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Free Antivirus, Firewall and Spyware Software:
What to use and where to get it.
Written by JQL

The Internet is crawling with viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware and all manner of nasties. If you access the Internet, either dial up or broadband, without a Firewall and Antivirus, on average, it takes less than 5 minutes before you are infected by one of the many worms. That's without surfing, downloading files or opening email.

That's right, just by being connected to the Internet they will find you and infect you.

We practice safe sex. We also need to practice safe surfing. This article will show you how you can access the Internet and, in the main, stay safe.

Who is this article for?

It's for anyone and everyone using Microsoft Windows who wants to stay safe while surfing the Internet.

This article will also give you links to Internet sites where you can learn more about Internet Security and download free protection software.

What free software is available?

Quite a lot but, because a large choice can be confusing, we will only look at one piece of software for each job. The software we will look at is free, proven to do a good job and, in virtually every case, as good as if not better than the commercial offerings.

What do we need?

To be safe on the Internet you need a minimum of three types of Internet protection software. They are:-

1. A Firewall
2. Antivirus Software
3. Spyware software

It is all well and good getting this software but it is essential that you keep it up to date. Most come with an automatic system of downloading and installing updates.

On top of this software, you must also make sure you install all the Critical Updates, Service Packs and Security Updates for Windows and, if you have it, Microsoft Office as well. An Advert checking program wouldn't go amiss either.

So what does each piece of software do?

Firewall

A firewall is an impermeable barrier between the Internet and your computer. In order that you can use the Internet you open a number of ports in the firewall to let traffic in and/or out. Ports are like opening doors between rooms in your house so that you can go, say, from the kitchen to the dining room. By strictly controlling which ports are open, you can stop most of the nasties getting in or sending information out. A firewall is also your primary protection against Script Kiddies, Hackers and 'bots (collectively "nasties").

Antivirus

Antivirus software does what it says. It stops viruses, worms and Trojans from attacking your computer. Because new viruses are released every day, you must keep your antivirus software up to date so it can deal with any new threats. Not keeping your Antivirus updated is a bit like leaving your car unlocked, your car may have the best locks in the world but they're pretty useless if you don't use them!

Spyware

Spyware is software which spies on your computer and sends the information about what you do back to its operator. The sorts of things that Spyware tracks are Credit Card numbers, usernames, passwords, which internet sites you visit, what you buy, what you download, what software is installed on your computer and the like. Some spyware is relatively benign, others are definitely nasty. Spyware is used to steal your identity, empty your bank accounts, take out credit in your name etc.

The Software

All the software mentioned below is, at the time of writing, free. Because it is free, it may not have Technical Support or fancy features but it basically "does what it says on the tin".

Firewall

Firewall software should stop "nasties" coming and going out. The Windows XP Firewall only stops "nasties" coming in so, in reality, only does half the job.,

Because Software Firewalls have to stop traffic in both directions they need to ask you whether a program should have access to the internet.

How on earth are you supposed to know whether xyz.ocx, abc.dll or the like should be allowed access?

The answer is you don't and, in a lot of cases, the experts have no idea either! So there is a general rule of thumb.

If you are installing a piece of software and it asks for access to the web, you can give it access if that piece of software needs it to function correctly - think before you press Yes. If you are just generally surfing the web and you get a request for access, 99.99% of the time it is a nasty and you will deny it access.

Zonealarm (www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp) is relatively easy to set up and use. It has a small tutorial and will try and help you decide whether a piece of software needs access to the internet or your computer.

Zonealarm will do virtually everything possible to get you to use the paid for version rather than the free version, so make sure you read the instructions on the screens carefully when downloading and installing it.

If you have a Hardware Firewall built into your Router, I recommend you also install a Software Firewall as well. This is not a case of belt and braces, they actually have slightly different functionality.

Antivirus

AVG (www.grisoft.com) provide a free for personal use, Antivirus package. It is a cut down version of their corporate package. It comes with a scheduler to download updates.

AVG again, will email you a code that you need to activate AVG.

When you set up AVG, make sure you turn on Heuristics (turned off by default) and change the update frequency to Daily from the default of 14 days.

Spyware

Spybot (www.spybot.info) will find most Spyware. You will need to work through the tutorial and set the scheduler. I have mine set to daily. Also make sure you check for updates on a regular basis, at least once a week.

As well as Spybot it is a good idea to use Ad-Aware (www.lavasoftusa.com). Ad-Aware hunts out tracking cookies and malicious programs that display adverts based on your surfing activities. Again run this once a week or after every visit to adult (gambling as well as porn) websites. Prior to running Ad-Aware always do an update as they tend to release updates on a daily basis.

The ideal?

This is really for businesses (and geeks) but can easily be implemented at home on a relatively tight budget.

A Router using NAT (Network Address Translation) and Hardware Firewall connected to a single PC (Server) with two network cards running a Proxy Server with Software Firewall and Antivirus. The Hardware Firewall should be setup to allow only a single computer (the Server) access to the internet with all but the bare minimum of ports open. The second network card is connected to a Switch or Hub that distributes network, email and internet to the other computers. Antivirus software should be installed on all the computers and updated daily. All web server software like Microsoft Personal Web Server should be uninstalled not just disabled.

Software602 (www.software602.com) provide a free proxy server with built in 5 user email server, webmail server, software firewall, spam filter and plug-ins for Antivirus email checking.

Fortech (www.proxyplus.cz) produce a proxy server Proxy+. A free proxy server with built in 3 user email server, software firewall, programmable interface and plug-ins for Antivirus email checking.

Finally

You are the weakest link in the chain.

It is you who will ultimately let a nasty onto your computer by not updating the software regularly, not installing the Windows Updates or not paying attention to what you are doing.

As the old saying goes "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink", you must make sure you do the updates regularly.

Don't become the "weakest link - goodbye".

Who is this JQL person?

JQL used to spend his days (and nights) building and fixing computers, removing viruses, sorting problems and generally helping people who had "got in a mess" with their computers.

JQL started writing software for computers in 1981 (a long time ago...). In 1994 JQL set up a computer business and trained a number of people on how to find and fix all manner of computer related problems. The business built, installed and repaired computers. Installed, configured and repaired networks. Created a number of Web Sites for the then "fledgling" Internet. Wrote and sold software and bespoke modules for Microsoft Office, Sage and the like. Basically, if it had anything to do with computers, we did it. We even bailed a number of computer repair shops out of the mire when they "got it wrong"!

In 1997 JQL sold the computer business to concentrate on writing software. Some of which has appeared on the front covers of PC Plus, Computer Shopper and other well known computer magazines and, of course, on Swinging Heaven.

Even after I sold the business, a number of my old customers would only deal with me. So I still look after their networks and computer systems (just to keep my hand in so to speak). They must think I do a good job as they still call on me to sort out their systems.

Now-a-days, instead of building hundreds of computers a year, both Servers and Workstations, I build about a dozen. Each one leaves for its new home fully protected against the nasties on the Internet using Zonealarm, AVG, Spybot and Ad-Aware properly setup and fully configured.