TECH TOOLS

Safeguard Your System

AVG Anti-Virus Free (www.free.grisoft.com)
The complete version of Grisoft's popular antivirus software starts at $53, but the free version is just as effective if you can do without a firewall, spam blocker, and technical support.

Spybot (www.safer-networking.org)
If you paid for an antivirus bundle like those offered by AVG and McAfee (MFE) you probably have the tools for detecting and removing nasty spyware. But if you skimped, be sure to pick up a standalone program like Spybot, which is available free for all versions of Windows.