Microsoft Security Essentials

Description:
Recommended Free Antivirus Software and Spyware Protection
Provides real-time protection that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.
Automatically updates and scans as needed.

Usage:
Install and follow on-screen instructions.
Click "fortress" icon in taskbar to access menu.
Click Update tab to perform manual update. Click Scan to perform a manual scan.



CCleaner

Description:
Cleans Registry, orphaned files, and startup settings.
Run manually once a month or as needed.
Will notify of available updates when launched.

Usage:
Go to Cleaner tab.
Click Analyze button
Click Run Cleaner when ready.
Go to Registry tab.
Click Scan for Issues button.
Click Fix selected issues when ready.
If prompted to backup changes to registry, choose yes.
Create a folder C:\ccleaner and save the registry backups there.
Click Fix All Selected Issues when prompted.



Spybot Search and Destroy

Description:
Spyware and Malware scanner.
Automatically scheduled to update and scan nightly.
Can optionally run scan manually once a month to clean unwanted software that comes from web.

Usage:
Click Search for Updates button.
Check all available updates.
Click Download.
After updating exit the update window.
Go to Imunize tab.
Choose button to apply imunization protection.
Go to Search and Destroy tab.
Click Check for problems button to preform a scan.
When scan completes, click Fix selected problems button to fix problems (if found).



Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

Description:
Spyware and Malware scanner.
Run scan once a month to clean unwanted software that comes from the web.

Usage:
Go to Update tab.
Click Check for Updates.
Go to Scanner tab
Choose quick or full scan.
Click Scan button.
When scan completes choose button to re-pair/delete/remove all problems found.



Spywareblaster

Description:
Blocks Spyware and Malware from installing from web.
Does not scan or run. Works like a blacklist that is always enabled once applied.
Update monthly to ensure blacklist of what to block stays up to date.

Usage:
Go to Updates tab.
Click Check for Updates button.
Wait for updates complete.
Go to Protection Status tab.
Click Enable All Protection link at the bottom to apply latest update.



MyDefrag - OptimizeMonthly

Description:
Defragments hard drive and optimizes it so the most freqently used files are first for faster access.

Usage:
Create a shortcut to "C:\Program Files\MyDefrag vX.X.X\Scripts\SystemDiskMonthly.MyD"
Rename the shortcut "MyDefrag - Optimize Monthly"
Double click on the "MyDefrag - Optimize Monthly" shortcut once a month or as needed.



ComboFix

Description:
It is rarely necessary to use this tool, but it can help if you are unable to visit web sites from an infected computer.
Scans your computer for known malware, and when found, attempts to clean these infections automatically.
This is not something you would use unless you were fairly sure your system was already infected. Do not run it otherwise.

Usage:
You do not need to launch ComboFix on your computer unless there is a spyware infection.  This is not a tool you will use regularly.
To be prepared in case a future infection were to occur, save ComboFix to your computer today and keep it for a rainy day.
Alternatively you could download ComboFix on another computer and then copy it via USB flash drive to the infected computer.
Should your computer become infected, launch ComboFix.exe and follow on screen instructions.
ComboFix may take a long time to complete and there may be long periods of inactivity while it works.
Do not attempt to use or restart your computer until ComboFix completes!