You should already have an anti-virus program guarding your computer, but if you don’t and you suspect that you may have a virus there are several Web sites that will scan your computer for viruses for free. These virus scanners will not remove a virus, but they will tell you if your computer is infected.

Symantec’s Security and Virus Check

Trend Micro Free Scan

Panda Active Scan

This is not a replacement for having a good anti-virus program that is updated regularly, but in a pinch it’s a great way to check your computer for viruses.

Free TV Guide

Ready for another round of new television shows or looking for one of your old favorites? Get a free TV guide listing at the TV Guide Web site. The site requires registration, but the service is free. It doesn’t matter if you have cable, satellite, or plain old television. This guide covers them all.

Lottery Checker

Every now and then when traveling, I purchase a lottery ticket. When I get home it’s easy to see if I am a winner on Lottery results. This site has links to results in 39 states plus several foreign countries.

Google Pack

Google has a wealth of free software in its Google Pack which is available at the Google website. This software includes Google Earth, a 3D Earth browser that shows you any address from the sky, Picasa, a good photo organizer and editing program, the Google Toolbar (more info below), a Google screensaver, and even a 6-month subscription to Norton Antivirus. Be wary of the Google Desktop program that is also a part of this package. Security experts are warning against using it. Just click on “Add or remove software” to choose which programs you want.

Google Toolbar

This little free program make searching the Internet much easier by putting a toolbar at the top of your screen where you can enter search terms without clicking over to a search engine. Best of all, the latest version of the Google Toolbar includes a free pop-up blocker which works very well. Read my Google Toolbar review for the scoop on all the latest features. It is also available as part of the Google Pack mentioned above.

Bandwidth Speed Test

Does your Internet connection seem slow? Visit the Bandwidth Place for a quick check on how fast you are actually connecting to the Internet connection. You can check any type of connection including dial-up, DSL, and cable.

Firewall

One of the best free firewalls is ZoneAlarm. Zone Labs will try to sell you their Pro version and other software, but if you just click on “Download Free ZoneAlarm” you will be protected from hackers and marketers who are trying to get into your computer. For more information on what a Firewall is and what it does, read Firewalls Explained.

Spyware Protection

Software programs that are installed without the computer owner's knowledge are often called Spyware. In most cases they piggyback on other programs that are downloaded from the Internet. They are completely transparent to the end-user, so your computer can be infected without your knowledge. Spyware is rapidly spreading. It can harm your computer and steal personal information. Zone Alarm has a free spyware scanner to find and remove spyware. Two excellent free Spy Blockers are Ad-Aware and Spybot Search and Destroy.