215 software tools. No fees. No expiration dates. No problems. Sometimes even no downloads. No kidding.
They are divided into different categories
Category:
Hall of Fame
Adobe Reader
www.adobe.com
Windows | MacOS | Linux | Mobile
This simplest of Adobe's PDF programs lets you do just about anything PDF-related (besides create new ones), including online collaboration. It includes a host of features to aid users with disabilities.
AIM
www.aim.com
Windows | MacOS | Linux | Web
One of the most widely used pieces of free software ever, AOL Instant Messenger offers a ton of capabilities.
Audacity
audacity.sourceforge.net
Windows | MacOS | Linux
Whether you're recording or editing, Audacity is all about audio in practically any format.
Firefox
www.mozilla.com
Windows | MacOS | Linux
This PC Mag Editors' Choice Web browser has been on top of the heap since version 1.5 came out in late 2005.
GIMP
www.gimp.org
Windows | MacOS | Linux
The GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) does most of what Photoshop does; the Gimpshop project (plasticbugs.com) even makes it look like Photoshop.
iTunes
www.apple.com/itunes
Windows | MacOS
When you're attached to the top media player in the land (iPod), success is a given. iTunes continues to build sales and refine its organization of songs, video, games, podcasts, and more.
OpenOffice.org
www.openoffice.org
Windows | MacOS | Linux
You can spend a lot for Microsoft Office or nothing for this suite with full-function word processor, spreadsheet, database, presentations, even an equations editor.
Skype
www.skype.com
Windows | MacOS | Linux
You'll pay to call regular phones, but if you sign up all your friends, Skype provides easy (and even international) calls and video-conferencing for nothing.
Thunderbird
www.mozilla.com/thunderbird
Windows | MacOS | Linux
Mozilla's no-cost e-mail alternative is extensible, fast, and easy to master. And a wealth of free add-ons means there's not much this program won't do, from calendars to encryption.
Ubuntu
www.ubuntu.com
Linux
This Linux-based OS comes with many of these Hall of Fame products (Firefox, OpenOffice.org) preinstalled.
WinAmp
www.winamp.com
Windows
After a decade of playing music, the "skinnable" WinAmp has several versions, including one with full CD ripping and burning.
Operating Systems
ajaxWindows
www.ajaxwindows.com
Web
A virtual operating system (aka Web OS), it uses Asynchronous Java-Script and XML (AJAX) programming to mimic the look and feel of a Windows desktop in Firefox or IE. It stores files (using Gmail) and runs its own applications, plus Web apps like Meebo and Google Maps. If you can launch a Web browser, you can get work done through ajaxWindows.
eyeOS
eyeos.info
Web
This Web OS has ultra-simplified applications, including an RSS reader, satellite maps, a word processor, even a browser—yes, for browsing the Web while on the Web.
Freespire 2.0
www.freespire.com
Linux
This community-driven OS is based on Linspire (formerly Lindows)—a Linux distro that looks like Windows, with an emphasis on compatibility with other platforms.
Glide
www.glidedigital.com
Web | Flash
Sleek style sets this Web OS apart, as does the ability (using a separate utility) to sync files, bookmarks, and e-mail from your real OS.
gOS
www.thinkgos.com
Linux
Ubuntu-based and powered by Google's apps (just don't call it Google OS), gOS comes with the $200 PCs from Wal-Mart, but you can download it for any PC.
Antivirus/Anti-Malware
avast! 4 Home Edition
www.avast.com
Windows
Spiffy-looking avast! notifies you by e-mail or IM if it catches a virus. You can't schedule scans, but its recovery database can help if a virus damages your files.
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
free.grisoft.com
Windows
Its control center is awkward, but AVG scans files on demand, upon access, on a schedule, and in e-mail. Its rescue disks will help you recover from disaster.
Avira AntiVir Personal Edition Classic
www.free-av.com
Windows
AntiVir scans files on demand, upon access, and on a schedule; it doesn't scan e-mail attachments until they're saved, but it does go to work on rootkits. It's especially good at coexisting with other security software. Like most good AV software, it has the Virus Bulletin's VB100% award and certification for virus detection from ICSA Labs.
