I listed a few FREE programs to use on your PC, to keep it safe and clean. As of right now, these are the latest versions of each program. Click titles to begin download.

SPYWARE/ADWARE REMOVERS

Ad-Aware® SE Personal Edition v1.06
Brief Summary: With the ability to scan your RAM, registry, hard drives, and external storage devices for known data-mining, advertising, and tracking components, Ad-aware SE easily can clean your system, allowing you to maintain a higher degree of privacy while you surf the Web.

Ad-aware SE Personal Edition boasts a number of improvements. Extended memory scanning now scans all modules loaded by a process. Scanning uses the all- new CSI (Code Sequence Identification) technology to identify new and unknown variants of known targets. Extended registry scanning now scans registry branches of multiple-user accounts and performs additional smart checks to detect dynamically created references. Scanning speed is noticeably faster, and this version offers an Extended Scanning mode for known and unknown/possible browser hijackers.

New in version 1.06: Disk-scan is approximately 30% faster. CSI scan is now more efficient. Added "Scan for low-risk threats" option, to scan for targets with low TAC index. Ad-Watch CSI engine performance highly improved; using less CPU and Memory as well as having a smaller footprint. GUI adapted to use the new TAC.

Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.4
Brief Summary: Spybot Search and Destroy 1.4 is free, fast, and proactive, and it offers automatic updates and doesn't require you to provide an e-mail address (or any other information about yourself), plus it does an excellent job of wiping your system clean of spyware and adware. Of the antispyware software we tested, Spybot was the best, finding every possible pest in our tests, with very little impact on our system's performance. Its default mode is easy to use and perfect for home users; its advanced mode offers features that will please most high-end users. Spybot has wide international appeal, with its support of more than 30 different languages.

FIREWALLS

ZoneAlarm® Free 5.5
Brief Summary: If you have DSL or a cable modem, your IP address is permanent. Although this has benefits, it also carries the serious shortcoming of rendering your PC vulnerable to attacks. A firewall, in this respect, becomes not just desirable but a necessity. ZoneAlarm is a top choice, and best of all, the basic version is free.

You can block uninitiated and unwanted traffic, even while your PC is unattended or while you're not using your connection. You can also limit your exposure to attack by specifying which applications can access the Internet. The program also lets you stop e-mail-borne Visual Basic Script worms.

ANTI-VIRUS PROGRAM

AVG Anti-Virus System Free Edition v7.30
Brief Summary: Everyone knows you need antivirus software to combat known threats, but what about those viruses that sneak under the radar before code is written to counteract them? AVG Anti-Virus System spots programs that behave like viruses, locks them up, and puts them in isolation--even if no one's issued an all-points bulletin and corrective code. You can manually run a virus scan on your files and e-mail, or schedule them at predetermined times and folders. This program can run its quarantine operations in the background, so you don't have to be disturbed.

**Well, I hope this list helps you out. Also, always make sure to keep all programs up to date, otherwise it just defeats the purpose of having them. Enjoy!