|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Category | Software Links | |
|---|---|---|
| Web Browsers | Firefox ** mozilla.com
- better security, tabs, addons (OS)
SeaMonkey mozilla.org - combines Firefox, Thunderbird, web page editor, web development tools, and an IRC chat client. (OS) Internet Explorer microsoft.com - Outlook Express mail Maxthon maxthon.com - shell for Internet Explorer, advanced features | |
| ||
| Mailreaders | Thunderbird ** mozilla.com
mail/news/RSS reader, optional addons (OS)
Eudora eudora.com Pegasus pmail.com PocoMail pocosystems.com - detect spam, filters Outlook Express microsoft.com (included with Windows) Microsoft Office microsoft.com "Personal Folders Backup" new command | |
| Newsreaders | Thunderbird ** mozilla.com
WinVN science.ksc.nasa.gov Free Agent * forteinc.com | |
| Feed readers | Windows:
FeedDemon
Awasu
Mac: Newsfire NetNewsWire Web: Bloglines My Yahoo ** Google Reader ** NewsGator Cell/PDA: Freenews Feedreader Other: NewsGator Sharpreader(.NET) | |
| Web Editors (FTP) | KompoZer
- kompozer.net
- WYSIWYG web page editor and publisher. (OS) Tutorial
[Replaces Nvu, no longer maintained] | |
| HTML-Kit - htmlkit.com - specialized HTML development environment with plugins For experienced coders. Internet Explorer required. | ||
| SeaMonkey Composer (Mozilla Composer) - mozilla.com/projects/seamonkey - WYSIWYG web editor part of a suite with browser, IRC Chat, Mail, Newsreader. (OS) | ||
| Amaya - Amaya - Web editor to create and update documents directly on the Web. Browsing integrated with editing. From the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) | ||
| NetObjects Fusion Essentials - netobjects.com/html/essentials.html - WYSIWYG web editor, built-in publishing, tutorials. Free version of NetObjects Fusion 11. | ||
| Firefox Extensions ** - addons.mozilla.com - allow you to create and test HTML with: EditorZilla, Codetch, HTML Validator, IE view | ||
| FTP & Testing | FireFTP ** - fireftp.mozdev.org - Firefox addon (OS) | |
| Filezilla * - sourceforge.net (OS) | ||
| FTP Explorer ftpx.com - just like Windows Explorer (Win9x/ME/2000/NT4) | ||
| Xenu Link Sleuth ** - home.snafu.de - Scan entire website and find bad links, creates report. (review) | ||
| Firewall protection | Comodo Firewall Pro * - personalfirewall.comodo.com - top-rated in 2008 Matousec Firewall Challenge (Geek factor: high) | |
| Online-Armor Free Online-Armor 2008 top-rated in 2008 Matousec Firewall Challenge | ||
| ZoneAlarm * - zonelabs.com - ZA Free - controls outgoing access to the Internet (Windows Firewall doesn't). Easy to use. | ||
| Outpost Firewall Free - free.agnitum.com - easier than Comodo, manual updates and ads in free version | ||
| Sygate - sygate.com | ||
| Anti-Virus & Anti-malware | ||
| Avira AntiVir * free-av.com - auto-updating | AVG Free * - free.avg.com - auto-updating anti-virus (nag screen) | |
| ClamWin - clamwin.com - auto-updates (OS) | ||
| F-Secure Blacklight * - f-secure.com - rootkit monitor | ||
| Microsoft Security Essentials microsoft.com/Security_Essentials - real-time monitor uses few computer resources | ||
| Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware * - malwarebytes.org - (top-rated by WindowsSecrets.com) | ||
| Spybot Search & Destroy * - Spybot.info - scanner | ||
| SpywareBlaster * - javacoolsoftware.com - scanner | ||
| SuperAntispyware * - superantispyware.com - on-demand test only in free version | ||
| Trend Micro RUBotted * - trendsecure.com - monitors for Bot infection. | ||
| Computer Security | Microsoft Security updates ** - microsoft.com - free updates to Windows XP, MS-Office, etc. Use the "notify only" mode. LONG updates can be very annoying. | |
