Free and Essential Applications

[Azzer]

(work-in-progress!)

This sticky is intended as a resource for those of us who like free software that other users have tested and would recommend. If you use a piece of software in your day to day use that you would consider essential to anybody with a computer, and it's free, then please post it here with details on what it does, why it's good, and on what operating system(s) it's available on.

Software Firewalls
Absolutely 100% essential to anybody that has internet access.

Comodo (http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/)
Vista 64 Vista 32 Windows XP
Highly recommended, a powerful and configurable software firewall, topping online security leak tests.



Anti-Virus
Absolutely 100% essential to anybody that has internet access.

Avast Home Edition (http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html)
Vista 64 Vista 32 Windows XP
The most capable and well updated/maintained free anti-virus out there. It does require "re-registering" after the first two months and every year thereafter, but this is free and takes about 20 seconds. I use this personally, as do many other users.



Web Browsers
Most operating systems these days will come with a web browser built in, but for Windows (all versions) users in particular, I'd really recommend the below over Internet Explorer. Don't be afraid to experiment with a little change - there are many reasons why the majority of computer geeks use Firefox instead of IE - if normal users followed the activities of us geeks more often, you'd all be a lot safer and in a better place! ;)

Firefox (http://www.getfirefox.com)
Vista 64 Vista 32 Windows XP Mac OS X Linux
The most customisable, reliable, stable and secure browser out there. As somebody who develops web-pages and has had to deal with browsers that do not follow official international web standards (Internet Explorer is a major culprit of this), and somebody who browses websites each and every day, this is the best, and in my opinion is essential to all.



Music Players
Again, most operating systems have some form of music player built in (eg Windows Media Player), but it might be worth trying the alternatives out. (Windows Media Player 11 is really decent though, so this is more down to personal preferences).

Winamp (http://www.winamp.com)
Vista 64 Vista 32 Windows XP
The most well known of the music players, the latest version 5.5 has some marked improvements, most noticable the "about bloody time" built in support for album artwork. My personal favourite media player, highly customisable, all sorts of user made plugins and visualisations available, and pretty fast and sleek, too.

foobar2000 (http://www.foobar2000.org/)
Vista 64 Vista 32 Windows XP
Definitely not very well known, foobar2000 is a very powerful media player, but importantly, is extremely fast and has an absolutely tiny memory footprint, giving it a big advantage over the mainstream players.



Movie Players
For those times when your built in media player just doesn't bode well.

VLC (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/)
Vista 64 Vista 32 Windows XP Mac OS X Linux
Extremely compact, simple, versions for many operating systems, very low memory footprint and a generally fantastic movie player.



Email Client
Those of you who have a "real" email address (sorry ;)) and have need for an email client. Note: Webmail (like Hotmail etc.) users need not apply! :P

Thunderbird (http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/products/thunderbird/)
Vista 64 Vista 32 Windows XP Mac OS X Linux
From the creators of Firefox, come their partner application that does to email what Firefox does to web browsing. Thunderbird is simply great!

[SadYear]

I discovered a very nice music player a not so long time ago. It's called JetAudio and there's a free version to be downloaded from the official site here : http://www.cowonamerica.com/products/jetaudio/

Check it out if like me you're tired of your winamp crashing for nothing. You might be pleasantly surprised. :D

[Maxi]

Oh, and Thunderbird does accept Gmail and Hotmail! :P

[Yang]

Anyone used/use Hamachi?

Cool free software which creates a virtual LAN between computers... good for playing mates on games etc.

[SaMuEl]

VLC
Vista 64 Vista 32 Windows XP Mac OS X Linux
Extremely compact, simple, versions for many operating systems, very low memory footprint and a generally fantastic movie player.

^^ from what azzer has written i thaught this would be quite a good tool, i had windows vista on my laptop and got this programme a free DL from many websites...

and for the first few weeks i had this programme i dnt think i used it once... untill the media player wouldnt play a dvd i put in...

so i thaught id try it... still no picture but i could listen to the movie...
then i tried something out i got a dvd that worked fine on my built in media player... tried it it worked...
i then tried it on
VLC player... and yet again no picture just a black background... and all i could do was listen...

dunno if anyone else has had it but i think there are many better freeware media players...

although my friend had the same programme and it worked fine... so if your looking for a new media player try this and see if you get the same fault as me... hopefully you wont...
apart from that the programme was quite good when used on my friends pc...

[Azzer]

That sounds very much like a problem with codecs on your computer. Fautly/older/unsuitable codecs will often cause sound to play with no picture (or simply not work at all).

