free software links

anti-malware | firewall | Internet | miscellaneous | multimedia | office | on-line anonymity | system tools | wireless tools

Red text indicates tag-along programs that will be included during the install. Make sure to opt-out.

anti-malware

• avast!: Home version of the anti-virus program that is free for personal use. Make sure to register it on-line.
• AVG Free: Free anti-virus. AVG Security Toolbar
• Avira AntiVir: Anti-virus program with a really high detection rating.
• ClamWin: Windows version of the UNIX-based Clam AntiVirus. Licensed under the GPL. Free for both home users and businesses.
• ComboFix: Malware removal tool.
• GMER: Detects and removes rootkits
• HijackThis: Helpful tool for finding problematic things in Windows. Make a log file and send it off to a knowledgable person to help you get rid of the grabage.
• Malwarebytes.org: Detect malware and remove it.
• Microsoft Security Essentials: Microsoft's anti-virus program
• Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper (beta)
• MVPS HOSTS: Restrict access to known bad DNS addresses.
• SDFix: A great tool for removing those impossible pieces of malware.
• Sophos Anti-Rootkit: Helps you find rootkits that can allow someone to take over your computer without your knowledge.
• SpyBot Search & Destroy: Spyware scan & remove tool
• SpywareBlaster: Passive spyware blocking program that works well with Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.
• SuperAntiSpyware: Spyware scanner that finds the hard to detect stuff.
• Windows Repair by Tweaking.com: Automates fixing problems left behind after malware removal.

firewall

• Jetico Personal Firewall: Received good rankings by Firewall Leak Tester.
• OutpostFree firewall: Free version of Agnitum's software firewall.

games

• Dungeons and Dragons Online: The classic paper and dice role-playing game working off the same formula as World of Warcraft. Go adventuring with others on-line.
• FlightGear: Open source flight simulator.

Internet

• AdSweep: Javascript that hides advertisements for most major Web browsers.
• Arora: A young Web browser. Based off the WebKit framework used by Apple's Safari browser.
• DNS Performance Test: Nifty little tool to check your DNS server's performance.
• GeSWall: A sandboxing-type application. Lock off your Internet applications from the rest of the system.
• Global Internet Freedom Consortium: Anti-jamming/censorship software for when you're shouting "Help! Help! I'm being repressed!"
• GRC's DNS benchmark utility: Test DNS server speeds.
• HTTrack: Allows you to copy a Web site to your computer for offline viewing.
• K9 Web Protection: Parental controls program for controlling Web site access.
• K-Meleon: Light-weight open-source Web browser based on the Gecko engine.
• KompoZer: Cross-platform Web page design tool.
• MailStore: Backup or archive your e-mails.
• Miranda: Instant messenger for multiple protocols including AIM, MSN, Yahoo.
• Mozilla.com: Download the Firefox Web browser and Thunderbird e-mail client.
• • Adblock Plus: Firefox extension that blocks banner advertisements inside of Web pages.
  • BetterPrivacy: Flash objects use special kinds of permanent cookies. Get rid of them.
  • BrowserProtect
  • BugMeNot: Firefox extension that gets past sites that ask for registration before you can view a page.
  • Flashblock: Block Adobe Flash content.
  • HTTPS Everywhere: Makes sure you access the secure version of popular Web sites.
  • Lightning: An integrated calendar extension for Thunderbird.
  • LinkExtend: Get all sorts of ratings related to a Web site.
  • NoScript: Control what active content is allowed to run on Web pages.
  • RefControl: Firefox extension stops Web sites from knowing what site you just came from.
  • RequestPolicy: Control cross-site requests.
  • WOT: Web Of Trust provides simple ratings of trustworthiness for Web pages. It's community driven so you can rate sites you visit.
• µTorrent: A lightweight BitTorrent client.
• namebench: A benchmarking utility for tracking down the fast DNS servers near you.
• Opera.com: Web browser that also integrates e-mail and RSS feeds.
• Pidgin: Instant messaging client that allows you to use MSN, Yahoo!, and AIM accounts without the extra garbage.
• • Off The Record Messaging: A plug in for Pidgin to encrypt all your messages.
• Privoxy: A proxy/filtration program
• Simple Adblock: Adblock for Internet Explorer.
• SRWare Iron: A Web browser built from the Chromium source. Like Google Chrome, but without privacy issues.
• Wireshark: If you really want to know what goes on behind the scenes in networking.

miscellaneous

• alternativeTo: Find alternative programs to ones you already use.
• Dropbox: Share your files between Windows, Mac, and Linux machines over the Internet. Useful for people with multiple computers or colaborating on a project.
• FreewareFiles.com: Free software repository.
• I want a Freeware Utility To ...: Free programs for whatever you may want to do.
• MaxType LITE Typing Tutor: Type faster. Make more mistakes quciker!
• NirSoft: Various utility programs including password recovery tools.
• OldVersion.com: A place to visit when you're looking for that older version of a program that worked, but the new version does not.
• PortableApps.com: Programs that can run off a USB flash drive without the problem of installing it first.
• Prey: Keep track of your laptop or phone in case it gets stolen.
• Quad-Lock Unit Converter: When you realize that the metric system is better.
• Ramsinks.com good software list: A listing of some good software to download and use.
• SourceForge.net: Software projects galore!
• SyncToy: A Microsoft tool for synchronizing file between locations.
• xtort.net: Web site with free programs for Windows.