| Secunia Personal Software Inspector ** - secunia.com - scans your software for security upgrades. Online tester! (Geek factor: medium) | ||
| LastPass Password Manager * - lastpass.com - securely stores passwords - you remember one password. (Firefox addon "LastPass" fills web forms) (Geek factor: medium) | ||
| Drop My Rights * - msdn2.microsoft.com... - drop administrative privileges while running Internet applications in an "ADMIN" account | ||
| fSekrit ** - f0dder.dcmembers.com - creates stand-alone encrypted text files. Can be stored and read anywhere with complete safety. (Geek factor: medium) | ||
| Spector Pro - spectorsoft.com/products/spectorpro_windows/ - monitors/controls your childrens' online usage (chat, IMs, emails, websites, Facebook/MySpace, searches) | ||
| Startup Control (Boot-Time) | StartUpMonitor ** - mlin.net - asks before installing startup applications | |
| Autoruns ** - technet.microsoft.com - manages existing startup applications | ||
| Start-up List ** - pacs-portal.co.uk - comprehensive list of startup programs (updated frequently) | ||
| Utilities | 7-Zip ** - 7-zip.org - packs 7z, zip, tar; unpacks gzip, rar, cab, iso, arj, lzh. Supports 256-bit encryption (OS) | |
| CCleaner ** - filehippo.com/download_ccleaner - comprehensive system cleaner: deletes unused or unneeded files in the computer, the Registry, and Windows Startup applications. (Geek factor: medium) | ||
| EASEUS Partition Master ** - partition-tool.com/personal.htm - Free program to change hard drive partitions. | ||
| MyDefrag ** - mydefrag.com - disk defragment and optimizing utility for Windows 2000, 2003, XP, Vista, Win7, X64 (also portable) Replaces JkDefrag | ||
| RoboCopy GUI technet.microsoft.com - copy folder/files to another location. Based on RoboCopy, included in Vista/Win7. (Geek factor: medium) | ||
| WinBubbles for Win7/Vista (similar to TweakUI/XP) windowsforus.com - Change Windows settings safely. (Geek factor: medium) | ||
| 1. WipeDisk - gaijin.at - Securely erases a hard drive or partition before donating computers. (Windows 2000, 2003, XP, Vista - no installation) Use to delete only certain files. | ||
| 2. Free Eraser - mareew.com guarantees to erase files completely so they cannot be restored (Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, 2003 Server, Vista) | ||
| UltimateBootCD.com - ultimatebootcd.com - diagnostics and utilities designed for floppy disk are written to a CD. | ||
| DiskCheckup - passmark.com - monitors SMART attributes of an internal disk drive to predict disk reliability. Can send email notification. (Win XP - 7) | ||
| Windows Installer CleanUp Utility - download.cnet.com - cleanup remnants of an incomplete installation. (Removes entries in Windows Registry) | ||
| WizMouse 1.0.0.5 [561 Kb] - antibody-software.com - Solves mouse scrolling problems in Windows Vista/7. Mouse wheel will scroll anywhere under the mouse. | ||
| FileMenu Tools - www.lopesoft.com Set of tools including enable/disable "Context Menu" commands (XP/Vista/7) | ||
| File Types Manager nirsoft.net/utils/file_types_manager.html - change default icons for file extensions (Geek factor: high) | ||
| Java Run-time software - java.com - uninstall old versions before upgrading. Version test | ||
| Ashampoo Burning Studio Free - download.cnet.com - Multi-disc file backup/restore. Rip audio CDs. Create audio, data, ISO, MP3, video DVD, VCD, S-VCD discs, etc. | ||
| Agent Ransack - mythicsoft.com/agentransack - file name search, search file contents, regex option (review) | ||
| Search Everything - voidtools.com - file name search takes a few seconds even on large drives. | ||
| Wizmo - grc.com - create icons to shutdown, standby, reboot, hibernate your computer, start screensaver, mute sound, blank screen, etc. (review) | ||
