Download a free firewall to prevent direct hacking into your machine, and be notified when something on your PC is trying to connect elsewhere without your permission.

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Firewalls check incoming and outgoing network traffic, and allow only the applications you want to connect with the outside world. They can take some time to setup and configure properly for each computer, but are well worth the effort.

If you inadvertently install spyware, the firewall will notify you when the spyware tries to connect to its home base. A very handy early warning system indeed.

For home use, many experts recommend the free firewall, Zone Alarm, by Zone Labs. The program is adfree and doesn't come with adware that reports back to the company.

Download a free firewall from Zone Labs: Download