What if I told you that there is a single software application that does all of the following -- FOR FREE. Would you rush to download it?

You'll be alerted to malware attacks, hijackings, and critical changes made to your computer. Traditional security programs scan your hard drive searching for previously identified threats. This one takes snapshots of your critical system resources and alerts you to changes that may occur without your knowledge. You won't need to update definition/signature data files.

You'll be immediately notified when new auto startup programs, browser add-ons and tool bars, Windows Services, and scheduled tasks have been added to your computer. You can then make an intelligent decision whether or not to allow them.

You'll know if your AutoUpdate or User Account Control (UAC) settings change.

You'll be alerted when something tries to change your file type associations.

You'll know when changes are made to your Windows HOST file, so often maliciously hijacked.

This program will manage and automatically remove unwanted cookies.

This program will identify ActiveX programs that suddenly appear from nowhere.

This program will clean malware from the Autorun/Startup list.

You can delay the start of certain autorun/startup programs to speed bootup time.

This program will remember and remove annoying programs.

You can easily view, review, and remove most recently installed files and Registry entries.

You can kill multiple files with a single click.

You can mark files to be deleted on reboot before they can be locked or reproduced.

This program will expose secret startup locations used by keyloggers or other programs.

You can learn the purpose of cryptic files and whether they're important for your computer's performance.

You can decide if a file is really needed at startup.

This program won't conflict with other security programs you rely on.

Because of its small footprint, this program won't impact on your system resources or performance.

This program won't connect you to the Internet unless you specifically ask for information.

This program won't install additional crap (the developer's word) and toolbars on your system.

This program will work on most Windows operating systems to include Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.

Once you install it, the Scotty icon resides in your Systems Tray and alerts you when things are going on behind your back that may cause you grief.

I'm not going to burden you with a lot of details. You don't have to be a computer geek to use WinPatrol, but if you are, that's OK too. You can read as much - or as little - as you like about this program at http://www.WinPatrol.com . If you're short on cash at least take the free WinPatrol 2012 available at that link and I promise you, it will do everything listed above.

So, with such a "miracle" program, why would you want more? Or, put another way, why would you pay if so much of its features come free? Well, I've long sermonized that we should financially support developers of good software to encourage them to invest still more of their time and talents in continuing to improve a program as superb as WinPatrol. But if you don't necessarily agree with this philosophy, there's still more in the PLUS version of WinPatrol 2012 that may convince you of its worth:

A knowledge database that provides easy-to-understand descriptions of over 30,000 programs (and in 13 languages!) to allow you to tweak your system and make it run at its best performance.

A promise that you will receive future updated versions at no additional cost. You pay only one time, and that's good for a lifetime on all your computers. Bill Pytlovany, the genius behind Scotty, tells me that his decision to offer WinPatrol PLUS for a lifetime at just one price wasn't the best business plan he could come up with, and I agree. It vaguely reminds me of a chewing gum manufacturer who proposed a product that would never lose its flavor. That proposal was quickly vetoed because, after all, there would be no repeat sales. With WinPatrol PLUS, you can keep the flavor forever with one purchase.

Real-time infiltration detection of newly installed programs. These include system hooks and Application Programming Interface (API) spying from third-party programs that will slow down normal computer operation. Scotty will sound the alarm when significant changes have been made.

Optional settings to instruct the program to automatically respond and hide specific alerts. This feature allows users to configure the program so that alert messages may be hidden if desired. Scotty will still be on the job behind the scenes protecting your computer, but will go about his job quietly.

No anti-virus software totally protects you from the nasties, but WinPatrol 2012 prevents programs from hiding on your system waiting for a target before releasing their payload. It does this with new features, Uninstall Detection and Start Program Removed Detection. You can read more about these clever innovations at the WinPatrol Web site.