The best free antivirus 2017

1. Avira Free Antivirus

Fast, smart, effective, and well designed – Avira is the best free antivirus for Windows

Avira Free Antivirus took the top spot on our previous free antivirus roundup, and here it is again. 

Yes, AV-TEST's results show it to have a micron less protection than the likes of AVG, but it's the slickest, cleanest and least system intensive antivirus package going. It's almost as if the programmers sat down to determine exactly what users would want out of an antivirus package and somehow stumbled on the correct answer: something that isn't in your face every two seconds and doesn't slow your PC to a halt just by existing.

So hooray for Avira. It doesn't even install a host of other packages (including a secure browser, VPN and safesearch plugin) by default, although they're there if you want them.

It's not the glossiest package, and the install process is a bit pre-emptive, with Windows 10 repeatedly shouting at us to update Avira before it had even finished making its way onto our test machine, but we're inclined to blame Microsoft for the latter glitch. Overall, Avira Free Antivirus is brilliant, and is our pick for this year's best free antivirus software.

Download here: Avira Free Antivirus

2. AVG AntiVirus Free

Superb free antivirus with a super-clear interface, AVG is a great choice for your whole  family

10 steps you can take to secure a laptop

Travelling with a laptop can represent a significant security risk to your business.

This is because the data it contains is far more vulnerable when you are on the move than when you use a laptop in the relative safety of your office or home environment.

It doesn't have to be stolen; because it takes just seconds for a hacker to slip a USB stick into a laptop when it is unattended to install malicious software or steal data. Even relatively unsophisticated hackers can run programs like Mailpassview from a USB stick to steal your email account details and email password.

There are steps you can take to reduce the risk. Here are 10 simple things you can do to help keep your laptop secure when you are on the go.

1. Use a password

Ensure that your Windows account is protected with a password. The laptop should be configured so that the password has to be entered every time you turn the machine on or when it comes out of hibernation, sleep or screensaver mode.

An account password is an effective first line of defence, but only if you avoid choosing a commonly used - and therefore easily guessed - password. An analysis of passwords stolen from websites during recent security incidents reveals that the most common include "password", "123456", "abc123", "qwerty" and, bizarrely, "monkey".

How to turn a PC or laptop webcam into a CCTV system for free

If you want to monitor your property, or keep an eye on pets left at home, all you need is a laptop or PC with a built-in – or USB-connected – webcam.

Then you need some software which can record the feed from a webcam either continuously or – more usually – when motion is detected. There are good free applications, such as iSpy Connect, as well as paid-for software such as SightHound (formerly Vitamin D)