Shields UP!! is a free security tool provided by Gibson Research Corporation (GRC.com) that tests your computer for a large variety of vulnerabilities like windows messenger spam, browser headers and open ports. Shields UP!! was created by Steve Gibson (the co-host of Security Now! and creator of SpinRite, an amazing Hard Drive maintenance and repair tool) to poke and prod at your computer much like a real hacker or malicious code might, tell you where it was able to get in and how to fix it.

GRC also offers many other free tools and software (available here) to test, track and fix your computer’s security. I highly recommend Steve’s tools and software as well as listening to Security Now! every Thurs. on the TWiT Netcast Network.

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