The purpose of compilation of this list is to help individuals looking for some of the best and free PC Security applications. Some of the security software listed here may not be absolutely free, but we might have included them here keeping in view of their utility.

Disclaimer: Although the title of the this post suggests that it is the best list of Security Software, but please bear in mind that the word “Best” has lots of subjective connotations. Something which is best for us, may not be the best for you. So, please consider this before flaming this list. And also, you may find a list of security applications larger than this elsewhere, but for us, it is the largest as we could not compile a list larger than this.

Best Free Antivirus Software Download for Windows – Top 10 List: If you are on a budget and not able to spend invest to buy a paid antivirus software, then choose one of those given on the list here. They may be free, but do a decent job of protecting your system free from most of the virus threats. The list includes…

1. Avast Free Antivirus – [Direct Link]
2. AVG Free Antivirus – [Direct Link]
3. Microsoft Security Essentials – [Direct Link]
4. Avira AntiVir Personal – [Direct Link]
5. Comodo Antivirus Free – [Direct Link]
6. Panda Cloud Antivirus – [Direct Link]
7. Kingsoft - [Direct Link]
8. Rising Free Antivirus - [Direct Link]
9. PC Tools Free - [Direct Link]
10. Zillya Free Antivirus - [Direct Link]

Portable Antivirus – Top 10 List of Best Free Portable Antivirus Software: Portable Antivirus Software are often stripped down version of their full-featured counterparts. They usually are available free for download, but generally, do not provide you a real-time security for your system. In this sense, they are not a substitute for your usual security software and antivirus, but are used for cleaning an already infected system. Here is a list of the Top 10 Portable Antivirus Software.

1. ClamWin - [Direct Link]
2. Norman Malware Cleaner - [Direct Link]
3. Sophos Anti RootKit - [Direct Link]
4. Dr. Web CureIt - [Direct Link]
5. VIPRE PC Rescue - [Direct Link]
6. Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool - [Direct Link]
7. Trend Micro SysClean - [Direct Link]
8. Mx One - [Direct Link]
9. A-Squared Emergency USB Stick - [Direct Link]
10. CaSIR - [Direct Link]

AntiSpyware – Top 6 List of Best Free AntiSpyware Software: The standalone applications like Antivirus and Antispyware software, which were used earlier, are increasingly being replaced by comprehensive security suites. They provide all round protection from all sorts of malware like viruses, spyware, trojans, worms, network attacks, phishing etc. For those, who still want to use a decent standalone Antispyware without paying for it, we have compiled a list of some of the best free antispyware software available for download.

1. Spybot – Search & Destroy - [Direct Link]
2. Ad-Aware SE Personal - [Direct Link]
3. Windows Defender - [Direct Link]
4. Spyware Terminator - [Direct Link]
5. Super Antispyware Free - [Direct Link]
6. Spyware Blaster  - [Direct Link]

Free Internet Security Suites

1. Agnitum Outpost Security Suite - [Direct Link]
2. Comodo Internet Security – [Direct Link]
3. Ad-Aware  Free Internet Security – [Direct Link]
4. FortiClient Lite - [Direct Link]
5. IObit Malware Fighter = [Direct Link]

Recently, a survey inferred that hardware and system malfunctions are responsible for the highest number of incidences of data loss. Some of the most frequent factors causing data loss are as given in the chart below.

(Source: http://www.protect-data.com/information/statistics.html)

1. Hardware or System Malfunctions (44 percent)
2. Human Error (32 percent)
3. Software Corruption (14 percent)
4. Computer Viruses (7 percent)
5. Natural Disasters (3 percent)

How to Recover Data and Files in case of Data Loss

The tools and tricks for the data and file recovery will always depend upon the factor responsible for the data loss. However, on common factor which determines the effectiveness of these data recovery tools is the time elapsed and how much work has been done on the disk on which the data was stored since you lost the data.

We have carried a series of posts on some of the freeware tools for the data and file recovery. Here is a snapshot of the tools reviewed alongwith the links to the review.

