Security
Ad-AwareWhat is there to say about Ad-Aware we haven't said before? We've been known to give this venerable antispyware utility a fair amount of print, and the attention is well-justified. Simply put, Ad-Aware is extremely effective at finding and removing the Web's most notorious spyware components, as well as the newest and deadliest threats. Bells and whistles are not this program's thing, but Ad-Aware keeps the focus where it belongs: on rock-solid protection.
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
You may think you'll have to fork over a few twenties to get competent virus protection, but that's not necessarily the case. True to its name, AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition keeps your computer safe from the Internet's latest hazards at no cost. Of course, the program lets you manually update its definitions at your leisure, but we recommend enabling the scheduling feature, which will check for updates every day at the time of your choice. Eventually, you might want to pay to upgrade to the Professional version, or you may decide to buy another antivirus suite altogether. Regardless, you should make downloading AVG Free a top priority as soon as your computer is connected to the Internet.
HijackThis
Anyone
who's been in the ring with spyware knows some opponents just refuse to
go down. If your arsenal of spyware-removal tools has failed to
eighty-six a particularly devious intruder, this program could be one of
your last hopes before reformatting. But unless you're a serious
computer surgeon, you'll probably need to consult a Web-based forum to
make sense of the program's scan results. (For more information, read
our HijackThis tutorial.) Though you won't use it every day, sooner or
later you'll be glad you have HijackThis.Spybot - Search & Destroy
Like Ad-Aware, Spybot - Search & Destroy has played a prominent role in the history of the Great Spyware War. Also like Ad-Aware, it's completely free. Spybot, however, boasts a number of convenient extras, such as a full-fledged scheduler and a file shredder. It's also no slouch when it comes to sniffing out malicious software. We should note that when it comes to antispyware utilities, you can never have too many, so you may want to load up on a few more freebies, including Microsoft AntiSpyware and Spyware Doctor.
Webroot Spy SweeperThe bad news is that Spy Sweeper isn't free. The good news is that it's worth every penny of the $30 registration fee. Spy Sweeper's real-time protection shield is one of its major advantages, alerting you when unwelcome guests attempt to clandestinely infiltrate your machine. The program's scanner is fast, and results are nearly flawless, thanks to Webroot's top-notch research-and-development team. Even though we recommend you keep multiple antispyware solutions close at hand, Spy Sweeper is powerful enough to act as a standalone solution.
ZoneAlarm
A firewall should be one of the very first programs you put on your machine. If you don't already know, a firewall is absolutely essential in preventing hackers and other cyberthreats from accessing your PC. Unfortunately, many of them can be tough to configure, baffling even seasoned geeks. Not so for ZoneAlarm, one of the most trusted firewall utilities on the scene. The program walks you through the set-up process, offers several levels of security, and doesn't overload you with a bunch of highly technical jargon. Just set it and forget it, and you'll sleep well at night.
Tools
Adobe Acrobat ReaderThough the vast majority of average users will never need the PDF-creation tools of Adobe Acrobat Professional, just about everyone will want to have Acrobat Reader on hand. Without this freebie, your computer will not be able to decipher documents encoded in Adobe's ubiquitous Portable Document Format. Though this stalwart isn't exactly exciting, it should be a required download for every person who owns a computer. It also has the distinction of being one of the few applications we've enshrined in Download.com's Hall of Fame.
Asmw Eraser Pro
By default, Web browsers log information about what sites you've been visiting via cookies and temporary Internet files. Needless to say, such information can be potentially embarrassing if you share your PC with other users. Although you can manually wipe away these tracks by digging into your browser of choice, Asmw Eraser Pro offers a more convenient way to clean the slate. The program removes your fingerprints from a number of popular applications and deletes potentially incriminating files so they can't be recovered. You can even schedule Asmw Eraser Pro to continuously clean up after you in the background.
BCArchive
ChoiceMail Free
Due to
antispam legislation, unsolicited e-mail isn't as big of a problem as
it was a few years ago. Still, spam is prevalent, and it's just as
annoying as ever. If you're using Outlook Express as your primary e-mail
client, make sure to get your hands on ChoiceMail Free, which blocks
spam with a challenge/response methodology. Under this system, all your
contacts will have to verify their identities to correspond with your
e-mail address. This may initially seem like a hassle, but it's not
really a big deal, and it all but guarantees that unsavory bulk
e-mailers won't find their way into your in-box.Mozilla Firefox
Internet
Explorer's decline in popularity can be directly attributed to the rise
of spiffy alternative browsers such as Mozilla Firefox. Long known for
providing a more secure surfing experience than Microsoft, this
top-rated browser has an extremely potent pop-up blocker that's become
one of its calling cards. Even though IE eventually ponied up with its
own ad-stopping features, it still lacks the convenience of tabbed
browsing, a perk Firefox hasn't neglected. If you haven't already hopped
on the alternative-browser bandwagon, this is a fine place to start.
