Internet Security

The Internet is full of great information and many useful resources. But it also contains things that crawl around in the dark and go bump in the night. I think you'll be as surprised as I was to learn how much of that is really happening today.
If your computers are only connected to the Internet briefly, when you're browsing the web or retrieving and sending eMail, your connection exposure will be minimal. But if you are one of the millions of people who are discovering the amazing power and convenience of a persistent connection to the Net — through a cable modem or DSL line — and if you leave any of your computers on and connected for hours at a time, then your exposure is substantially greater.
Unfortunately, the technology generated by the really top-notch hackers is made freely available to anyone on the Net. This technology is picked up by much less accomplished vandals or "crackers" (often referred to by the disparaging term "Script Kiddies") who take those powerful tools and apply them to much less intellectual nefarious ends.
Below are listed sites which I feel can help the average user make their internet connection secure.  These sites offer Freeware or shareware software.

Know of a site that offers internet security free/shareware software?
Send me the URL and I will include it here!