Free Software

Cost is no longer an excuse

Tips on Free Internet Software Utilities

Because the Internet is loaded with SO MANY free software programs, it's hard to know which one’s are safe, which ones work accordingly, and what you really need.  

Many free software packages are as good as or better than their commercial alternatives. To keep your computer running faster, stronger, more productive and safe (and save some cash) we've assembled a list of applications for Windows-based computers. By the end of this newsletter you should have enough resources to increase productivity, run a safe system and not spend a penny.

Below are a few recommendations.

Note: The software's recommended in this newsletter are the suggestions and opinion of our staff. DataWedge is not affiliated with nor responsible for any of the mentioned software. Use them at your own risk.

Spyware:

Today the biggest enemy on the internet is spyware. So many computers are left useless because of 20 IE toolbars and 15 applications running in the background. Keep your computer running at full potential: use a good spyware scanner.

• Ad-Aware SE Personal – A complete spyware removal tool. Maintains a large blacklisted spyware database and identifies malicious program code for the best possible detection. Very popular.
• Spybot - Search & Destroy – To clean your system of spyware this program uses deep scanning techniques. Allows you to blacklist certain types of spyware in order to prevent it from showing up on your system again.
• Windows Defender - Microsoft entered into the Spyware protection fray about 2 years ago, and offers a free download for all (cough) legal and legit copies of Windows XP and above.  
• MalWhere – Shows information in detail about running processes including run start ups. It let's you know when malicious code is being executed, and investigates suspicious processes. No required spyware definition updating.

Antivirus:

The lines have been blurred recently as to the difference between spyware program and a virus, since both have the capability to cripple your machine.  In a nutshell, the difference between the two lies in their "reproductive" capabilities. 

Spyware typically doesn't "jump" from machine to machine... it is typically introduced by visiting websites.  Having a piece of spyware on one system doesn't mean the rest of your machines are infected.

Virus are specifically written to be passed along and "infect" an entire network, and try to wreck as much havoc in as short amount of time as possible.   A virus will jump from machine to machine on your local network, damaging whatever it can along the way.

Perhaps the ultimate definition of computer security is the effectiveness of your antivirus. Anti virus software keeps the most problematic forms of malware from corrupting your computer.

Its only recently that Microsoft actually entered the Virus Scanning fray.

• Microsoft Security Essentials - Microsoft's Virus scanner is free download for legit copies of WIndows XP and above, and promises to encompass the tasks of protection against both malware and spyware.
• AVG Anti-Virus – Effective virus scanning suite. Requires regular virus definition updates.
• Avast Home Edition – Complete antivirus suite including real time scanning, email protection, internet traffic filtering, a firewall and more.

Firewall:

The first line of defense against intruders is a well guarded firewall with a strict rule set.  Keep hackers from sneaking into your system in the first place with these freebie firewall solutions.

• ZoneAlarm – Popular, comprehensive firewall suite including a highly customizable rule set and a very effective warning system letting you know when your computer is at risk. Be sure to select "I only want basic ZoneAlarm protection" from the download screen (otherwise you'll end up with a trial version.)
• PC Tools Firewall Plus – User friendly firewall that monitors the applications connecting to the network. Uses a simple rule set to prevent malware from infecting your computer.
• COMODO FIREWALL - Offers preventative monitoring of all inbound and outbound traffic which will prevent hackers, malware and identity thieves from penetrating a computer.

Temporary Files Folders:

These applications delete all of your temporary files and clean up the trail you left behind.

• HijackThis – Scans your computers browser, registry and operating system settings to generate a report of the state of your computer. Allows you to select which software and settings to delete.
• CCleaner – A system optimization and privacy tool that cleans up the registry, temporary files, cookies, web history and cache and more.
• Cookie Eraser – A tool to help you identify and erase the unnecessary cookies on your computer.

Office Suites and Applications:

No need to shell out for Microsoft Office anymore. These free tools get the job done.  (Note: only Microsoft Excel is compatible with the "Export to Excel" function in DMS)

• OpenOffice.org – Is a multiplatform and multilingual office suite and an open-source project. Compatible with all other major office suites, the product is free to download, use, and distribute. Replaces Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint. If your looking to replace the rest of your Office suite, give OpenOffice a try.
• AbiWord –  Is unique among word processors in its drive to become a fully cross-platform word processor. Our source code is carefully written so that AbiWord will run on virtually any operating system with a minimum of time spent on porting.
• Google Docs –  Accepts most popular file formats, including DOC, XLS, ODT, ODS, RTF, CSV, PPT, etc. So go ahead and upload your existing files.