1. Recuva: Recuva is one of the first tools to be considered in case you are attempting to recover your lost data.. It can recover the data or files, which have been accidentally deleted or which have become unusable because of some damaged or formatted disks. Recuva file recovery tool also allows you to recover your MS Word documents, which have not been saved because of sudden crash of MS Word. You can also use Recuva to recover your lost iPod music files from your disk.
2. Roadkil’s Unstoppable Copier: Actually it s a bulk file copier utility, which copies the data from a HardDrive or CD onto another one, and in this process, it also attempts to recover the data from bad sectors and files. Roadkil cam recover files from disks with physical damage. It allows you to copy files from disks with problems such as bad sectors, scratches or that just give errors when reading data. The program will attempt to recover every readable piece of a file and put the pieces together.
3. CD Recovery Toolbox: CD Recovery Toolbox Free is a data recovery tool, designed to recover files from scratched or otherwise damaged or corrupt CD, DVD, HD DVD and Blu-Ray disks. CD Recovery Toolbox tool was developed for recovering damaged files from different disk types: CD, DVD,HD DVD, Blu-Ray, etc. You can use it to restore information lost as a result of some mechanical damage of the disk (scratches, chips, different spots on thesurface) or as a result of incorrect recording. Thus, the program can recoverdata that was considered lost.
4. ADRC Data Recovery Software Tool: ADRC Data Recovery Software Tools contains a collection of DIY data recovery tools that supports a wide variety of drives and file systems. The software incorporates extremely simple GUI with novice users in mind. The software zooms in to do only critical recovery functions with minimum complexity so one could recover the data easily. It gives you full control to undelete files, disk image back up, restore a backup image, copy files from hard disk with bad sectors, disk cloning, backup, edit and restore your boot parameters.
5. Glary Undelete: Glary Undelete is a free and easy-to-use yet powerful file undelete solution for FAT and NTFS file systems. It will bring back files emptied from the Recycle Bin, in a DOS window, from Windows Explorer with the SHIFT key held down. It will even recover files that have been deleted by bugs, crashes and viruses!
6. SoftPerfect File Recovery: SoftPerfect File Recovery is a free and useful tool to restore accidentally deleted files from hard and floppy disks, USB flash drives, CF and SD cards and other storage media. It supports the popular file systems such as FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, NTFS and NTFS5 with compression and encryption. If your important files disappeared and you can’t find them in the recycle bin, try this software product and get the files back to life. Easy to use, no installation is required.

Tip: While we have been telling you about the data recovery tools, have you ever considered that data destruction can also be something important to you. Interested…? Learn more about Data Destruction.

Most of the attacks against your privacy and identity take place through the data stored on your computer. You never know how much personal and private data can be extracted by a determined hacker, if he is able to gain control over your computer.

This post is an attempt to create awareness about such computer privacy issues and let you know the locations, where your private data is stored in your computer.

9 Places, Where A Hacker Might Look To Know More About You

1. Index.dat File: The index.dat file functions as an active database, which runs as long as a user is logged on in Windows. It functions as a repository of redundant information, such as web URLs, search queries and recently opened files.

One of the concern is that the index.dat files cannot be deleted or erased easily, because they are always open when Windows is running. Open or “locked” files cannot be deleted in any way when the process using them is running. Yet another privacy concern against index.dat file is that it causes the operating system gives a false sense of security. Even after the user has cleared the internet cache folder, temporary internet files folder, and history folder, the index.dat files on Windows continue to store all the visited web addresses and cookies and some temporary files. This may eventually cause the index.dat files to grow very large, while the average user remains unaware of what is going on.

2. Temporary Internet files: It is a directory on Microsoft Windows computer systems. The directory is used by Internet Explorer and other web browsers to cache pages and other multimedia content, such as video and audio files, from websites visited by the user. This allows such websites to load more quickly the next time they are visited.

Although Temporary Internet Files allow you to surf Internet faster by quickly loading the content of a previously visited webpage, but privacy enthusiasts always criticize it because of the privacy issue srelated with it.

3. Web site cookies: Website Cookies are a small piece of text stored on a user’s computer by a web browser. A cookie consists of one or more name-value pairs containing bits of information such as user preferences, shopping cart contents, the identifier for a server-based session, or other data used by websites.

Cookies enhance your browsing experience by providing you a personalized experience of the Web. They help different websites to remember you and allow you quick access to the member areas of these websites. Today’s Internet cannot be imagined without cookies. But at the same time the cookies can tell a lot about you and your browsing habits. This is a great privacy issue for the computer users.

4. Browser History: The history in your browser is a useful feature. But it also tells a lot about you and your browsing habits.

5. Typed URL history: This features is used by most of the modern browsers to auto-complete or ‘guess’ the web site or page when you type the URL of a previously visited site. It add to the user convenience and make your web surfing a lot quicker. But it is privacy concern for your computer and a quick look at your Types URL History can tell a lot about your browsing habits.

6. Saved Passwords and AutoComplete Information: This is crucial. Most modern browsers allow you to save your passwords and private information through their AutoComplete feature. It saves a lot of time whenever you visit the website next time. As you do not have to remember your password and other information every time as it gets filled in the appropriate boxes automatically.

But this convenience exposes to a huge computer privacy issue. Any determined attack can easily reveal all your sensitive information. We have already carried a post on how to Disallow IE Password Saving Feature.

Related:

Tip: If you are like me who want to have your cake and eat it too, then RoboForm is an ideal solution for you. RoboForm is world’s largest used Password manager, which allows you to totally forget about botheration of remembering passwords and also handles their security very well.

7. Recent Documents: Recent Documents feature of Windows gives you a quick access to the most recent documents you have used. it is nice features, but allows an unauthorized person also to quickly know, what you are upto.

8. Usage history of: Start/Run, Search: These things contain vital traces about how you use your computer and what are the things you usually do on your computer. These important bits pf private information is stored on your computer and you can tweak the windows registry keys to wipe them out.

