Protect your PC and back up your files
Secure your PC and your data with these 15 free downloads and services.
Workhorse programs to keep your data safe
Avoid data disasters with these seven downloads and services.
Sure, you regularly back up local data. But what about Facebook contacts, Twitter feeds and Flickr photos?
If you don't trust the cloud, sign up for Backupify to get 1GB of storage, weekly backups of all your online accounts, and the ability to download your backups to your PC.
Macrium Reflect Free Edition images your hard drive so that you can restore your system in the event of a disaster. This download can run automatically at set times, too.
The utility's seemingly straightforward interface requires some understanding of the XML data format, however.
Windows Live SkyDrive gives you 25GB of free online storage, and SDExplorer lets you access that storage right from Windows Explorer.
No more wrangling Live SkyDrive's rather awkward web-based interface - this extension provides drag-and-drop simplicity for file management.
Like Windows' own System Restore, Comodo Time Machine can roll back your PC to an earlier state.
However, this download does more than just protect the Registry and your system files. It backs up files, folders and programs, as well. Windows won't load? Press the Home key while booting to access all of CTM's roll-back features.
SpiderOak gives you 2GB of free online backup space, a perfect amount for preserving small batches of data such as Word documents or Quicken files.
This download runs in the background, saving your selected files whenever it detects changes, so you can set it and forget it. Plus, the software can archive data stored on network drives.
Courtesy of Microsoft, SyncToy syncs files between two home-network locations, such as a desktop and a laptop, or a flash drive and a network folder.
Just choose a 'left' and 'right' folder and specify a few sync settings; this little-known utility does the rest.
Compatible with Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and 7, the Todo Backup download creates an image of your entire hard drive or an individual partition.
You can restore that backup from within Windows or via a bootable CD, which the download will burn for you. Note: This tool has no scheduling option.
See also: 11 hidden security threats and how to stop them
- Protect your PC and back-up your files
- Workhorse programs to keep your data safe
Comments
Rosemary Hattersley said: You wont have been able to install a second antivirus program - they treat each other as malware and quarantine each other You need a two-way firewall and a spyware detector as well as antivirus software to ensure your PC is kept secure Ensure you are using a secure web browser too Internet Explorer 6 is an absolute no
mark said: We recently bought a new netbook for my partner After carefully checking several review sites PC Advisor included we decided to try Microsoft Security Essentials as it was getting good press Within 2 weeks the netbook had caught a nasty virus the specific trojan name eludes me right now MSE utterly missed it amp worse didnt notice the OS was being mauled by the minute No other AV would now install on the netbook to stop the infestation Finally I installed malwarebytes via USB stick which did find amp destroy it Even then the OS was trashed basically and we had to re-install completely Having tested other AVs many times some pretty bad this is the first time I have one so utterly useless
RichyN said: I agree with you on Avira the GUI isnt the easiest for a novice to discern there are numerous forums that can assist with the aforementioned but the sspeed amp detection rate are second to noneNB BFW the MS-MSE package phones home without option which put me off this product immediately
Bourne said: According to Matouseccom Avast and McAfee score only 3 in their newest 148 test security challenge Norton just 40 giving a rating of very poor Kapersky however tops all 3 with 86 pass rate
Phil said: v50462 of Avast puts paid to the old argument of a confusing interface If the author has in fact used this version and still finds it difficult then he shouldnt be using computers I do agree that the old interface left a lot to be desired but the newer format is very clear and a delight to see when compared to the old Avast in an excellent product
Matt Egan - editor said: Ron Graves thanks for your comment although I know some lab testers who would disagree with you re Norton - bitly9nhsue Id be interested to know why you think it is so bad As for Avast it has long been a favourite of PC Advisor but I think it would be stretching a point to describe is as consumer friendly Oh and for the record we dont review products without using them Ever
Ron Graves said: Almost anything is superior to Norton and McAfee Though I think the best AV - by some margin - is avast and yes I have used the othersDescribing the interface as confusing is absurd - clearly the reviewer has never used it other than to just have a quick look at it if that Ive recommended it toinstalled avast for several chronic technophobes and they have no problems with it And for me at least - Ive used it for years and Im online about 16 hours a day - it works so well theres rarely any need to get involved with the interface
CYteck said: Replying to Oshy there is little or no difference between these programs because they both do the same task They are both designed to detect Virus infections on your system amp both are free amp both have free signature updates The only difference would be in the ability to detect a large number of infections and so you would need to find a lab test which compared these x2 programs one against the other to truly know the actual differences Personally I like AVG Free its a very high quality program amp is definitely superior to both Norton AV amp McAfee AV and of course AVG is FREE too I can also recommend Microsoft security essentials too
oshy said: just wanted to know which is better avira or avg antivirus
Peter said: Big thumbs up to SD explorer Id almost given up on using Skydrive due to the clunky web interface but not now