Your Free Toolkit
The best things in life are free. Or so goes the saying.
We've put together an essential toolkit of software that no PC should be without, all free.
Security:
Would you leave the door to your home open or the key on the outside?
AVG Anti-Virus:
I've been using this one for over 3 years now ever since I let my Symantec subscription run out. Auto-updates, scheduled scans and also scans emails in your standalone client.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5
While you're there grab a copy of AVG's anti-spyware scanner
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/20/lng/us/tpl/v5
ZoneAlarm Firewall:
The ubiquitous free firewall, and does a good job too. Click the "I only want basic ZoneAlarm protection" link.
http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownlo...
Comodo Firewall:
A dependable alternative to ZoneAlarm.
http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/download_firewall.html
Spybot Search and Destroy:
Ever wondered what sort of adware and spyware might be lurking under the hood of your machine? Spybot S&D will help you track them down.
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html
Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition:
When it comes to spyware and adware a double or triple layer of defence is advisable. Add this to your library.
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-1004591...
SpyCatcher Express:
Another good spyware and adware scanner. A word of caution though: Spycatcher Express erroneously identifies certain application library files as suspect files. I had trouble getting my Bluetooth software and iTunes installation to run until I disabled Spycatcher. USe with caution.
http://www.tenebril.com/consumer/spyware/spycatcher-express.php
Hide it and they can't Seek:
Paragon Encrypted Disk SE 3
http://www.download.com/Paragon-Encrypted-Disk-SE/3000-2092_4-10375064.h...
TrueCrypt 4.2a
http://www.download.com/TrueCrypt/3000-2092_4-10628214.html?tag=lst-0-1
Do you have a favorite recipe on your PC that you want to hide from prying eyes? Or would you like to protect the financial data stored on your computer? These 2 programs are your lock and key.
Eraser v5.3
When Iranian students stormed the US Embassy in Tehran in November 1979 they managed to put together hundreds of secret documents American embassy staffers thought they'd shredded and destroyed forever.
No need to panic. Eraser will effectively shred anything you have on your PC, never to be seen again.
http://www.tolvanen.com/eraser/download.shtml
Productivity Software:
Think Microsoft charges an arm-and-a-leg for its Office suite?
OpenOffice:
Its suite includes a word processor, a spreadsheet, a presentation manager, a drawing program, and database and mathematical modules. It also works with Microsoft document formats!
http://www.download.com/OpenOffice-org/3000-2064_4-10657905.html?tag=lst...
Internet Applications:
Browser:
Mozilla Firefox. In my humble opinion, it's the best.
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
E-Mail Client
Mozilla Thunderbird:
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/thunderbird/
Tired of Outlook and Outlook Express. Want an email client with excellent built-in junk mail controls? Give Thunderbird a try.
Desktop Utilities:
Belarc Advisor
http://www.download.com/Belarc-Advisor/3000-2094_4-10643403.html?tag=lst...
Belarc Advisor tells you exactly what's installed on your PC, hardware and software. It even includes Microsoft Hotfixes.
TBC