|
Win-XP Utilities |
TweakUI for XP (Windows XP Powertoy) - microsoft.com/windowsxp - changes Windows settings safely. Supplied on Win98 disk Tools\Reskit\Powertoy folder. (Geek factor: medium) | |
| X-Setup Pro - x-setup.net - Windows (95,XP,Vista) system configuration, hundreds of tweaking options, easy restore. Download & Reg.key majorgeeks.com. | ||
| Windows XP Recovery Console - support.microsoft.com/kb/314058 - how to use this on your Install CD (since you are reading this from another computer) | ||
| Xxcopy xxcopy.com - copy or syncronize files in Win98/WinXP only. Command line for batch programs. (Geek factor: high) | ||
| Office Software | Open Office - openoffice.org - office suite for all major platforms except Mac OS X (OS) You can also try online office documents. | |
| SoftMaker Office 2008 - mydigitallife.info - office suite with free licence key. Opens MS-word, Excel, OpenDocument, RTF. | ||
| Gnome Office - gnome.org - free office suite includes Abiword, OpenCalc (OS) | ||
| Foxit Reader ** - foxitsoftware.com - PDF document reader | ||
| Microsoft Office document viewers (microsoft.com/downloads)
Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack (microsoft.com/downloads) - get new Word/Excel/PowerPoint fonts. Office software is not required. | ||
| Google Docs (cloud apps) - docs.google.com - create documents online (free) | ||
| DropBox (cloud storage, sync across computers) - dropbox.com - backup, share and sync documents online (2GB free storage) | ||
| Notetab - notetab.com - ultimate text editor, tabbed files, options for programmers & HTML, clip libraries. (review) | ||
| Skype VOIP client - skype.com - Phone from your computer to another computer running Skype for free or buy service for calling phone numbers (review) | ||
| Photos | Picasa - picasa.google.com - organize photos. Helps locate, edit and share photos. | |
| Windows Live Photo Gallery - gimp.org - graphics editor for Win/Mac/Linux. Replaces Photoshop with tweaks at smashingmagazine.com/... | ||
| Image Resizer - reduce photos for emailing: Win XP Resizer - Windows 7/Vista Resizer clone | ||
| Irfanview Viewer - irfanview.com - viewer for photos, images, documents, multimedia (addons). Basic image editing/conversion. (review) | ||
| Audio Video | Audacity - audacity.sourceforge.net - Sound Editor (OS) | QuickTime Alternative - free-codecs.com - Plays Quicktime movies in websites (OS) | VLC media player - videolan.org/vlc - Plays and converts most audio and video formats |
| Portable Apps | 7-Zip Portable - portableapps.com - zip & archive utility | |
| Autoruns - technet.microsoft.com - manages startup applications | ||
| JkDefrag * - jkdefrag.en.softonic.com - disk defragment. !Replaced by MyDefrag! | ||
| LifeHacker.com: - thumbdrive apps - portable apps | ||
| Minimo - mozilla.org/projects/minimo - web browser for mobile devices (OS) | ||
| OperaTor - archetwist.com/en/opera/operator - portable software to browse the web anonymously using Opera Browser, Tor and Polipo. | ||
| PortableApps.com - Portableapps.com - Mozilla Firefox Portable - Mozilla Thunderbird Portable (OS) | ||
| Pstart - pegtop.net/start - Start menu for portable apps is drive letter independent | ||
| Portable ClamWin - portableapps.com - anti-virus (OS) | ||
| Portable "Open Office" suite - sourceforge.net | portableapps.com (OS) |
* is displayed beside programs I have used. ** denotes a program I STILL use.
Geek factor: {low/medium/high} warns about programs that require a little extra work and expertise to use properly.
(OS) stands for Open Source software.
Most of these programs are free. Our Search engines can help you find more.