I'm not really making this an "official recommendation", as I've not tried using this in Vista and I'm not sure that all of the codecs in it are the most recent/are stable... but you could try;
http://www.codecguide.com/about_kl.htm
"Mega Codec Pack"

Has pretty much every codec under the sun, might sort you out.

From this site you can also get "RealAlternative" - let's you play .rm (RealMedia) files in your media player, and "QuickTime Alternative", which let's you play QT (.mov) files in your own media player (eg not needing the RealPlayer or QuickTime standalone players for either). Which is nice.

[SaMuEl]

regarding my previous post though it was when vista first came out, most things were incmpatible to start with without DL-ing seperate drivers specifically like i found with some plug-ins such as Web-Cams, and microphones...
would most likely be "usable" if you were to DL now as vista has most applications fully compatible now with new drivers added into the DL as updates...
but i havent tried for a while as my laptop isnt on the net atm
...

[Tim]

Media Players

Media Player Classic ("Real Alternative") (http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Real_Alternative.htm) - Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/2003/XP64

A lightweight media player which supports playback of Realplayer audio and video files and streams. Looks just like "mplayer2" found in older versions of Windows and top notch for playing back media files.

[Azzer]

Media Players
Media Player Classic ("Real Alternative") (http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Real_Alternative.htm) - Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/2003/XP64
A lightweight media player which supports playback of Realplayer audio and video files and streams. Looks just like "mplayer2" found in older versions of Windows and top notch for playing back media files.

Is RealAlternative not just a codec that will work in any player, that just happens to have bundled the classic media player in with it (it's an optional install). The "k-lite mega codec pack", and quicktime alternative, seem to have classic media player bundled too, but I always stick to using VLC myself!

Just a bit confused as to whether it is the codec now for RealAlternative or a hacked media player!

Either way; Classic media player is a good alternative to VLC :D

[Tim]

Aye ^^ Didn't see your post above where you already referenced this. The one thing Media Player Classic does support is the ability to stream files from the internet - other media players using these codecs don't allow this functionality apparently.

[BlackWolf]

ffdshow is much better codec pack that mega pack.
Also theres some new one i heard only recently just cant remember right now what it was...
media player classic poons.

[Meneldil]

Quick question regarding firewalls:

Does is Sygate definitely much better than ZoneAlarm?

[Azzer]

Yes, Sygate is better than ZoneAlarm. Same (if not better tbh) protection, less memory/CPU use.

[MattM]

Hmm, as my license with Norton is up for renewal shortly, I thought maybe I should look to alternative anti-virus software. Would you recommend Avast over Norton; i.e. am I paying for anything extra/better if I renew?

Thanks.

[Azzer]

Yes, I would recommend Avast over Norton - like with the above question... lower memory footprint (much lower in this case), much lower CPU utilisation, it's free, and yet it's just as effective as Norton at virus zapping.

The full Norton suite however does provide other features - firewall (but you can get this from Comodo or Sygate Personal Firewall's above, both free and incredibly powerful software firewalls for Windows), and anti-spyware, and other (seemingly random) privacy protection features - but most of these are un-necessary or replaceable by free alternatives too. It's only the anti-virus and firewall that's really important (and a bit of common sense when using the internet too, of course!).

[Meneldil]

Also on that subject: how does AVG compare to Avast? Is it worth changing?

[Weeble]

If you already have AVG then it's not a pressing issue to move to Avast; they give basically the same protection and have roughly the same memory footprints.
Personally I would recommend Avast over AVG as it's slightly quieter and quicker in scanning but there's not much in it to be perfectly honest.

[Azzer]

AVG has a lower "Hitrate" on viruses than Avast these days (according to various reports/comparisons online), so I'd personally recommend removing AVG and making the move to Avast to everyone these days.

[BlackWolf]

I suggest dumbing sygate and fast.
It got really sucky ratings on last test performing amongst one of worst ones out there.
http://www.matousec.com/projects/window ... esults.php (http://www.matousec.com/projects/windows-personal-firewall-analysis/leak-tests-results.php)

There are other firewalls which are better and still free.

[Azzer]

Good to see Comodo topping the list. I'll replace any recommendations for Sygate with Comodo :)

(I looked at Outpost Firewall and Online Armor a few weeks back, and really disliked them both especially Outpost as it's not free)

Cheers for that BW.

