Technical Tips From A NYC IT Consultant

If you just bought a new desktop or laptop, no doubt it came with 30-Day trials of typical well known AntiVirus, AntiSpyware applications along with a host of other applications whose licenses expires within 30 to 60 days. The good news is, you can let them expire. The reason being, there are plenty of just as good, if not better, freeware applications out there, that can take their place. In this post, I’ll outline a list of freeware applications that I think are essential and should be installed on any desktop or laptop running Windows XP and Vista. Full disclosure, I don’t get paid to recommend these applications. I just use them myself and have found them to be very reliable, without any spyware, adware, or virus attached to them. Now without further ado:

Thirteen Essential Freeware Applications:

1. Browser: Firefox with AdBlock, WOT, AVG Linkscanner, and Google Toolbar - Your PC or Laptop undoubtedly came with Internet Explorer. But Firefox is simply a faster browser with better plugins. Tired of seeing advertisements and bright, flashing banners on the websites you visit? Try the AdBlock plugin and you’ll never (almost) see ads again. WOT stands for Web of Trust. It, along with the AVG  Link Scanner, warns you of unsafe website links. Below, I talk about the need for Google Toolbar.
2. AntiVirus Software: AVG or Avira – With it’s realtime protection, automatic updates, avast! is an excellent alternative to commercial antivirus products. A highly configurable application, Avira guards against viruses by scanning downloaded files or email attachments. Similarly, another quality antivirus application is AVG. The latest incarnation of AVG (8.5) is slightly more bloated than the previous version (7.5), which will be dearly missed, however, it’s still a good antivirus program. It too has realtime protection and automatic updates, and just like Avira, you basically install it and let it do it’s thing. In both cases, you can do scheduled scans – which I think is an important feature. For example, I have AVG scan my entire system starting at 1 AM every Saturday morning. Both AVG and Avira have fully featured editions which cost money, but the free home/personal editions are perfect for the average home user.
3. AntiSpyware Software: Lavasoft’s AdAware 2008 Free and SuperAntiSpyware – AdAware can scan and eliminate tracking programs, cookies, keyloggers, spyware, hijackers, and trojans. A good program, it unfortunately does not provide realtime protection. SuperAntiSpyware, despite having a name that sounds like a bogus AntiSpyware program, it actually works.  My first experience with the software was when I used it to remove a varient of the Vundo trojan off a friend’s computer.  The only drawback is that updates are manual and there is no realtime protection. Install both and run them manually biweekly.
4. Browser Hijacks: HijackThis along with the Log Analyzer – An application that actually falls under the AntiSpyware category, HijackThis scans your machine for settings that may have been changed by spyware programs. For example, if you have alot of popups or if your google/yahoo searches lead you to shopping websites, your browser may have been hijacked. HijackThis will scan your machine and create a log file [select "Do a system scan and save a log file"]. You take the log file to the Log Analyzer page to get an interpretation of the results, giving you an idea of what’s good and what’s bad. Just like AdAware, you usually don’t need this program unless you unwittingly installed some “search assistant” or “shopping assistant” program or some third party wallpaper/screensaver that came with some “extra goodies”, that you really weren’t aware of.
5. Firewall: Comodo Firewall Pro and Zone Alarm- If you have a router at home (if you don’t you should!!), that will protect you from incoming attacks. The router typically has firewall functionality built in, that will make your internal PC invisible to the outside world. A software firewall, on the other hand, installed on your PC, will protect you against malicious outgoing traffic. It will allow you to control which software programs on your computer has access to the internet. By using a software firewall, you can see which programs are trying to get out to the internet, either to access info (such as program updates, antivirus updates) or send info (such as your personal searching habits). Zone Alarm works well in giving you this type of protection, displaying alerts when applications try to connect out. It is good for the novice user who wants a general software firewall without the need to fine tune. Comodo allows a user to fine tune the firewall, with the ability to specify TCP ports, traffic direction (incoming, outgoing, or both). In other words, it’s for the user who wants to get down to the nitty gritty.  If you choose to use Zone Alarm or Comodo, you should disable the Windows Firewall so that they don’t create any conflicts. On a side note, Sygate Personal Firewall was fantastic until Symantec bought them out and canned it (R.I.P.).
6. Privacy: CCleaner – If you surf the Internet, whether using Internet Explorer or Firefox, of any other browser, you’re bound to have a load of cookies and temporary files. CCleaner will help clean up those unnecessary files in addition to, Windows Temporary Files, URL History, Recycle Bin, Clipboard, Windows Log Files, Recent Documents from the Start Menu, among other temporary files. A good, easy to use cleaner. You can set it to run automatically after the computer boots up, and set it for secure deletion (from 1 to 35 passes). I usually run it after I’m done browsing or going to websites where I need to enter a username and password. The “C” in CCleaner supposedly stands for Crap. NOTE: When you install CCleaner, make sure you uncheck the “Add CCleaner Yahoo! Toolbar and use CCleaner from your browser” option. It otherwise installs the Yahoo toolbar which is not something I recommend.
7. Popup Blockers: Google Toolbar: Windows Internet Explorer has it’s own popup blocker which works ok, but the Google toolbar provides an extra layer of protection against popups. Plus you get the Google search bar. A nice toolbar that doesn’t seem to weigh down the browser providing extra buttons for gMail and gCalendar (both recommended but non-essential), it also simplifies your search. Just make sure to go into the Settings–> Feature tab and uncheck any unnecessary add-ons (usually all of them).
8. Archiving: 7Zip – A fast archiving program which packs/unpacks files and directories in 7z format as well as the ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR formats. It unpacks only in the RAR, CAB, ISO, ARJ, LZH, CHM, MSI, WIM, Z, CPIO, RPM, DEB and NSIS formats. It integrates well with the Windows shell, and works better than the Windows unpacking utility since you don’t have to deal with the Windows Extraction Wizard which makes something that should take one step, into four steps.
9. CD/DVD Burner: CDBurnerXP – A CD/DVD Burner program which allows you to burn a data or audio disc, burn an ISO image, copy or erase a disc. Replace your trial version of Nero or Roxio with this free program.
10. Encryption: TrueCrypt - When you need to encrypt your USB flash drive or create an encrypted “container” or partition on your hard drive, TrueCrypt is the way to go. TrueCrypt provides for “on-the-fly”, transparent encryption allowing you to securely store your files without much hassle. Essential when you store personal information on your computer, such as your tax files, password lists, etc.
11. PDF Reader: Foxit Reader - A small, fast alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader (2.55M versus 20M) with no annoying splash window. Required for when you need to download/read user manuals or other documents which only come in PDF format.
12. PDF Writer: PrimoPDF - Great for when you need to print something (like an online shopping receipt) but don’t have a printer handy, print to a PDF printer. Basically, acts like a printer, but simply “prints” to a pdf file, which you can save and print later, or save and open using your favorite PDF reader.
13. Image Resizer: Microsoft Image Resizer PowerToy – Nice simple tool to resize pictures that you’ve taken with your digital camera. You simply right-click on the photo (or selection of photos), and select “Resize Pictures” from the menu. Easier than starting another program (such as Photoshop or Elements) to resize pictures.

That’s it!. Of course, if you’re not the type to install “free” wallpapers, screensavers, toolbars, shopping assistant applications, then you probably don’t need any of the above

Hope this list helps. Comments are certainly welcome!