Bolster your browser’s security
Of course, even with the best security software in place, you can still be taken for a fool online.
Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit Free is virtually a must-install. This itty-bitty program monitors your browser and protects against zero-day exploits that your standard AV program might miss. It's highly recommended, especially with so many exploits specifically taking aim at browsers these days.
McAfee SiteAdvisor will check links in search results and indicate whether they’re safe to visit with a small icon next to the link. It also works on social networks like Twitter or Facebook, which tend to be security minefields thanks to the widespread use of URL shorteners as well as viral links of questionable origin.
The Web of Trust add-on lets you view a trustworthiness scorecard for each site you visit.
Web of Trust (WoT) is a browser add-on for all popular browsers that basically accomplishes the same thing, but since it’s crowdsourced, you can add your own ratings to the mix. And in addition to basic safe/unsafe ratings, WoT lets you see whether a site has been deemed safe for kids, as well as why it’s been flagged as problematic (it’s spammy, it distributes malware, it’s a trap, and so on).
If you’re on Firefox, check out NoScript, an add-on that blocks all JavaScript from running unless you approve it. It’s a bit of a power-user tool, and it can disable some features on websites you visit, but it can help protect you from all-too-common JavaScript attacks online, assuming you’re OK with the added hassle.
Meanwhile, the HTTPS Everywhere extension from the Electronic Frontier Foundation can automatically encrypt your connections to most websites—useful if you want to prevent others on your network from potentially eavesdropping on your Web browsing.
Keep the kiddies from seeing stuff they can’t unsee
No matter how responsible your kids are online, there’s always a chance they’ll inadvertently venture into parts unknown.
Luckily, recent versions of Windows come with a comprehensive suite of parental controls, so you don’t need to download anything. On Windows 10, open the Start menu and click Settings, then go to Accounts > Family & other users to get started. Note that the Family feature on Windows 10 requires you to sign in with your Microsoft account.
Windows 10 will step you through the process of setting up parental controls on your PC.
Beyond that, OpenDNS FamilyShield is work a look. FamilyShield isn’t an app; instead, it’s a service offered by OpenDNS that automatically blocks adult websites. You can set it up on individual computers on your home network if you want, or you can set it up through your router so that every device on your home is protected. Of course, FamilyShield won’t provide you with the full suite of parental controls, such as app restrictions and time limits, but you can use it in conjunction with other parental controls tools for added online safety.
Automatically keep your software up to date
Oftentimes, malware creators don’t target Windows itself—instead, they’ll target security holes in popular PC software such as Adobe Reader. To reduce this risk, you’ll want to keep all your software up to date. Doing this manually can be a pain, so an update checker can save you lots of time.
Secunia PSI will let you know if you need to install software updates. It looks like I have a bit of updating to do...
Secunia PSI is a free tool that does just that: It scans your PC for insecure older versions of popular programs and can even automatically install the latest security patches for them.
Lock down your laptop
Laptops get lost or stolen all the time. There are things you can do to reduce the risk, such as using a notebook lock or simply avoiding using your notebook in public, but nothing can mitigate the risk of theft entirely. You can keep your data from falling into the wrong hands, though.
Prey is a service that lets you lock down your laptop in case it’s been stolen. It consists of a piece of software that runs in the background and tracks your laptop’s location whenever it goes online.
The Prey Project provides various tools for tracking and locking down a wayward laptop.
If your laptop ever goes missing, you can use it to find its whereabouts, snap a photo of the alleged thief, and lock it down if necessary. For $5 per month, you can also remotely wipe your machine, and Prey says the option to retrieve files from a wayward laptop is “coming soon” to its $15-per-month tier. It may seem weird to suggest paying for something in an article about free security products, but in this case, you might find it to be money well spent.
Of course, you don’t have to pay to encrypt your files—Windows can do that for you. If you have a PC running Windows 8.1 or later that supports Microsoft’s InstantGo technology, you can encrypt your data simply by pairing it with your Microsoft account. But be warned: Tthis feature typically stores your encryption key on your OneDrive, as Ars Technica notes, which could be an issue if the entity trying to break your encryption is a government agency that could legally compel Microsoft to hand over the key. Typical users shouldn't worry about that too much.
If you’re on an older version of Windows or would prefer to customize your encryption setup, the BitLocker tool in Windows Vista and newer is for you. See our tutorial to get started. Alternatively, there's VeraCrypt, a free and open-source fork of the long-trusted (and now defunct) TrueCrypt software.
Go forth and be free
Granted, these are only a few of the free security options you have—there are countless other tools at your disposal. Do you have a favorite security freebie? Tell us all about it in the comments.