Edit: If you can find any modern/recent tests for anti-virus that covers the free and paid anti-virus programs, that'd be really good & interesting. With AV though it can sometimes be hard to find independant ones, and you can't trust tests paid for/funded by paticular AV companies obviously.

[BlackWolf]

I pologiese rudeness of my last post after i read it started to feel it was really offencive and all. Didnt mean to.

http://www.av-comparatives.org/
Next is Finnish guy who tested all kind of virus tools on his own comp.
http://koti.mbnet.fi/pattaya1/testitulo ... 112007.htm (http://koti.mbnet.fi/pattaya1/testitulokset_03112007.htm) <--- link to results some of it is in finnish but at the bottom of that huge page are results which are pretty far from what you see on normal test results.

[Bobbin]

I think we should have an additional section for Firefox Extensions.


Firebug
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1843
A must for anyone who writes webpages. Easily the best method of debugging javascript.

IE Tab
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1419
Re-renders a webpage using the Internet Explorer engine. Useful for all those pages out there which don't work properly in Firefox(few and far between though)

These are the only two i have here.. but at home i have about 25 more, which i will add the best of when i get home :)

[Nitrous]

Hi people

I have a problem with my AdAware SE Personal. It hasn't been updating the definitions :(.

Just wondering if anyone knows how to fix that problem. If not, I can just simply re-download and install it.

Also, is there any other GOOD I.E. 100% detecting Anti-Malware/Spyware software?

[Maxi]

There is no 100% detecting software. A combination of Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D usually works wonders. (and most of all - common sense) 'Bout your Ad-Aware problem, you might want to try and reinstall it, yes.

[Chezz]

Anyone tried JKDefrag? It is a free defragmentation software that is much faster then the WIndows one.

It's available for Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista/2008/X64

It is at http://www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/.

[Weeble]

Tried that before when I got pissed off that Windows needed 15% free to defrag a drive. Works fairly well.

Also, I'd just like to point out that Ad-Aware SE Personal is no longer supported by Lavasoft. You will have to download Ad-Aware 2007 Free (http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php) instead.

[Fortune]

I know a great freeware for converting videos and FlV videos into mp3 which is great for geting songs off YouTube!

Free YouTube to MP3 Converter. Extract and download audio from YouTube and Google videos and save it as MP3 files on your PC with one mouse click and with this YouTube Converter!

Convert *.flv video files to *.mp3.

Free YouTube to MP3 Converter contains no spyware or adware. It's clearly free and absolutely safe to install and run.

i've used it for a while and sound quality is good and is quick and i think its free from spyware adn viruses.

[Chezz]

Speaking of Firefox extensions, one of the best and most essential extension is the Download StatusBar.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/26

It allows users to download stuff within a small bar below, so you don't need that clunky downloads window anymore!

[Weeble]

I've been looking at Anti-Virus programs for a while now (currently using avast! Home Edition) but it seems there are betters out there.

Here are the top 4 Freeware anti-virus programs (primarily for Windows) that I've been able to find so far*:
Avira AntiVir Personal (http://www.free-av.com/en/download/1/avira_antivir_personal__free_antivirus.html)[/*:m:22w4cx0a]
BitDefender 10 Free Edition (http://www.bitdefender.com/media/html/trialpay.html)[/*:m:22w4cx0a]
avast! Home Edition (http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html)[/*:m:22w4cx0a]
AVG Free (http://free.avg.com/)[/*:m:22w4cx0a]

I've been testing a few out and I have to say Avira's AntiVir is actually pretty good. Has a high detection rate, and small memory footprint (around 9k), the only downside I suppose is the fact you get blasted with ads to pay for the professional version whenever it updates (daily). Which isn't really that bad I suppose! I am also informed that you can hide them anyway if you set up a scheduler item to automatically update at a specific time.

BitDefender is good, but doesn't have a real-time scanner so not to be used on it's own!

avast! is still a decent system but it's response times to new threats has steadily been decreasing the past few months.

AVG well.... fairly poor at the moment but still better than other freeware programs.


If, however, you have the option (read: luxury) to pay for an AV system, I'd recommend Kaspersky instead.
So there you have it. Avira > most.

* Data based on a number of sources, primary three are: Wikipedia Article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_antivirus_software) (Aug 8, 2008) and PCMag Security Watch (http://blogs.pcmag.com/securitywatch/Results-2008q1.htm) (Jan 22, 2008), [url=http://www.anti-malware-test.com/] (Jul, 2008)

[Stevey]

Firefox could not install the file at

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefo ... 6.3-fx.xpi (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/downloads/file/30823/download_statusbar-0.9.6.3-fx.xpi)

because: Unexpected installation error
Review the Error Console log for more details.
-203

why whenever i try to get an extension does it come up with this?

