Antivirus apps: The not-so-usual suspects

You already know all about big-time security apps like Ad-Aware and Avira AntiVir, and you've already seen our pick of essentials from the Security Starter Kit. Here are five more options to pit against your current favorite antivirus apps, or to (sparingly!) use alongside them.

SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition

App: SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition
Known for: Small footprint. At only 6 MB, it's light on system resources (As a benchmark, Spybot Search & Destroy is 9 MB; Ad-Aware is 20 MB.)
Big trick: Home page protection wards off browser hijackers, list of bite-size restore points you can reset to mend broken network connections and settings.
Costs you: $ 0
Catch: There's no software scheduling or real-time blocking in the freeware version.

Photo Credit: CNET Networks

Text By: Jessica Dolcourt