The nature of online threats to computers has changed quite radically in the last few years.

Rather than attacks that affect millions of computers worldwide, hackers have decided to concentrate on more manageable attacks, normally with a view to steal personal information.

Linkscanner Lite from exploit prevention labs helps to protect a computer from these attacks by scanning web links to ensure that there is nothing that might attack the computer.

The lite version offers two forms of scanning. It installs into Internet Explorer and Firefox so that the links provided by searches with Google, MSN and Yahoo are checked automatically. An icon appears next to the title of each search result showing whether or not the site is safe. The icons are colour coded for ease of use.

Individual links in a web page can be scanned using the right click menu.

The other way of investigating links is to double click on the XPL icon in the notification Area to launch the main program interface. Links can be scanned and then opened automatically if there are no threats.

Linkscanner Pro checks all links automatically. It currently costs $20 for a one-year licence.