SOFTWARE

 BootLog.co.uk

ESSENTIAL FREEWARE AND SHAREWARE

Listed below is a selection of programs and utilities that have proved their worth over the years. Most of them are freeware, which means precisely that, though you may be encouraged to pay a modest registration fee - it’s only polite if you find it useful and continue to use it. Registering has other benefits and it will usually entitle you to extra support and updates as when they become available. As far as I am aware, all of the programs are free of malware content but if you spot anything please let me know. Unless noted otherwise they are compatible with Windows 9x and XP.

ADAWARE

Malware scanner, freeware

www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

AUDACITY

Sophisticated audio editor and recorder, freeware

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

AVAST!

Virus scanner, freeware

www.avast.com/

AVG

Virus scanner, freeware

http://free.grisoft.com/

ANTISPYWARE

Malware scanner, freeware (Windows XP only)

www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

COOKIE MONSTER

Cookie manager, freeware

www.ampsoft.net/utilities

CCLEANER (CRAP CLEANER)

Web history & hidden file eraser, freeware

http://www.ccleaner.com

GOOGLE DESKTOP

PC search tool, freeware

http://desktop.google.com/

GOOGLE EARTH

Stunning interactive world map

http://earth.google.com/ 

HIJACK THIS

Homepage hijacker and malware detection tool, freeware

www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

IESPELL

Outllook Express spellchecker, freeware

www.iespell.com

IRFANVIEW

Image viewer and basic picture editor, freeware

http://www.irfanview.com/

MAILWASHER

Spam detector and blocker, shareware

http://www.mailwasher.net/

MOZILLA FIREFOX

Fast powerful & secure browser, freeware

http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

OUTPOST

Advanced Firewall, shareware

http://www.agnitum.com/products/outpost/download.php

PAMELA

Add on for Skype Internet phone, freeware

http://www.pamela-systems.de/products/

PDF995

Portable document format (PDF) utiliies, freeware

http://www.pdf995.com/

PICASA

Advanced image manager and viewer, freeware

http://picasa.google.com/index.html

REGSEEKER

Registy editor and cleaner

http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm

RJH EXTENSIONS

Add on utilities for Windows Explorer

http://www.rjhsoftware.com/rjhextensions/

SISOFT SANDRA LITE

Advanced diagnostic tools, freeware

http://www.sisoftware.co.uk/

TWEAK UI (XP)

Advanced Windows configuration tool

www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

SKYPE

Internet telephone, freeware

http://www.skype.com/

SPACEMONGER

Hard disc space analyser, freeware

http://www.werkema.com/software/spacemonger.html

SPYBOT SEARCH AND DESTROY

Malware Cleaner, freeware

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

WINAMP

Multimedia music and video player, freeware

http://www.winamp.com/

WINZIP

File compression/decompression utility, shareware

http://www.winzip.com/

XRAY PC

Malware detection and removal tool, freeware

http://www.x-raypc.com/

ZONE ALARM

Firewall program, freeware

www.zonelabs.com/