Why use Sandboxie?

Malicious programs and viruses usually work by trying to make changes to your computer that serve the hacker's ends, but not yours. Sandboxie is a sandbox app - in other words, a program that acts as a safe zone where you can try out programs, apps and links that you suspect of being dangerous. It prevents any changes being made to your computer by containing the program - and any viruses it may harbor - within the confines of the app, and doesn't let them loose on your PC.

Thanks to the closed testing environment created by Sandboxie, you can freely try programs that you don't trust, without any immediate risk to your system. All files created in your sandbox remain inside it and are deleted when you close it, though the program has a special feature ('Quick Recovery') to recover them.

Not an antivirus

Sandboxie also features an extensive settings menu and is thoroughly documented, including a tutorial to get you started. While you are using Sandboxie, however, you should be aware though that this is no replacement for a standard antivirus app. Sandboxie's more of a tool for advanced users who want to assess specific programs in a safe environment and doesn't work as a general way of keeping your computer safe.

Sandboxie is a handy tool to test untrustworthy software without putting your system in danger.

Download Sandboxie 3.72 in Softonic

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.

The latest version is faster and contains a lot of new features like APR (Arp Poison Routing) which enables sniffing on switched LANs and Man-in-the-Middle attacks. The sniffer in this version can also analyze encrypted protocols such as SSH-1 and HTTPS, and contains filters to capture credentials from a wide range of authentication mechanisms. The new version also ships routing protocols authentication monitors and routes extractors, dictionary and brute-force crackers for all common hashing algorithms and for several specific authentications, password/hash calculators, cryptanalysis attacks, password decoders and some not so common utilities related to network and system security.

Download Cain & Abel 4.9.41 in Softonic

Steganos Online Shield 365 provides protection against hackers and snoopers that want to intercept your private data and passwords by routing your traffic via VPNs in different countries. Steganos Online Shield 365 also encrypts your connection to the Internet so that you are effectively surfing the net anonymously. It can also be used to access services in Switzerland, Germany, France, UK and USA that are blocked in your country.

Installation of Steganos Online Shield 365 is simple and when you start the application, it gives you the option of having the interface in German or English. Then, simply select the location you want to surf from and you're done. You can buy subscriptions based on data usage or an unlimited annual license.

Steganos Online Shield 365 is a simple and effective VPN/proxy-anonymizer software for those that either want to access blocked services in Switzerland, Germany, France, UK and USA or that just want to stay safer online.

Download Steganos Online Shield 365 1.0.3 in Softonic

This tool works by scanning your browsers to see what might be lurking in them. It gives you a clear and straightforward list of the results, sorted into different categories. These categories will mean very little to you at first, but if you click Info in the main HijackThis interface, you'll find a guide.

Each HijackThis entry has a check box. Check this and hit Info on selected item... and you'll get more details on what the entry is and what effect fixing it will have. HijackThis is definitely a tool for user who know what they are doing. Although it does give you information on the results - and warns you if an option could have dangerous results - the decision to delete or change is ultimately yours.

HijackThis is a good tool, even though it's not going to win any prizes for looks. It has plenty of options, like an ignore list for items you know to be safe, and plenty of extra tools, like the ability to delete a file on reboot and open the ADS spy. All your actions are also recorded in a log file and automatically backed up.

HijackThis is basic and functional, but a practical and efficient way of keeping an eye on browser elements.

Download HijackThis 2.0.4 in Softonic

When you first run RogueKiller, it will search for services and processes that may be hidden on your computer. It scans quickly and will rapidly quarantine anything suspicious.

Once the scan has been completed, RogueKiller will delete the files. It's best to look at the text reports generated by the app though, to make sure everything picked up by RogueKiller is in fact, harmful. In our tests, RogueKiller was very aggressive, taking innocuous programs for malicious ones. Overall, you should be very comfortable with system processes and the inner workings of Windows to safely use the program.

The other features of the program allow RogueKiller to undo the damage caused by fake antivirus tools, such as repairing host files, proxies, DNS and shortcuts. You'll even be able to read the Roguekiller developer's opinions on why you most likely got infected.

RogueKiller is a straightforward, minimalist app that detects rogueware of all kinds. It's not for beginners though.

Download RogueKiller 8.2.3 in Softonic

If your computer is stolen or you simply don’t remember where you left it, Prey can lend you a hand. All you need is mark it as Missing on your personal Control Panel on the Prey website, and the system will start sending reports every 20 minutes.

