Free Software Tools Can Add to Your Anti-Virus Protection

"There are new software tools that can help you clean up and repel the latest cyberattacks. Many of them are free. Most require patience to learn how to use. Be prepared to sacrifice convenience for added security, as using these tools will add steps to your ongoing use of the Internet."

Free McAfee Security Software for Facebook Users

"Computer-security giant McAfee and Facebook are taking a big step to shore up basic security for millions of consumers. Tonight, they announced McAfee will make a complimentary six-month subscription of its Internet Security Suite software available to Facebook's 350 million users."

Fake Security Software in Millions of Computers: Symantec

"Tens of millions of U.S. computers are loaded with scam security software that their owners may have paid for but which only makes the machines more vulnerable, according to a new Symantec report on cybercrime."

Microsoft's Free Antivirus Software Actually Works!

"AV-Test.org ran it through a bevy of tests and found the freebie performed admirably. In its first outing, it nabbed all 3,700 viruses, Trojans, and worms that testers threw at it. Then they loosed it on a computer already infected with 545,344 malware samples, and it scrubbed 98.4% of them. It’s relatively efficient, too."

New Protection System to Anticipate PC Invaders

"In a step that should help make the Internet safer for consumers, anti-virus giant Symantec on Wednesday will introduce a protection system designed to anticipate new malicious programs that try to sneak onto your computer. For decades, anti-virus protection has worked by reacting to new malicious programs. Researchers scramble to identify bad code, then create and distribute filters for it. But cybercriminals have gotten so fast at evading the latest filters that protection often comes too late."

Beta of Free Microsoft Antivirus Suite to be Released Tuesday

"Microsoft is putting consumer antivirus makers on notice Tuesday, when it will release the beta of its Microsoft Security Essentials, a new anti-malware suite. Unlike its predecessor, Live OneCare suite, a subscription service which is being phased out, the new software will be offered for free to consumers."

Panda Cloud Antivirus Hits Internet for Free

"In an attempt to shake up the lucrative antivirus subscription market, Panda is tapping into two hot tech trends: Web-based 'cloud' computing and free technology giveaways. Microsoft later this year will offer free basic antivirus protection, code-named Morro. And McAfee and AVG recently launched free protection tools to supplement their paid antivirus suites. . .Panda Wednesday becomes the first consumer antivirus supplier to centralize this filtering and updating routine — by moving it into a data center sitting in the Internet cloud. To tap into this free service, you download a small pop-up dashboard from www.cloudantivirus.com."