security programs that you should have on your PC

3 security programs that you should have on your PC

Informatic security

The digital world can be a rough place. There are cyber criminals from all corners of the world looking to steal our credentials, scam us, and cause all kinds of mayhem.

Malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks are just a few examples of threats to be aware of. The scammers behind these attacks are unscrupulous and will use all available tools to find new victims.

To help you take precautions and stay safe, there are three free security programs that should be on every desktop or laptop computer.
Microsoft Security Essentials

If you are running Windows 8 or 10, you may have noticed that your system already has built-in antivirus and malware protection software, called Windows Defender. Actually, it is a decent program to protect your PC against viruses and malware threats.

However, Windows Defender is not available for Windows 7 devices. If you are looking to protect a computer with Windows 7 or an older version, you can download

Microsoft Security Essentials.

Similar to Windows Defender, this free download will protect your Windows 7 PC against the latest virus and malware threats while providing real-time protection. However, it is not available for Windows 10.

ZoneAlarm Free Firewall

ZoneAlarm is a free and downloadable antivirus and firewall that is highly configurable and effective against many types of cyber attacks. Once installed, it will monitor all incoming and outgoing traffic from your computer with an option to make yourself invisible by using Full Stealth mode. It will also monitor the programs for any malicious activity and behavior.

Plus, ZoneAlarm's free firewall offers personal data and identity protection. It is available for Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP.

Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer

When it comes to computer security, there are many things to think about. You need antivirus software, antispyware programs and a firewall, but if you think that security ends there, you are sadly wrong.

Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer is a free download that will help you evaluate the security of your computer. It will ensure that Windows and Office are up to date with all necessary security patches.

You can also learn about other security issues that you might otherwise miss. For example, it will search multiple administrator accounts to see if other users have more control over the device than they should.

And what about your account password? If your password is weak, others may have access to your account. Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer will alert you if account passwords are not strong enough.

Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer offers you a detailed evaluation that will be quite comprehensive. Please take the time to read it carefully and troubleshoot the listed issues. It is another tool in your arsenal to protect your computer.

Warning: this is a tool designed for advanced users. Following some of their recommendations could disrupt other programs or Windows if done incorrectly. Before making changes to your system, make sure you understand what you are doing.