless and eat up system resources.

RogueRemover has the ability to completely remove WinAntiSpyware/WinAntiVirus, SpyAxe, VirusBlast, VirusBursters and many more!

Simply download RogueRemover from the link below. Unzip to a convenient location such as C:\RogueRemover. Navigate to the folder you unzipped the files to and double click on the file named RogueRemover.exe. Finally, select Scan and the program will walk you through the remaining steps.

Download RogueRemover 1.20 in Softonic

Total Privacy is a safe and easy-to-use Windows privacy protection tool that securely deletes Internet tracks and program history information stored on your computer. The program guarantees your privacy by permanently erasing all traces of your Internet and computer activities.

Information from every website you visit is stored on your computer in hidden Windows locations, including temporary files, cookies, internet cache, the Windows registry, and the index.dat file. Web browsers provide partial privacy protection by allowing some temporary Internet files and cookies to be deleted. By contrast, Total Privacy cleans out all of these hidden files, and makes them unrecoverable.

Download Total Privacy 5.60 in Softonic

Geek Superhero watches your computer for changes, immediately notifying you when a change is made to confirm you want to keep or reject the change. Protects you from Phishing Scams that try to trick you to give out your bank login, credit card, etc. Also helps you prevent worms, hackers, or other malicious programs from invading your computer by letting you easily turn off rarely used Windows features. Features that have had security problems and have been exploited by several worms like MSBlast already. Geek Superhero protects your privacy by blocking "Web Bugs": tags that are invisibly included on web pages to track you.

Download Geek Superhero 1.3a in Softonic

My Privacy Multi-User enables a user with the Administrator rights to determine a policy of ensuring personal privacy for each PC user. Thus, you will be sure in non-disclosure of private information of both you and other PC users that is of crucial importance in case of shared access to a PC. My Privacy supports Netscape and Mozilla Firefox web browsers.

My Privacy analyzes information stored on your computer and suggests handling of personal data, e.g. login names, passwords, credit card numbers, Web surfing habits. If this information becomes available to aliens your goodwill may be jeopardized. Entrust your private life and business affairs to My Privacy and be sure of your invulnerability and feel safe.

Download My Privacy Multi-User 3.1 in Softonic

A useful tool for parents that allows you to lock your computer keyboard, CD drive doors and power-off button. When the keyboard is used it will display images and play sounds every time a key is pressed, thereby preventing access to the desktop and applications, while adding some entertainment value for the kid. You can select the images and sounds to be used by copying them to the Toddler Keys folder.

To exit the locked screen, just type the word QUIT.

Download Toddler Keys .96 in Softonic

This is a new generation of hi-tech software (network vulnerability scanner) that perforShadow Security Scannermed greatly in the 20th century and remains on the front line in the new millennium! Shadow Security Scanner (network vulnerability scanner) has earned the name of the fastest — and best performing — security scanner in its market sector, outperforming many famous brands. Shadow Security Scanner has been developed to provide a secure, prompt and reliable detection of a vast range of security system holes.

After completing the system scan, Shadow Security Scanner analyses the data collected, locates vulnerabilities and possible errors in server tuning options, and suggests possible ways of problem solution. Shadow Security Scanner employs a unique system security analysis algorithm based on a patented "intellectual core". Shadow Security Scanner performs the system scan at such a speed and with such a precision so as to be able to compete with the professional IT security services and hackers, attempting to break into your network.

Download Shadow Security Scanner 7.55 in Softonic

PC Security Test is a free program for Windows that checks computer security against viruses, spyware and hackers. With a few mouse clicks, users can easily control the efficiency of their protection software (anti-virus programs, spyware scanners and firewalls).

PC Security Test simulates virus, spyware and hacking attacks and monitors the responses of your protection software. Don't worry, no real viruses are involved ! After the tests are complete, PC Securtiy computes a security index and provides tips on improving PC security.

The majority of PCs are protected against viruses but not against spyware. Spyware is a new generation of malicious programs that infect numerous unprotected computers every day. A spyware program can display advertising pop ups when you are browsing the internet, collect data on your computer and your browsing habits, add unwanted toolbars or buttons to Internet Explorer or slow down your computer

Download PC Security Test 2006 5 in Softonic

By surfing the Web you are exposed to hackers, bombarded by advertisements and subjected to spyware. Everything you do and download online can be watched. Hackers, Webmasters, other users of your computer and even your boss can see your surfing habits. Your personal and credit card information is readily available.

Anti-virus and firewall programs don't address these issues. GhostSurf Platinum is the answer.

GhostSurf Platinum protects your privacy and prevents Internet pests from spoiling your online experience. GhostSurf ensures your safety online by providing an anonymous, encrypted Internet connection. It even stops sophisticated spyware, eliminates ads and erases your tracks.

With GhostSurf, you're invisible and in control online.

Download GhostSurf 2005 Platinum in Softonic

Tracks Eraser can delete all your usage history quickly and easily. It has a lot of very useful and interesting features. Secure Eraser overwrites the files a specified number of times with blank character, giving you the confidence that once erased by Internet History Eraser, the files will be gone and no one can recover/undelete them.

