Anti-Malware Tools
Malware is an umbrella term short for "malicious sofware" that is used to cover many different threats to your computer system. These range from the minor but annoying, such as unwanted software that monitors your browsing habits, to more serious threats such as keyloggers that can record and steal your passwords or trojans that can mine your computer for sensitive data like bank details. A range of tools exist to deal with these threats, from anit-virus software to specialized trojan removal tools.
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Firewalls
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A firewall is your first line of defense against malicious activity on your system. Firewalls aren't foolproof, but they do provide a measure of protection. There are software firewalls which you install in your computer system, and hardware firewalls which are often built into wireless routers or other devices. Firewalls use various techniques and systems to prevent unauthorized access to your computer system.
Anti-Virus Software
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Good anti-virus software, regularly updated, is essential for computer security. Well-known brands of commercial anti-virus software include Norton and McAfee. Many free anti-virus packages are in widespread use, including AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition, Avast Free Anti-Virus, Avira AntiVir Personal, PC Tools AntiVirus Free and Comodo Anti-Virus. According to TechRepublic, some users claim that Avast Free Anti-Virus and other free packages can outperform commercial anti-virus software.
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Anti-Spyware Tools
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Spyware is malicious code that sends information from your computer (such as what sites you visit or what passwords you key into your computer) to unauthorized individuals. Some spyware infestations may elude your main anti-virus software or prove hard for it to remove. Tools specifically for blocking spyware include SpyWare Guard and SpyWareBlaster. Tools that can remove spyware from your system include Microsoft Windows Defender, Spybot Search & Destroy and the highly recommended MalwareBytes Anti-Malware.
Online Tools
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As well as software to install on your computer, you can find online anti-malware tools. Some online tools scan for malware but don't delete it; examples include Kaspersky Online Scanner and McAfee FreeScan. F-Secure Online Scanner will scan for rootkits as well as other malware; this is useful as rootkits are difficult to detect. Online tools which both scan and remove malware include Symantec Security Check, eTrust Antivirus Web Scanner and Trend Micro Housecall.
Other Malicious Software Removal Utilities
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Microsoft's Security Essentials and Malicious Software Removal Tool are both free to use and can help to get rid of some types of malware that may escape or defeat your other anti-malware utilities. Besides commercial software, McAfee offers free virus removal tools. HijackThis is a sophisticated malware investigation tool aimed at advanced computer users. Because HijackThis doesn't distinguish between malicious entries and legitimate ones it's possible for inexperienced users to damage their computer systems.
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References
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