HTML:

Looking for a better editor (or perhaps even your first editor) to design your website? Here's a few free HTML editors, Web editors, WYSIWYG editors and web site builders.

• Nvu  – Finally! A complete Web Authoring System for Linux desktop users as well as Microsoft Windows and Macintosh users to rival programs like FrontPage and Dreamweaver. Nvu (which stands for "new view") makes managing a web site a snap. Now anyone can create web pages and manage a website with no technical expertise or knowledge of HTML.
• kompozer – KompoZer is a complete web authoring system that combines web file management and easy-to-use WYSIWYG web page editing. KompoZer is designed to be extremely easy to use, making it ideal for non-technical computer users who want to create an attractive, professional-looking web site without needing to know HTML or web coding.

Other Applications:

• PDFCreator – Creates a virtual printer on your computer that, if you print a document to it from any program, creates a PDF of that document that can be read on any computer with Acrobat Reader on it. After installing PDFCreator, all you have to do is print like normal and out comes a PDF!
  
• CutePDF – Portable Document Format (PDF) is the de facto standard for the secure and reliable distribution and exchange of electronic documents and forms around the world.  CutePDF Writer (formerly CutePDF Printer) is the free version of commercial PDF creation software. CutePDF Writer installs itself as a "printer subsystem". This enables virtually any Windows applications (must be able to print) to create professional quality PDF documents - with just a push of a button!
• Foxit PDF Reader – Here’s a free PDF document viewer and printer, with incredible small size (only 2.1 M download size), breezing-fast launch speed and rich feature set. Foxit Reader supports Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/2003/Vista.
• Notepad2 – Is a replacement for the traditional Windows Notepad that just adds a few sweet little features: multiple documents; line, word, and character counts; and some highlighting of tags. In fact, I’m using Notepad2 as I draft this post (after using Freemind to organize it).
• GnuCash – This slimmed-down version of the bloated Microsoft Money and Quicken packages, contains all of the features for managing money. The interfaces are incredibly simple - it functions much like a checkbook ledger on your computer - but there’s a lot of meat hidden throughout the software.
• GIMPShop – GIMPshop is a modification of the free/open source GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP), intended to replicate the feel of Adobe Photoshop. Its primary purpose is to make users of Photoshop feel comfortable using GIMP. It shares all GIMP's advantages, including the long feature list and customizability, while addressing some common criticisms regarding the program's interface: GIMPshop modifies the menu structure to closely match Photoshop's, adjusts the program's terminology to match Adobe's, and, in the Windows version, uses a plugin called 'Deweirdifier' to combine the application's numerous windows in a similar manner to the MDI system used by most Windows graphics packages. While GIMPshop does not support Photoshop plug-ins, all GIMP's own plug-ins, filters, brushes, etc. remain available.
• CamStudio – This is free recording software that will allow you to create demonstration videos, online tutorials, or even video-based information products. CamStudio is able to record all screen and audio activity on your computer and create industry-standard AVI video files and using its built-in SWF Producer can turn those AVIs into lean, mean, bandwidth-friendly Streaming Flash videos (SWFs)
• 7-Zip  – 7-Zip is one of the best file compressors available. 7-Zip is open source software. Most of the source code is under the GNU LGPL license. The unRAR code is under a mixed license: GNU LGPL + unRAR restrictions. You can use 7-Zip on any computer, including a computer in a commercial organization. You don't need to register or pay for 7-Zip.
• RoboForm – Will help you navigate the Web with ease. It is the top-rated password manager and web form filler that will allow you to browse the Web faster than ever. RoboForm offers to save the online login form into Passcard when you click Login/Submit button on the web page.
• Xdrive  – Your own online storage for private storage or file sharing. It's hard to imagine a safer place for a file than Xdrive. Let's say you want to store files from your latest new business pitch — definitely not for anyone else's eyes. First, Xdrive uses 128-bit encryption to protect files during transfer. Then stores it in architecture that's isolated, multi-tiered and gated. Finally, your data is housed in your own password-protected vault at our World Class, disaster-proof data centers, protected by biometric locks and full-time security professionals.

Did you know?

You have the ability to attach a sticky note to a fax order, in DMS.  This is done through the View Order function. Open view order, make sure the page you want to place the sticky note is in view. Click the 'attach sticky note' button, then drag the sticky note to a place on the page you want it to print. Fill out the sticky note, check the 'show on fax' radio button, close the view order window, and fax the order to the restaurant. have it accompany a fax to a restaurant.