9. Temporary Directories and Temporary Files: Windows temporary directory (Temp folders) stores Windows and other programs temporary files. This directory can contain files from programs you no longer have installed or files which may violate your privacy. If you know where these files are located in your computer, you can manually delete them through Windows Explorer. Otherwise there are lots of free tools available on Internet, which can do the job for you.

All these computer privacy issues are definitely a cause of concern, but it is also a fact that they do their bot to add to your overall user experience and make the use of computers more pleasurable and fast. Remember, it is always a trade-off between the security and privacy on one hand and convenience on the other hand. The final call has to be taken by you only.

[Via One Man's Blog]

Why Do You Need a Separate File Copy Software

Windows has a useful built-in File Copy Tool, Everybody is aware of that. But that tool is not suitable in cases when hundreds of thousands of files are to be copied, specially when you have to copy an entire disk. Some of the common problems you might face using windows built-in tools are…

1. It can abort the entire file copying process, if it encounters a file or corrupt file. You will have to start again.
2. It cannot allow you to copy files from multiple folders in one go.
3. It does not provides you any sort of customization.
4. It does not provide you any reports, if all files were copied correctly or not.
5. There is no Stop, Save, Pause or Resume File copy feature.
6. The speed of file copying process if too slow as compared to some of the best tools available.
7. Very limited features, when you talk about attributes, files sizes, date stamps etc.

So, there are lots of free and open source file copying tools, which fills the gap perfectly. Some of them are given below.

List of Best Bulk File Copying Tools

1. Best Bulk File Copy Tool – RichCopy: After having a look at all the tools, we find that RichCopy is probably the best file copy tool available today. This tool, developed by Microsoft exclusively for its internal use, but made available to public now, is a multi-threaded copying tool and can handle several copying processes simultaneously.
2. Ultra Fast File Copy Tool – TeraCopy: TeraCopy is the tool, which you should use if speed is your main criteria. Besides giving you great speed, it also provides you useful and interesting features. It is free for home users. But if you are a Pro user, you will have to buy the Pro version for $19.95.
3. Damaged or Bad File Copy Utility – Unstoppable Copier: As the name suggests, it is the utility, when you expect a lot of files to be damaged or corrupt. It is best suited for salvaging whatever it can from a pool of damaged files.
4. XXCopy: Best Recursive Command Line File Copier: If you are a command line junky, like most network administrator are, you will love it. XXCopy can beat any command line file copy tool by a huge margin. It was developed to cover up for the limitation of 256 characters for a path name for Windows Copy tool to work, but later on, it has grown huge and now it has more than 200 options and switches for addressing every file copy need.
5. Faster File Copying – Fast Copy: And if speedier copying is your ony criteria for the selection of the tool, then go for it. It is the fasted File Copying tool I could find.
6. Copy Handler – How to Copy Files like a Pro: Use it to believe it. A useful tool.
7. Pause and Resume File Copy – SuperCopier: Last, but not the least. You will find convenience at your fingertips.

Click on each individual links of these chosen bulk file copy tool for a detailed review.

Software development is a continuous process. Howsoever care be taken at the time of release of a software, there are always chances that some bugs or security vulnerabilities remain hidden deep inside the code, which get unearthed after the use at different levels.

Even if there are no bugs, malware developers are always on the look out of security holes and vulnerabilities in the popular software, so as to exploit them and infect or hack your system.

That is why, allgood software vendors keep on releasing software patches and updates to plug these loopholes and vulnerabilities. It is extremely important on the part of the users to keep on updating their software with the latest software update.

Importance of Software Update Notifiers

Some software automatically get notified as soon as a new software patch or update is available. But most of the others do not have such nechanisms, and as such, it is on the part of the user to be vigilant enough about the availability of the latest patch and update his software.

Now, it is tedious process. Most users are not in a position to do that either because they do not have such time, or they do not know how to get the information about the availability of the latest software patch, or even if they know, they do not know where they can get the authentic patch and how to install it.

In such a situation, Software Update Notifiers play their role.

Software Update Notifiers are software, specially developed to keep note of all the software and applications present in your system and keep looking for the availability of the patest patch. As soon as some patch is available, these software immediately notify the user about their availability and also make available the exact link of the location, where you can download and install the patch.

Super easy, and absolutely necessary.

What are some of the Best Software Update Notifiers.

We have reviewed some of the best ree Software Update Notifiers on this blog. We give a snapshot of them here.

1. Secunia PSI – Great Software Patch Service for Security Updates
2. How to Patch Software with FileHippo Update Checker
3. Software Patch Updates with CSPA Update Notifier (UDN)
4. Update Your Applications with KC SOftware’s SUMo
5. Software Patch Update with UpdateStart

I have seen many computer users, who just hate any software update prompt on their computer. They just think that it is shear wastage of time and bandwidth to update their software. They think that software are updated just to add more features and functionality to the software.

But it is not so. Apart from adding more features and functionalities, software updates also make them more secure, robust and compatible with other applications. They are absoltely necassary and the first thing you need to do.

Remember, your PC Security is more important than saving a few moments here and there.