[Maxi]

Check if the addon is compatible with your version of Firefox, 2 or 3. Download the file to your desktop, then open it, or Reinstall Firefox. Does it happen with all addons?

[Chezz]

because: Unexpected installation error
Review the Error Console log for more details.


As the error message says, check the error console (Tools --> Error Console), and google it. Hopefully it will help.

Check if the addon is compatible with your version of Firefox, 2 or 3. Download the file to your desktop, then open it, or Reinstall Firefox. Does it happen with all addons?

I've checked the file he's stated, I'm quite sure its works for any version from Firefox 2 to 3. So its probably not the version's problem.

[Madmeater]

Here's a very good tool I use to remove programs from my system
Revo (http://www.revouninstaller.com/)
It performs a clean uninstallation by analysing the program, removing it and searching your HDD and registry for any remnants of the software.

It also features hunter mode, which places a crosshair on your screen which you can then drag over any icon/window/disktray icon and it will identify the software and offer to uninstall it from your system.

I've found it really useful for stubborn products such as norton which my friends still insist on using =/

[Kingdroid]

ZoneAlarm sucks

It was impossible to configure, and when I uninstalled it, it stuck around

[Kingdroid]

Also, Avast and AVG now offer 30-day trials only, no more indefinite free use.

[timtadams]

Also, Avast and AVG now offer 30-day trials only, no more indefinite free use.

hmmm, im not sure of this. How did you come by this information? I google "AVG free" and first link is them. They have noticable: 'download trial' and 'buy AVG', but above, you can still to choose to download AVG Free:

http://free.avg.com/au-en/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition

Anyway, an essential download which immediately came to mind:

K-Lite Codec Pack (http://www.free-codecs.com/download/k_lite_codec_pack.htm)

Download this and you can play pretty much anything. It has the ffdshow which BW recommended in an earlier post. I also contains Media Player Classic Homecinema with standard and full versions (not basic though)

Just an aside, but I prefer to use WMP v10. I did have winamp, but preferred WMP due to its better ease of use with regard to playlists and navigating through music. This was yeaaars ago though, so i guess i will see what theyve done.

I also prefer WMP10 over WMP11 due to the fact WMP10 has the navigation menu on the left, which allows you to expand artists, giving you the lists of artists, whereas in WMP11 no such list drops down, rather all artists show up in the main window, under alphabetical headings. Anyone else find this, or is it just me?

[tomtree]

anyone know any good/free firewall and antivirus for macs?

[atsanjose]

Also, Avast and AVG now offer 30-day trials only, no more indefinite free use.

avast is still free

[Kingdroid]

Well, impart upon me this secret knowledge, I downloaded the 'free' version of both from the site (and yes, no mention of trials on either) and at 30 days they both stopped working and prompted me to buy.

Also, I have the Comodo firewall and antivirus. Will the Comodo antivrus be fine, or should I get avast too? the Comodo one has no scan function...

[timtadams]

Well, impart upon me this secret knowledge, I downloaded the 'free' version of both from the site (and yes, no mention of trials on either) and at 30 days they both stopped working and prompted me to buy.

Also, I have the Comodo firewall and antivirus. Will the Comodo antivrus be fine, or should I get avast too? the Comodo one has no scan function...

Maybe cause you only have the COMODO firewall and not antivirus?...i dunno though, i didnt even know about COMODO antivirus XD

Anyway, i have and am using AVG Free right now. Yes, i now sometimes get popups prompting me to get the full version, but i just close it every time. No problems. I can still use the free version

[edit]are you sure its not working?

[atsanjose]

Well, impart upon me this secret knowledge, I downloaded the 'free' version of both from the site (and yes, no mention of trials on either) and at 30 days they both stopped working and prompted me to buy.

Also, I have the Comodo firewall and antivirus. Will the Comodo antivrus be fine, or should I get avast too? the Comodo one has no scan function...

1. your OS?
2. Did you register (thats also free)
4. How do I register avast! Free Antivirus 5.0?
Open the avast! Free Antivirus 5.0 interface and click the 'MAINTENANCE' tab. Next click 'Registration' and then 'Register now'. A new window with the registration form will open. Enter the required details into the form fields and then click 'Register for free license'.

avast! Free Antivirus 5.0 can now continue to be used for 12 months and you will continue to receive automatic updates to both the program and your virus definitions. At the end of that time, it will be necessary simply to register for a new free license.
3. Did you say youre using it for home use only?
4. you installed avast! Free Antivirus 5.0?

