Making sure you're safe and secure online seems like it's getting more and more complicated, but it doesn't need to be. Knowing what risks are out there and what software is available to combat those risks will give you a huge advantage.

The very first thing to do is to make sure your connection to the internet is secured. If you're using a wireless connection, make sure to have encryption set up on your router (a whole other topic I won't go into here). The next step is to make sure that you've got a solid firewall installed on your computer. One of the most widely used and well respected choices out there is Comodo Firewall (http://www.personalfirewall.c omodo.com/overview.html). Like the other software firewalls out there, Comodo offers defense against hacker attacks like trojans and port scanners (a way to see if there are "holes" in your PC's internet defense), but it takes things a bit further.

Comodo now includes a "CleanPC" mode, whereby it will catalog the software on your PC and then prevent software from installing without your explicit approval - making it easy to protect your privacy against trojans, spyware, keyloggers, and the like. Keep in mind that making ANY firewall software work to its potential requires some in-depth setup - so be sure to visit the website and read the documentation to get the most out of Comodo Free.

Our next piece of software overlaps a bit, in that it also provides defense against malware. Spyware Terminitor (http://www.spywareterminator. com/) will secure you against all types of viruses and malware, making it even harder for privacy and security-compromising infections to get on to your computer. Terminator also includes Web Security Guard, a toolbar that integrates with your browser and protects you from phishing attacks (such as sites that pretend to look like PayPal or eBay in an attempt to steal your username and password - then go after your bank account). In addition to automatically blocking certain things, the bar will even warn you when you're on a questionable web site.

Another layer to the security onion is PeerGuardian (http://phoenixlabs.org/pg2/), an IP blocker that works in conjunction with blacklist.org to cut off malware at the pass. With PerrGuardian running, your other apps won't even kick again against certain attacks that originate from IP addresses known by blacklist.org - their packets won't even be allowed in to your computer. They block a total of 2.3 billion addresses, and have specific blocker files for everything: phishing, peer-to-peer, spam, spyware, ads, and more.

Now that you've got some great preventative measures in place, grab CCleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com/) to clean up after yourself. CCleaner does a great job of cleaning out your internet and windows temp files, and will even, therefore, remove some rudimentary malware infections.

Some final things to consider when securing your PC for free:

1) Turn your computer off when it's not in use. That's free, too, and no hacker will be able to attack you if your computer isn't turned on.

2) Use your brain. Paying attention to what you browse on the web or read in your email goes a LONG WAY to securing your PC. Be smart, look things over, and exercise good judgment.

A computer can be a fantastic tool for organizing your life, but it can also put your privacy and safety at risk - so make sure you take steps to prevent that from happening!

Learn more about this author, Lee Mathews.
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