HijackThis
www.trendsecure.com
Windows
Run HijackThis, save a log, and then post the log on sites that support the program. You'll quickly get personalized expert help to remove any malware.
NanoScan
www.nanoscan.com
Windows | Web
In less than a minute, NanoScan can analyze all processes running on your computer and identify viruses, Trojan horses, spyware, or other malicious programs.
ThreatFire AntiVirus
www.threatfire.com
Windows
ThreatFire detects the bad guys by their behavior, not by outdated virus signatures. It's surprisingly accurate and a good companion to standard antivirus apps.
Trend Micro HouseCall
housecall.trendmicro.com
Windows
Use the venerable HouseCall online scanner to get a second opinion, or use the app for cleanup when malware prevents installation of a local antivirus utility.
Firewalls
Comodo Firewall Pro
www.personalfirewall.comodo.com
Windows
This protective dragon for XP and Vista keeps hackers out of your system, controls which programs can access the Net (its whitelist of about one million means you get fewer pop-ups), and blocks tricky "leak test" techniques. It's both tough and good-looking.
ShieldsUP!
www.grc.com
Windows | Web
Be sure your fire-walls are keeping your always-on Internet connection hidden from attackers. Shields-UP! provides a quick confirmation.
SmoothWall Express
www.smoothwall.org
Linux
Got a spare PC running a Pentium 200 MHz or higher with 128MB of RAM? Turn it into a dedicated network firewall with this open-source download.
ZoneAlarm Free
www.zonealarm.com
Windows
The free edition remains a useful protector against hack attacks and against programs that abuse your Internet connection.
Security
EULAlyzer
www.javacoolsoftware.com
Windows
Wonder what you're agreeing to when you click "I Accept"? Don't worry; just drag EULAlyzer's target icon onto the EULA for a quick report on any troublesome language.
Hotspot Shield
www.anchorfree.com
Windows
Create an instant virtual private network (VPN) tunnel between your laptop and the router at any Wi-Fi hot spot to protect your data from snoops on the public airwaves, even if you're using extra encryption. If you're on a network that limits the use of certain apps (such as Skype), the VPN could give you unfettered access. It even works with your wired connection for an extra layer of security.
Kruptos 2
www.kruptos2.co.uk
Windows
Kruptos makes a file accessible only to someone who knows the password; it includes a file shredder.
PC Flank
www.pcflank.com
Windows | Web
While ShieldsUP! tests your firewall's ability to stealth all ports, PC Flank performs surgical strikes that emulate specific malware attacks to verify that your firewall blocks them.
SendShield
www.sendshield.com
Windows
This Outlook add-on strips out extra info and tracked changes in Word documents attached to messages.
McAfee SiteAdvisor
us.mcafee.com
McAfee's back-end servers crawl the Web to evaluate sites. Does the site host malicious software? Will it spam you? Are there exploits in the code? If SiteAdvisor red-flags a site you're visiting, get outta there! It evaluates all the links from Google and popular search engines so that you need never find yourself on a red-flagged site.
SpyCatcher Express
www.tenebril.com
When we last tested it, Tenebril's SpyCatcher did very well both at cleaning out spyware and at preventing further infestation. The free SpyCatcher Express edition has almost all the features found in the paid version. It lacks antiphishing and a few high-end tools, and you have to check for updates manually, but it does the job.
StartupMonitor
www.snpsoftware.com
StartupMonitor alerts you to programs that try to install themselves whenever you boot up Windows. Unlike most similar utilities, this one is unobtrusive and won't interfere with program installations that reboot automatically.
SuperStorm Freeware
www.thegreatpuzzle.com/superstorm.php
SuperStorm Freeware protects a sensitive file (up to 200KB) by encrypting it and hiding it inside a JPEG image, and then securely deleting the original. A for-pay Pro edition has no size limit and can encrypt with a user-defined password. SuperStorm can extract anything hidden by the Pro edition, and it uses a simple drag-and-drop interface.
Windows Defender
www.microsoft.com
Microsoft bought Windows Defender's technology about two years ago, but the software colossus doesn't seem to have done much with it. The product's ability to remove entrenched spyware is mediocre, and it's not a lot better at keeping spyware out of a clean system. But it's free and built into OneCare and Vista, so use its on-demand scanner for a "second opinion."
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Copyright 2008