Prior to that you obviously need to install the Prey client on your computer and sign up on the developer’s website. Then you can add all the devices you’d like Prey to look after, so that if any of them is ever misplaced or stolen, you can use the program to track it down.

The reports created by Prey contain a bunch of information about the computer: currently running apps, network connections, screen snapshots and even a picture of the thief – that is, if your computer has a built-in webcam. Prey will use its current internet connection, but if there isn’t any, it will search for a free wifi spot.

The efficiency of Prey depends a lot on the thief’s actions: if they format your laptop's hard drive right away, there’s little the program will be able to do. But in any case, it’s good to count on a tool that can help you recover your computer. As the Prey developers say, “there’s always a chance!”.

Prey tracks down stolen or misplaced computers and helps you locate and get them back.

Download Prey 0.5.3 in Softonic

To avoid being infected by online spyware or fall under an unexpected phishing attack, you can use AVG LinkScanner. This security tool is actually one more component of the AVG Antivirus software, only that you can now install and use it as an independent, standalone app.

AVG LinkScanner analyzes websites before you open them and blocks you out if it finds any sign of potential danger. It can also detect phishing scams and stop the installation of fake plug-ins from untrusted websites. The program offers to install its own toolbar on your browser (either Firefox or Internet Explorer) but it's not really necessary, as it only includes a couple of buttons and a Yahoo!-branded search field.

AVG LinkScanner scans websites, links and search results in real time, and I must say it runs very smoothly. It doesn't hog resources nor slow down your browsing speed. It works fine along with other security tools, though it's obviously not a replacement for your antivirus or firewall.

The only thing I didn't like about AVG LinkScanner is that it's overly linked to Yahoo! search. Either if you say no to using the Yahoo! search engine – which is offered during the installation – you still have it on the toolbar.

With AVG LinkScanner you can be sure you're safely browsing the Web, away from phishing attacks, spyware and other online threats.

Download AVG LinkScanner 2013.0.2897 in Softonic

Installing BitDefender Internet Security takes quite a long time and requires the usual system restart. Once you’re done, BitDefender Internet Security updates the database and performs an immediate check on your system for any possible threats. The program also features a built-in firewall, parental control tools to protect your kids when browsing the web and encryption utilities.

Two strong points in Internet Security are its special Game and Laptop modes. The first one opens the firewall to prevent connection issues and disables any resource-intensive processes, while maintaining a safe, fun gaming experience. The latter temporarily tweaks security settings to prevent the antivirus from draining the computer’s battery.

Besides the app’s functionality, Internet Security features a nicely designed interface with three different views (Basic, Intermediate and Expert) so that you can make the most of BitDefender Internet Security no matter what your level of expertise is.

BitDefender Internet Security is an excellent all-in-one security package that protects your system from all possible online threats.

Download BitDefender Internet Security 2013 16.18.0 in Softonic

What's more we're concerned (not that we've got anything to hide, mind you) about the proliferation of undetectable spy software that records literally everything you do on your machine, from the words you type on your keyboard to the web sites you visit.

Spy software is now even being marketed to suspicious wives/husbands/boyfriends/girlfriends as a way of checking on what your other half is getting up to when they're not looking over their shoulder.

The interface arms you with several different ways of blocking, undoubtedly the most important being the ability to discover which program is carrying out this activity and what EXE file it's using.

It worked very well in our tests and instantly detected the spy software we installed for the evaluation. Although it doesn't automatically uninstall the programs it detects, SnoopFree provides you with the data you need to get around the software's password-protection and manually remove them.

Download SnoopFree Privacy Shield 1.0.7 in Softonic

AhnLab V3 Internet Security is a comprehensive security tool that protects your computer from any kind of online threat, including viruses, worms, hackers, Trojans, spam and phishing. The program features a nicely designed interface with different sections for the specifically protected areas: system, network, content and email, as well as some system tweaking options.

Though this may all sound too complicated for you, the good thing about AhnLab V3 Internet Security is that it's quite easy to use, includes links to the correspondent settings menu on each separate function and is also thoroughly documented.

In a way AhnLab V3 Internet Security reminds me of the Windows Security Center, as you can control pretty much all security options from a single, centralized interface. That said, this is the kind of application you need to try it for a certain period of time in order to fully test its performances.

AhnLab V3 Internet Security protects your computer against all sorts of online threats.

Download AhnLab V3 Internet Security 8.0 in Softonic