Antivirus Software:

Avast! Home Edition by Alwil. Fully functioning free antivirus software for home users. Includes the ability to download automatic updates at no charge. Goldstream I.T. prefers this product over other commercial and free antivirus programs.

AVG Antivirus Free Edition by Grisoft is another fully functioning free antivirus software for home users. It includes the ability to download automatic updates at no charge. This product is recommended by many in the I.T. community.

Anti-Spyware Software:

Spybot Search and Destroy can detect and remove spyware from your computer. Can also be configured to permanently block threatening AciveX downloads, tracking cookies and threatening downloads in the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser. Does not do the same for other browwers. Recommended by Goldstream I.T.

Ad-Aware SE Personal by Lavasoft. Scan with Ad-Aware to remove spyware. Recommended by Goldstream I.T.

SpywareBlaster Prevents the installation of ActiveX-based spyware, adware, browser hijackers, dialers, and other potentially unwanted pests. Blocks spyware/tracking cookies in Internet Explorer and Mozilla/Firefox. Restrict the actions of potentially dangerous sites in Internet Explorer. Recommended by Goldstream I.T.

Notes:

You should only run one antivirus program on a computer. Multiple active antivirus programs will conflict with one another.

Goldstream I.T. recommends installing all three of the above anti-spyware products, keeping them updated, and occasionally scanning for spyware on your computers.

While firewalls are practically mandatory, they can make life difficult for novices and even for more experienced users when the computer is on a network. Microsoft XP sp2 has a very basic firewall built into the operating system.

Software Firewalls:

Zone Alarm by Zone Labs