The best (top-rated) personal security software

"The best things in life are free."

Sure, it's a cliche ...it's also true.

Every year, some of the best new software applications out there won't cost you a penny. Outlook is the de facto business e-mail standard and it's just plain clunky compared to G-mail.

In the security arena, this month's Consumer Reports again rates two of the best anti-malware apps at 54 (Microsoft) and 65 (Germany's Avira) out of 100. For reference, the top score for any security app is 67 (Symantec).

For the added benefit of a firewall, you can also choose Comodo's free app, just released in April, although CR scores the Comodo suite 30 points lower than the paid competition, and it's not compatible with Avira.

Anti-malware:

- Avira AntiVir Personal 9 (42MB)

- Microsoft Security Essentials (7.2MB)

Security Suite:

- Comodo Internet Security Free 2010 (61MB)

If the spam filter in your e-mail program isn't working well enough for you, CR also points to spamfighter.com as a good free alternative in that area.

Spend the money you save on a few good books.

The Price of Security

This three-part "free security suite" is touted by Consumer Reports as being "on a par" with the ones that will cost you, and better than last year's versions. 

(links to free downloads)

1. Avira - Antivirus Personal 

2. MS Windows Defender
(If you're running Vista, this is already included.)

3. Spamfighter Standard

Beats complaining about it.

Cursor Security

I haven't had this happen recently but evidently if you're on a web site that changes your cursor to an hourglass or other animated figure, you should be thinking security. The good people at Microsoft weren't, until about December. Now they've thought about it enough to put out an emergency patch, including one for the newly released Vista, to keep hackers from being able to install malware through the breach. If your computer downloads updates automatically, you got the patch this week. If not, you're still vulnerable to this risk and should do a manual download from the Microsoft site.