This is a small collection of antivirus, spyware, firewall and security software that I have used with great success. Some include paid versions with additional features that you may find useful, but all have free versions which are fully functional and extremely useful.
AVG Anti-Virus
This is one of the best free anti-virus programs I have found. It has kept all the PC's in my home virus-free for years. The paid version is reasonably priced and includes anti-spyware, root exploit protection, a firewall, and more.
Zone Alarm
The best free PC firewall program I have used. It will block any and all programs from accessing the internet until you explicitly allow/deny them otherwise. It will also block unwanting incoming traffic. Again, the paid version includes additional features. However the free version is sufficient for most users and is extremely useful.
Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware
These two programs are made by two completely different companies. They both detect and remove spyware from your computer and are free. The reason that I mention them together is they complement each other quite well. While they both detect most of the same thing, they each detect some spyware that the other does not. I highly recommend using them both.
SpywareBlaster
This is a handy program which helps to prevent spyware from installing in the first place.
OpenDNS
OpenDNS is a web based service which allows you to use their DNS servers as a replacement for your own ISP's. You can create an account with them and control various aspects, including restricting certain sites which computers on your home network can access. This includes known phishing sites, adult sites, illegal sites, even custom lists. Or you can not block any content and just enjoy the increased speed of your connection as the time it takes to lookup a domain name decreases dramatically.
PeerGuardian 2
This is simply an IP blocker for Windows. Unlike a full fledged firewall, it allows you to block specific IP's or ranges of IP's from accessing your computer. It supports multiple lists, list editing, automatic updates, and blocking all of IPv4 (TCP, UDP, ICMP, etc), making it the safest and easiest way to protect your privacy on P2P. If you run peruse torrent sites for programs such as OpenOffice, it is a very good idea to use this program.
