Free software you need for minimal computer safety

I’m certainly no expert, but I like to think I at least know the basics of what you need for minimal safety and performance for your computer. There is a lot more than this, but if you at least have what I am suggesting here, you are going to be better off than a lot of people.

One of the best parts about it is they are all free!!!

You can’t ask for any more than that. At least I can’t.

I’m going to list the products, then I’ll talk a little bit about each one.

1) AVGFree antivirus software

First off, you have to have some kind of antivirus software. I like AVGFree. It is very easy to use, updates by itself and I have never had a problem with it after years of use.

2) Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

Same thing, but specifically targets malware which is how you get a lot of problems. You have to update the free version manually.

3) CCleaner system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool

This is an all around system performance and registry cleaner. It basically gets rid of things you don’t want or need which can sometimes really hamper your system.

Again, there is a lot more than this that you can do, but these three are key in my mind.

photo credit: striatic

Now the big thing with all three of these, is you need to run them. I think you can set AVG to scan automatically but if your machine is not always on, you’ll probably miss it. If you just let them sit there, they do nothing.

Here’s why you need to run them. Say you download a virus and don’t know it. Let’s say some punk kid just created it last Friday. It’s just sitting on your hard drive doing who knows what. Your antivirus and malware software are not up to date because you haven’t updated them in a long time. The software is going to have no idea what this new virus is because it has never heard of it before, more or less. Now your machine is wide open and whatever the virus was created to do is probably going to happen. Not a good position to be in.

I try to run AVGFree and Malwarebytes at least once every month or so.

I run CCleaner every time I use my computer. You don’t have to run it that often, I just like to.

The more often you run all three of these, the better. You can’t run them too much.

Also, like I said before, all three of these products should be available for free. You are at the wrong site if someone is trying to charge you for them.

The first place I would look for them is download.com

All three should be available there.

Get to it and good luck!!!