Windows Security Tools

VeraCrypt is a free open source disk encryption software for Windows, macOS and Linux.

Alternatives: Windows BitLocker

Windows Defender is built into Windows to help guard your PC against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software in real time. Windows Defender features Real-Time Protection, a monitoring system that recommends actions against malware when it's detected, minimizes interruptions, and helps you stay productive.

Alternatives: Sophos Home, ESET NOD32 Antivirus

VirusTotal is a free service that analyzes files and URLs for viruses, worms, trojans and other kinds of malicious content.

Alternatives: MetaDefender, Jotti, VirSCAN

Winja is a free application for Microsoft Windows that lets you find potential malware on your system. It uses the scanning engine of virtually all antivirus products in the market to give you a very precise idea of the risk posed by a particular file. To do this, Winja first uses the VirusTotal public API to submit the fingerprint of a file. If this fingerprint exists, Winja returns the existing analysis report. If not, Winja sends the unknown file to VirusTotal servers for scanning.

Comodo Firewall offers the highest levels of security against inbound and outbound threats. It checks that all network traffic in and out of your computer is legitimate. Comodo Firewall also makes it easy for you to specify exactly which applications are allowed to connect to the internet and immediately warns you when there is suspicious activity.

Alternatives: BiniSoft Windows Firewall Control, simplewall, SpyShelter

Control which folders programs can be run from.

User manual: http://softwarepolicy.sourceforge.net/

Hardentools is a collection of simple utilities designed to disable a number of "features" exposed by Microsoft Windows, and primary consumer applications. These features, commonly thought for enterprise customers, are generally useless to regular users and rather pose as dangers as they are very commonly abused by attackers to execute malicious code on a victim's computer.

This utility, which has the most comprehensive knowledge of auto-starting locations of any startup monitor, shows you what programs are configured to run during system bootup or login, and when you start various built-in Windows applications like Internet Explorer, Explorer and media players.

A free, powerful, multi-purpose tool that helps you monitor system resources, debug software and detect malware.

Alternatives: Process Explorer

Process Monitor is an advanced monitoring tool for Windows that shows real-time file system, Registry and process/thread activity.

VirtualBox is a powerful x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization product for enterprise as well as home use. Windows virtual machines for testing software are available at https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/tools/vms/

A malware cleaning tool that runs independent of the operating system from a CD, DVD, or a USB. It has direct access to the disc and the file system, and therefore is capable of removing the most persistent threats.

Alternative: https://ualinux.com/en/ubuntu-rescuepack