Hi,

Not sure if this belongs here or in the "newbie security questions"

There is a free for private use product called WinPatrol, from BillP Studios

http://www.winpatrol.com

Version 6.0 Has just been released and is available from the website .

I think that although this is really a "for the masses" app, as it is very User friendly, masses more masses might benefit from it. I also suggest that the social engineering is quite good for very young kids. Might make them a bit more inquisitive/aware of security issues?

The new release includes monitoring "IE Helpers" or BHOs as we might prefer to call them? It warns you if these are being downloaded to your machine, unlike BHO Cop, which you have to run manually...........or at least with my version you do

I like WinPatrol, for non-security aware types because of its non-technical approach..........I have not tried the pro version yet.

It monitors:

Startup Programs
BHOs
Windows Task Scheduler
Active Processes
Cookies
Restart File Changes
Changes to the IE Home and Search Pages.

I think that is pretty good for "free"

I know that many may think that "I know of better tools than that"...........sure, and I bet you also know several people who would be a lot safer if they ran this?

It works on WIN 9x to XP

Hope this helps someone....................remember, free for private use

Cheers