AdwCleaner – Free Software Utility to Remove Unwanted Programs

AdwCleaner is a program that searches for and deletes the programs, which may harm the computer operations, slow it down, and embed the unwelcome advertising. It includes Adware, Toolbars, Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUP), and browser Hijackers from your computer.  By using AdwCleaner you can easily, with not much of experience with computers, remove many of these types of programs to improve your computer performance and eliminate the software programs or toolbars you were never intended to use.

How they originally got on your computer? AdwCleaner naturally targets the types of programs, which are typically bundled with free programs that you may download from the web.  It is true that in most cases, when you download and install freeware program, you are getting small print notification somewhere on the way that the particular programs or plugins will be installed along with the program you downloaded.  Unless you perform a Custom install, these unwanted programs will automatically be installed on your computer leaving you with extra browser toolbars, adware, and other unwanted programs.  It is always recommended to progress through installation slowly and carefully and remove all the linked utilities with one you are planning to use. However, you may miss the step, or the software will be installed in express installation mode, when the opportunity to remove it from the list will not be available.

AdwCleaner is specifically designed to search for and remove these types of programs. It works with a Search and Delete mode. It can be easily uninstalled using the mode "Uninstall".

Users reported that the utility is user-friendly and efficient in locating and removing the “garbage” on your PC.

The program is compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 in 32 & 64 bits.

Developers’ site (in French): http://general-changelog-team.fr/fr/downloads/viewdownload/20-outils-de-xplode/2-adwcleaner

Free Comodo AntiVirus from Comodo Security solutions, Inc.

Comodo’s free antivirus might be considered as a valid replacement for security commercial products. It comes with a number of attractive features not normally seen in a free product, allowing you to get rid your computer of viruses, malware, Trojans, worms, hackers, and other Internet threats fast and easily.

Features of this anti virus software include:

- Individual computer and network protection – yes, despite it's being free, Comodo AV can be used in a network environment to protect servers and client PCs, as well as being able to scan across network drives and folders.
- On Access Scanning – Real-time protection against virus infection.
- On Demand Scanning – Check a file, disk or folder for possible infection before use.
- HIPS Protection – Host Intrusion Prevention System enables users to prevent and stop malicious spyware and malware from being installed or executed.
- Removable Device Scanning – Check through all known sources of infection from add-in peripherals such as CDs, DVDs, USB Sticks and even your cell phone.
- Incremental Scanning – Allows faster scans by ignoring files and folders marked as ‘safe.’
- Heuristic Detection – Identifies unknown viruses by analyzing behavior patterns of software code.
- Process Monitoring – Continually scans memory resident applications and processes.
- Email Scanning – Scans both incoming and outgoing email and attachments.
- Worm Blocker - protection against worm programs that attempt to duplicate themselves by sending mass mailings to your contact list.
- Compressed File Scans – Can scan within compressed file formats such as .RAR and .ZIP.
- Daily Updates – Automated daily updates of the virus signature database.
- Unique "slider" to easily change your current security level – You can change the behavior of AntiVirus to reflect your security preferences at any given time
- Quarantine Files – Quarantine suspicious files so they cannot run.
- Safe List – Create a customized safe list of programs and files installed to speed up scans.
- Full Reports – Comprehensive logs and results of all anti-virus scans performed.
- Scan Scheduling – Choose when to update your virus definitions and antivirus scans.
- File Submission – Submit suspicious files to Comodo Labs for analysis.
- Easy to use and user-friendly interface.

System Requirements:

- WinXP or Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows 7.0
- 64 MB RAM / 70 MB hard disk space

Download the latest software version of the product from manufacturer Website:
http://download.comodo.com/cis/download/setups/CIS_Setup_3.13.121240.574_XP_Vista_x32.exe

Spybot - S&D (Search and Destroy) spyware detection and removal tool

Spybot - S&D (Search and Destroy) is an adware and spyware detection and removal tool. This includes removal of certain advertising components, which may gather statistics as well as detection of various keylogging and other spy utilities. In addition, it also securely removes PC and Internet usage tracks, including browser history, temporary pages, cookies (with option to keep selected) and more.

The program offers an attractive outlook-style interface that is easy to use and multi-lingual. Spybot - S&D allows you to exclude selected cookies, programs or extensions from being reported, allowing you to prevent false positive messages for items that you don’t want to be alerted of every time. It can even scan your download directory for files that have been downloaded, but not yet installed, allowing you to detect unwanted programs before you even install them.

SpyBot produces a detailed and easy to understand report before it deletes any files and allows you to deselect any item that you do not want to be processed. In addition, a recovery feature allows you to restore your settings if needed.

Note that even if you don't see the symptoms, your computer may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging.

Spybot-S&D can start in two modes: Easy mode for new users who want just the basic features, and Advanced mode for professional users and those who want more control. Both modes are available in the free version.

