My Top 10 PC Programs (Free)

Actually, it started out as a Top10 idea but I realized there was more. It's now the Top 13 (is that unlucky?).

The more and more I use my PC, the more and more I use free software. In the not so distant past I had all sorts of bits and pieces of applications and add-ons that, although were good, added up to quite a lot of money for something that existed fee of charge. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a cheap skate, I pay and donate where and when is I think it is warranted.

These days I am almost cost free (apart from my DSL connection) and using programs equal to the task or better than in the past.

Unfortunately, due to my work commitments I still need Microsoft Office and Project. I also have a Norton Anti-Virus subscription that is current for 3 more months, but that I will not renew. At this stage I'm looking at Avast Personal Edition.

So, that said, this is " The List" (in no particular order) of what I use every day. This is no advertising, no bullshit, just facts from an every day PC user that loves to delve a bit deeper than what comes default on your new PC.

1. Process Explorer by Sysinternals
Probably my most used utility. To quote the boys themselves:
"Find out what files, registry keys and other objects processes have open, which DLLs they have loaded, and more. This uniquely powerful utility will even show you who owns each process."
It is a hugely more powerful big brother to the Windows Task Manager. See what's running in the background then right click and "Google" it to see if it's legitimate or a nasty piece of rubbish that you picked up somewhere. It's a " must" for anyone that wants to know what the "F" is going on.

2. Total Commander by Christian Ghisler.
I remember the old days when there was Norton Commander. Do you?. Well this tool has been around for a while also but not quite that long. It is a powerful replacement for Windows Explorer and more. If you want (need) to move files around, create new folders, zip up a bunch of stuff, jump into someone else's PC on the network (as long as it's shared) then do yourself a favour get this utility. It also incorporates a very user friendly FTP interface. It is free but you get a nuisance pop-up that requires a click selection of 1, 2 or 3 to enter the program. I actually bought a license not to get rid of the pop-up but to give this good man a source of income to continue his development.

3. Skype
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is the "In Thing" these days and if you're wondering what that is then it is the new generation world wide telephone system or protocol. Instead of using the old PSTN system it uses your Internet connection to tele-communicate. There are many other VoIP providers out there, many of them localized, but this one is a truly international service. If your "other party" anywhere in the world has it installed on their PC then you can communicate for free. If they don't have a PC and Internet connection and only have a land line or mobile then use SkypeOut. I live in Brazil and talk to my friends and family in Australia and other countries who don't have this service for a fraction of the "Telecom" price. To most countries you talk for 0.017 euro cents per minute or, on today's currency, conversion AU$1.70 per hour. Not bad hey!!!

4. Firefox by the Mozilla Foundation
What can I say? I remember the days of Mosaic, my first browser in the mid 90's; basically it was the first commercial browser out there. There's a lot of water under the bridge since then. Later for me it was Netscape and then, once Microsoft killed the opposition, it was Internet Explorer. Since September 2004 I've been on Firefox. I've tried Maxthon, Opera and many other bits and mutations but there is no substitute for this incredible piece of software. If you want flexibility, configurability and security then don't F with the rest. No more to be said. By the way, it does not kill anything already installed, (i.e. Internet Explorer) it becomes an alternative. This is proudly Open Source Software.

5. Thunderbird by the Mozilla Foundation
An e-mail client. Again, as above with Firefox, I've tried them all. I lived with Outlook Express for years, dabbling with others and finally, 2004 also, I saw the light and it's still shining bright. This is proudly Open Source Software.

6. Autoruns by Sysinternals
If you have a need to get into the guts of what's starting up on your PC and want to take control then this is an absolute must. These guys also have a great range of other freebies.

7. GreatNews by Curiostudio
The way to get the latest gossip and keep in touch with what's going on in the world delivered to your PC is through RSS feeds. Again I've tried them all and, obviously in my opinion only, the best is GreatNews. The only thing that I don't like is that Internet Explorer is the power plant of this lovely, slim application. It is still in Beta and may turn to a pay application but for now it's still free.

8. Kerio by Sunbelt Software
A firewall program which is a "must have" for anyone that is connected to the Internet. Don't kid yourself and think that sitting behind a server or router is protection enough because it's not. I had been a Zone Alarm advocate for some years but it got to the point of bloat where I said "no more". I got sick of "svhost.exe" chewing up CPU ability and memory. Kerio has a very functional "simple" user mode and a very nice "advanced" mode of operation. If you think that you protected and are not behind a router or server then check out Steve Gibson's site at grc.com and run the Shields Up test.

9. Altiris Software Virtualization Solution Admin by Altiris
Commonly known as SVS Client and you can get it here without the bureaucratic crap. To put it as simple as I can I am a terrible experimenter of bits and pieces of software. As a result my PC ends up with untold amounts of DLL's and registry entries that are not removed by the "uninstall" function that comes with most software and also within Windows itself. If you have an application that you are not sure about and just want to try then use this application to do the install. It creates a "layer" that captures all the install data and packages it in that "layer". So, when you find that the software you installed was actually crap then simply delete the "layer" and it removes every trace of that application, gone!!!!! Wow!!

10. Open Office By Open Office Organization
Want to have Microsoft Office but can't afford it? Then this is for you. A fully featured Microsoft Office alternative application and more that is developed by a group of enthusiasts and Sun Microsystems (the guys that brought us Java). Probably the most impressive free software that is out there. This is proudly Open Source Software.

11. Spybot
One of the big two anti-spy detection and deletion programs. If you don't run this software once a month minimum then you're waiting (asking) for trouble.

12. Ad-Aware by Lavasoft
The other one of the big two anti-spy detection and deletion programs. Again, if you don't run this software once a month minimum then you're waiting (asking) for trouble

13. Windows Defender by Microsoft
Wow!! Microsoft gets an entry. Both Spybot and Ad-Aware are good removal tools but the idea is for these nasties to not get into your PC in the first place. This application does a pretty nice job. It also detects any change to applications and your PC start-up protocol. But, as with any of the Microsoft applications, you must have a genuine copy of Windows (but we all do, don't we!!)

That's it, my Top 10 (13). Enjoy a safer, faster Internet and PC.