Free tools to secure your windows machine

One annoyance I have had with software companies is the ridiculously high pricing of application packages. I have worked with windows machines for about a decade now and have always faced the dilemma of either buying highly priced boxed software or using open source applications available online. I always chose to go with the latter.

If you were ever wondering if there was a list of free applications I could install on my computer to protect it from threats or infection, look no further. I have made this list of freeware you could download from downloads.com to better protect your computer without burning a hole in your pocket.
Anti-virus Program: Avast,AVG
Spyware,Adware Remover: Spybot,Adaware
Firewall: ZoneAlarm
A few of these softwares would require you to register on their website, so do not get all paranoid about your information being used against you. It will usually be for sending you a product key. These are all tried and tested software so go ahead and secure your data.