Main features in default mode:

- Removal of adware and spyware.
- Removal of dialers.
- Removal of keyloggers.
- Removal of trojans.
- Removal of usage tracks.
- User-extendable database.
- Save removal of threats by shredding them.
- Backups of every removed problem.
- Permanent blocking of threatening ActiveX downloads.
- Permanent blocking of known tracking cookies for IE.
- Permanent blocking of threating downloads in IE.
- Command line parameters to automate tasks.
- Detailed information about problems found.
- Strict criteria to define targets.
- Integrated update function.
- Weekly updates.
- Update notification by mail.
- Easy to use interface.
- Multi-language support.

The efficiency of the utility is moderate, as any other similar freeware anti-malware programs. It should be used in conjunction with several other utilities to reach sterile cleanness on your computer.

Access program website for reviewing additional information and utility downloading: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html.

PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition

According to the experts and users reviews, the PC AntiVirus Free Edition is considered among top 5 free antivirus protection programs on the market. While it is not on the top three products selection (Avast, Avira, and AVG), it has several advantages, as, for example, the great simplicity of operations, which attract significant amount of the utility fans. Antivirus has been developed by PC Tools, the company, famous by other security related products and Spyware Doctor and ThreatFire.

Per authors description, with PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition you are protected against the most nefarious cyber-threats attempting to gain access to your PC and personal information. Going online without protection against the latest fast-spreading virus and worms, such as Netsky, Mytob and MyDoom, can result in infections within minutes.

Once infected, the virus will usually attempt to spread itself to your friends, family and associates by accessing your email contacts and networked PCs. The infection may also allow hackers to access files on your PC, use it to launch attacks against other computers and websites or to send mass SPAM email.

That's why PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition provides world-leading protection, with rapid database updates, IntelliGuard real-time protection and comprehensive system scanning to ensure your system remains safe and virus free. PC Tools products are trusted and used by millions of people everyday to protect their home and business computers against online threats.

Main Features

• IntelliGuard protection against computer viruses and related malware threats

PC Tools AntiVirus detects and eradicates viruses and related malware threats that attempt to enter computer systems by means of file transfer through storage media, e-mail, the Internet and other network protocols. Protection is provided by means of on-demand system scanning or real-time (IntelliGuard) detection of threats.

• Smart Updates to keep virus definitions and other feature enhancements up to date

Smart Updates are released frequently, allowing you to protect your system against the latest virus and related malware threats, as well as improvements to PC Tools AntiVirus' functionality. By running Smart Update regularly, you can help keep your system free of new infections.

• Customizable Scan Settings applicable to both PC Tools AntiVirus' on-demand file scan and real-time protection features

Scan settings are easily configurable and apply both to the on-demand scans and IntelliGuard scans (detection in real-time through the IntelliGuard tool). These scan options allow you to customize a range of generic and global settings which affect the overall behavior of PC Tools AntiVirus.

• Ability to quarantine and restore items that have been detected

PC Tools AntiVirus allows you either to remove detected viruses and related malware from your system or to quarantine them into a contained area. The majority of infections that have been quarantined can be restored at a later time. You can customize PC Tools AntiVirus either to remove or to quarantine malware items fixed in a scan.

• Logging of File Scans conducted by PC Tools AntiVirus

All File Scans conducted by PC Tools AntiVirus can be logged, providing a record of when each scan was conducted; the infections that were identified; and when infections were disinfected, quarantined or removed.

• Enhanced architecture providing enhanced infection removal capabilities for limited user accounts

PC Tools AntiVirus' service-based architecture allows user accounts with limited permissions to scan all areas of the operating system to ensure thorough removal of viruses and other related malware threats.

Strengths

1. PC Tools AntiVirus program is easy to use and navigate. You can choose from two different scans. The full scan is what the average user will most often use. This will scan your entire computer. The other is a custom scan where you can choose which files you would like to scan.
2. One of PC Tools' strengths is it makes a complicated process simple for the average user. This company has a good registry repair program as well as an antispyware program. Both have incorporated the same type of interface, which is great for the average user. The program has some great update features offering both automatic and manual updates, however this software doesn't offer as many features as the top-ranked products.
3. Windows operated computers are not affected by PC Tools using memory. This antivirus software idle uses a little under 700 KB of RAM. Scanning, PC Tools only uses a little over 4 MB of RAM. This resource-friendly software is perfect for both new and older computers.
   

Weaknesses

1. The normal scanning process is significantly slower than the average scan time with the competitive products.
2. Trojan detection capabilities are quite limited, leaving space for the additional company utilities, focused on the malware threats detection and removal.
3. While the program installs smoothly and looks relatively good, it doesn't schedule a scan by default, nor does it automatically update. The software will notify you once a day (by default) if an update is available, but to make it do the updating by itself, you will need to turn on the Smart Update feature.

Website: http://www.pctools.com/free-antivirus/

Download: http://www.pctools.com/free-antivirus/download/

Screenshot:

Additional Information:

http://anti-virus-software-review.toptenreviews.com/pctools-antivirus-review.html

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/product/290834/review/antivirus_free_edition.html

http://www.brighthub.com/computing/smb-security/reviews/34702.aspx