multimedia

• Audacity: Sound recorder and editor.
• Blender: 3D content creation suite. For those that want to directly compete with Pixar's movies.
• CamStudio: Record screen activity and audio from your computer. Good for creating demonstration videos.
• CCCP: Combined Community Codec Pack
• CDBurnerXP Pro: Free CD burning program as powerful as the big names. Requires .NET Framework download from Microsoft.
• DVD Flick: Take video files and turn them into a DVD you can watch on your DVD player.
• GIMP: GNU Image Manipulation Program - it's as powerful as Adobe Photoshop without the hefty price tag!
• HandBrake: Rip unencrypted DVDs to your computer.
• ImgBurn: Lightweight disc image burning.
• InfraRecorder: A CD/DVD burning program.
• Inkscape: Graphics editor similar to Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw.
• IrfanView: Image viewer to help you sort through all your pictures. Google Toolbar, Google Desktop
• K-Lite Codec Pack
• Media Player Classic Home Cinema: Picks up where the Media Player Classic program left off.
• Media Player Classic: Play video and DVDs in a lightweight player that looks like the old Windows Media Player.
• Miro: Watch Internet TV that uses BitTorrent to propagate.
• musikCube: If you feel iTunes is becoming to hefty for your system, try something lighter.
• Paint.NET: Image and photo manipulation program. Requires .NET Framework from Microsoft.
• Picasa: Photo organizer from Google.
• SharePod: Program that makes it easy to transfer files from your iPod to your PC. Requires the .NET Framework from Microsoft.
• Songbird: A cross-platform digital jukebox and Web browser mashup.
• VLC: Play DVDs and other multimedia files.
• Winamp: Play audio files, stream live music, etc. Winamp Toolbar
• XnView: An image viewer.
• YamiPod: An iPod manager for those that don't like or have trouble with iTunes.

office applications

• AbiWord: A free word processor like Microsoft Word.
• Adobe: Home of the Flash player and Adobe Reader.
• Foxit Reader: PDF reader. Foxit Toolbar, change default search engine to Ask.com, eBay desktop icon
• GnuCash: Personal and small-business financial-accounting software.
• OpenOffice.org: Full-fledged office suite allows you to create and work with Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and Powerpoint presentations.
• PDF-XChange Viewer
• Scribus: Desktop publishing.
• Sumatra PDF: A lightweight open-source PDF viewer.

on-line anonymity

• Freenet
• PeerGuardian
• Tor
• Vidalia: A GUI controller for Tor.

system tools

• ATF-Cleaner: Straight-forward temporary file cleaner.
• Auslogics Registry Defrag: Defrag the Windows registry.
• BootVis: A tool to decrease boot and resume times in Windows XP.
• Cobian Backup: You'll need to back up your data. Do it on a regular basis.
• CGSecurity.org: Home of TestDisk, PhotoRec, and other free recovery tools.
• CPU-Z: Simple tool that gathers technical info about your CPU, motherboard, and memory.
• Darik's Boot and Nuke: If you're going to get rid of a computer make sure to wipe the hard drive first.
• Duplicate Cleaner: Find duplicate files on your system.
• EASEUS Todo Backup: Make backups of your hard drives.
• Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit
• Eraser: Secure file eraser released under the GNU GPL.
• HostsMan: Tool to easily manipulate your HOSTS file.
• IObit SmartDefrag: A free disk defragmentation tool. Yahoo! Toolbar
• Java.com: Download the Java Runtime Environment by Sun Microsystems.Google Toolbar, OpenOffice.org
• JkDefrag: Free disk defragmentation tool released under the GNU GPL. Can run as a screensaver.
• KeePass: Open-source password management tool. Put all your passwords in one secure database and carry it on a USB flash drive.
• Launchy: Start typing in something you want to run and it guesses for you.
• Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
• OpenWith.org: Download a small tool that tells you which program will open an unknown type of file.
• PC Decrapifier: This program lets you remove all that pre-installed garbage you get with new computers.
• PC Inspector File Recovery: A file recovery program for FAT and NTFS file systems.
• Piriform.com: Home to CCleaner and Defraggler.
• Revo Uninstaller: Allows you to go that extra mile of removal when uninstalling a program.
• Secunia Personal Software Inspector: Examines your system to make sure you're using the latest secured version of programs.
• Secure Erase: Hard drive erasing tool.
• 7-Zip: A file compression program you can use to open .ZIP, .RAR, and other compressed file types.
• SpeedFan: Monitor your computer's temperature, fan speed, and more.
• SuperShredder: When you need to securely delete a file.
• Sysinternals: A group of tools for Windows for doing high-end maintenance.
• TrID: Tool to identify file types from their binary signature. Useful when a file is missing its extension and Windows doesn't know what to open it with.
• TrueCrypt: Open source software for encrypting disks.
• User Profile Hive Cleanup Service: Cleans up part of the Windows registry.
• WinDirStat: Visually represents your hard drive to find out what files are eating up space. Useful when you're short on hard drive space and need to make room.
• Windows XP PowerToys: Various add-ons for Windows XP from Microsoft.

wireless tools

• inSSIDer: WiFi scanning tool. Works with GPS devices.
• NetStumbler: Allows you to scan for wireless networks and their relevant information. Plug in a GPS unit to your PC to map their locations.