You can choose to erase your own files and registry Homepage protection prevent the websites from modifying your homepage. You can hide the opened browser's windows when someone walks in and free up valuable hard-drive space used by the cache and temp files.

The Stealth Mode can run in the background silently, no one except you know it's working and protecting your privacy. Test Mode lets you see what files and registry entries will be erased before they are really erased. With Live Update you will be notified once a new version or new plugins are available and you can download the new version or new plugins directly in the program.

Download Tracks Eraser Pro 6.2 in Softonic

The current tendency in PC world is significant growth of virus epidemics and targeted attacks on user computers. New Safe’n’Sec Pro solution is aimed to provide constant virus protection:

* zero-day viruses detection,
* protection from worms,
* blocking Trojans, spyware,
* preventing hacker attacks, insecure actions of novice users, intrusive ads and pop-ups in Internet.

Protection from these threats is realizes through the methods of programs behavior analysis in computer environment and blocking malicious activity as well as through integration of new security functions into the product.

In particular Safe’n’Sec Pro is equipped with special function of “Unknown Process Isolation” which carries out automatic execution of unknown/suspicious program in special environment isolated from all programs and data stored in your PC. User can independently define the environment in which this or that application will be executed, for example such vulnerable application as Internet Explorer. That will prevent targeted attacks and this software usage by malicious code. Besides Safe’n’Sec has got the mode of regular updating of trusted applications database with regular program updates. Automatic creation of activity control rules is foreseen new product for these applications. Both of these options are aimed to minimize the amount of false alarms on programs which user daily works with.

Safe’n’Sec Pro is remarkable for its simplicity of usage which is significant for novice users. In particular Rules editor allows combining rules into logical groups for applying the group of rules to this or that application. Besides user can set the validity periods of activity control rules, set the rules strictly for definite user fro the sake of Safe’n’Sec Pro adaptation for advanced user (ask questions about suspicious program) or novice user (automatically block suspicious program).

Download Safe'n'Sec Personal 3.0 in Softonic

Cain & Abel is a password recovery tool for Microsoft Operating Systems. It allows easy recovery of various kind of passwords by sniffing the network, cracking encrypted passwords using Dictionary, Brute-Force and Cryptanalysis attacks, recording VoIP conversations, decoding scrambled passwords, revealing password boxes, uncovering cached passwords and analyzing routing protocols.

The program does not exploit any software vulnerabilities or bugs that could not be fixed with little effort. It covers some security aspects/weakness present in protocol's standards, authentication methods and caching mechanisms; its main purpose is the simplified recovery of passwords and credentials from various sources, however it also ships some "non standard" utilities for Microsoft Windows users.

Cain & Abel has been developed in the hope that it will be useful for network administrators, teachers, security consultants/professionals, forensic staff, security software vendors, professional penetration tester and everyone else that plans to use it for ethical reasons. The author will not help or support any illegal activity done with this program. Be warned that there is the possibility that you will cause damages and/or loss of data using this software and that in no events shall the author be liable for such damages or loss of data. Please carefully read the License Agreement included in the program before using it.

Download Cain & Abel 4.9.8 in Softonic

With internet usage becoming ever more ubiquitous and PC use becoming increasingly mobile, privacy is an ever important issue.

This is an essential suite for anyone that uses the same password for multiple logins. The security consequences if anyone gains access your password can be sever but this suite minimises the chances of that ever happening. The same goes for confidential e-mails which can be easily intercepted and read. Steganos Privacy Suite works by protecting your most sensitive data by effectively encrypting your hard drive - including external devices. You can even turn your USB stick and iPod into a Portable Safe which can be opened on almost any computer. The beauty is that the program eliminates the need for passwords enabling you to open your safe with an iPod, USB stick ­or by clicking on a sequence of pictures. In addition, if your laptop gets lost or stolen, Steganos AntiTheft mechanism ensures that the thieves won't be able to do much with it. There's a Shredder that destroys sensitive data completely and an e-mail encryption tool so you can exchange business correspondence in peace of mind. In addition to all this, you can even hide encrypted data James Bond style in sounds or even pictures.

In summary, this a very powerful and comprehensive security suite ideal for those that do business or other private dealings on their PC.

Download Steganos Privacy Suite 2008 10 in Softonic

Track, view, and save any changes done to your PC. Capture before and after snapshots of both your hard drive and registry, allowing you to monitor and keep track of all files and programs that were added or removed on your system. This provides a sure way to identify if any viruses or spyware were placed on your system during software installations, and also allows you to make sure all uninstalls have removed the necessary files. You can always see if any hidden programs, adware, rogue programs, spyware, or program dlls are installed without your knowledge.

You can also create and save lists of each comparison so that you may reference these changes later, and you have the option to print if you wish. Uninstalls tend to leave many garbage files behind, and many programs install extra files or folders, adware, or unnecessary spyware, but this program will allow you to scan your system and keep a history list of exactly what changes have been done on your pc for later cleanup. In addition to monitoring your hard drive, you can also view any registry keys that are added or deleted. Simply run the self-extracting file to install.

Download Disk and Registry Alert 2.38 in Softonic