Windows'
built-in text editor could be the poster child for the phrase bare
bones. Notepad works fine for the simplest text-editing chores, but most
users will appreciate the additional functionality found in NoteTab
Light. Tabs let you easily access multiple text documents from one
interface, and the program even provides templates and macros for
writing basic lines of HTML. NoteTab Light also provides more editing
tools than Notepad, and since the program is free and comes in a tiny
package, there's no reason not to keep it around.
RoboFormNo
one would argue that the Internet has made everyday tasks--such as
paying bills, shopping, and banking--unbelievably convenient. The
downside is that many users find themselves buried under a mountain of
half-remembered logins, passwords, and credit card numbers. If this
describes you, you'll certainly appreciate RoboForm, a tool that
automatically fills in Web-based forms for you. Since the program
encrypts your data, you won't need to fret about security. You can even
use RoboForm to generate passwords hackers will never guess. You'll lose
some of the application's functionality unless you register after 30
days, but even if you don't buy it RoboForm will generate passwords and
store 10 logins, making it worth the download.
RegCleanerInstalling and uninstalling loads of software can leave your machine's registry a mess and lead to decreased system performance. To combat this problem, many habitual downloaders turn to TweakNow RegCleaner, a simple app that takes a no-nonsense approach to Registry optimization. The program lets you know which junk and invalid keys are safe to delete, but you should still use the built-in Registry backup tool before wiping away problems. We always make sure to run this speedy little number at least once a week, and we suggest you do the same.
WINZIP
Like the aforementioned Adobe Acrobat Reader, WinZip may not be flashy, but it's one of those programs you won't want to go without for very long. Not only does the program prove capable of transforming large batches of files into a much smaller archive, it also boasts extras such as encryption and virus checking. Most notably, WinZip's ease of use can't be beat; even Luddites will quickly get up to speed, thanks to the inclusion of multiple wizards.
Fun
Programs
such as Photoshop offer a full-fledged workshop for editing and
creating images, but they're too powerful, complicated, and expensive
for casual photographers. True to its name, this intuitive program does
indeed let you view your pics, but it also does much more. For starters,
it can convert and rename images in batches--a handy, timesaving
feature. It also provides a decent set of basic editing tools, including
those for cropping, rotating, removing red-eye, and adjusting
brightness, color, and contrast. FastStone Image Viewer can even display
your photos as a slide show, complete with your favorite songs. There's
a lot to like here, and nothing to pay.
Just because Windows Media Player came installed on your PC doesn't mean you should skip Apple's much-loved jukebox. This looker lives up to all the hype, with an exquisite design and a laundry list of features, including multiple EQ presets, visualizations, and CD ripping. iTunes also is a necessity if you plan to patronize Apple's megapopular online music store. If you've never used the program, you might want to take a look at Download.com's iTunes Advanced feature, which provides basic tips along with advice for more seasoned folks.
Nero 7 Ultra Edition
Nero
is one of the best-known names in disc-burning software, and once you
take a look at this comprehensive suite of tools, you'll know why. Nero 6
Ultra Edition goes far beyond the standard CD- and-DVD-burning formula,
packing in features such as the ability to watch and record TV, a
cover-creation utility, audio-mixing and audio-editing tools, and a file
converter. At $80, Nero Ultra is the most expensive of our 20 essential
programs, but we think you'll agree it's a fine investment.
Skype
Skype
E-mail
and instant messages are certainly efficient communication tools, but
some complain they lack the personal touch of traditional mediums such
as the telephone. Skype combines the best of both worlds, allowing you
to place free PC-to-PC voice calls around the world via VoIP (Voice over
Internet Protocol) technology. Of course, to use the service you'll
have to plunk down a few bucks for a microphone, and any call recipients
will need to install Skype, too. Also, you'll need to sign up for a
paid service if you intend to call a landline or cellular phones. VoIP
may not have reached critical mass yet, but this is one technology
that's on the way up.
Trillian
Trillian
Anyone who's into instant messaging--and that would cover a large portion of the industrialized world--knows that having a bunch of chat clients running simultaneously can take a toll on system performance. The beauty of Trillian is it lets you talk to your Yahoo, AIM, MSN, and ICQ buddies in one interface. If you already have a username and a buddy list on one of those services, the program can quickly import that data. If you've never had an IM account, Trillian can help you set one up with very little hassle. Stop fooling with multiple windows, usernames, and passwords; Trillian embodies the spirit of one-stop shopping.
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