[timtadams]

Well, impart upon me this secret knowledge, I downloaded the 'free' version of both from the site (and yes, no mention of trials on either) and at 30 days they both stopped working and prompted me to buy.

Also, I have the Comodo firewall and antivirus. Will the Comodo antivrus be fine, or should I get avast too? the Comodo one has no scan function...

1. your OS?
2. Did you register (thats also free)
4. How do I register avast! Free Antivirus 5.0?
Open the avast! Free Antivirus 5.0 interface and click the 'MAINTENANCE' tab. Next click 'Registration' and then 'Register now'. A new window with the registration form will open. Enter the required details into the form fields and then click 'Register for free license'.

avast! Free Antivirus 5.0 can now continue to be used for 12 months and you will continue to receive automatic updates to both the program and your virus definitions. At the end of that time, it will be necessary simply to register for a new free license.
3. Did you say youre using it for home use only?
4. you installed avast! Free Antivirus 5.0?

I have not registered (If i did im sure i would not be able to click 'Register AVG-antivirus Free' from the Help menu)

[atsanjose]

Well, impart upon me this secret knowledge, I downloaded the 'free' version of both from the site (and yes, no mention of trials on either) and at 30 days they both stopped working and prompted me to buy.

Also, I have the Comodo firewall and antivirus. Will the Comodo antivrus be fine, or should I get avast too? the Comodo one has no scan function...

1. your OS?
2. Did you register (thats also free)
4. How do I register avast! Free Antivirus 5.0?
Open the avast! Free Antivirus 5.0 interface and click the 'MAINTENANCE' tab. Next click 'Registration' and then 'Register now'. A new window with the registration form will open. Enter the required details into the form fields and then click 'Register for free license'.

avast! Free Antivirus 5.0 can now continue to be used for 12 months and you will continue to receive automatic updates to both the program and your virus definitions. At the end of that time, it will be necessary simply to register for a new free license.
3. Did you say youre using it for home use only?
4. you installed avast! Free Antivirus 5.0?

I have not registered (If i did im sure i would not be able to click 'Register AVG-antivirus Free' from the Help menu)

avast! not crappy avg

[timtadams]

Well, impart upon me this secret knowledge, I downloaded the 'free' version of both from the site (and yes, no mention of trials on either) and at 30 days they both stopped working and prompted me to buy.

Also, I have the Comodo firewall and antivirus. Will the Comodo antivrus be fine, or should I get avast too? the Comodo one has no scan function...

1. your OS?
2. Did you register (thats also free)
4. How do I register avast! Free Antivirus 5.0?
Open the avast! Free Antivirus 5.0 interface and click the 'MAINTENANCE' tab. Next click 'Registration' and then 'Register now'. A new window with the registration form will open. Enter the required details into the form fields and then click 'Register for free license'.

avast! Free Antivirus 5.0 can now continue to be used for 12 months and you will continue to receive automatic updates to both the program and your virus definitions. At the end of that time, it will be necessary simply to register for a new free license.
3. Did you say youre using it for home use only?
4. you installed avast! Free Antivirus 5.0?

I have not registered (If i did im sure i would not be able to click 'Register AVG-antivirus Free' from the Help menu)

avast! not crappy avg

I keep hearing that Avast > AVG

Its funny you should say that, because my friend had a trojan on his memory stick, and when he stuck it in my computer AVG detected it so we were able to remove it. Yet he has Avast...

...whatdya think?

[atsanjose]

Well, impart upon me this secret knowledge, I downloaded the 'free' version of both from the site (and yes, no mention of trials on either) and at 30 days they both stopped working and prompted me to buy.

Also, I have the Comodo firewall and antivirus. Will the Comodo antivrus be fine, or should I get avast too? the Comodo one has no scan function...

1. your OS?
2. Did you register (thats also free)
4. How do I register avast! Free Antivirus 5.0?
Open the avast! Free Antivirus 5.0 interface and click the 'MAINTENANCE' tab. Next click 'Registration' and then 'Register now'. A new window with the registration form will open. Enter the required details into the form fields and then click 'Register for free license'.

avast! Free Antivirus 5.0 can now continue to be used for 12 months and you will continue to receive automatic updates to both the program and your virus definitions. At the end of that time, it will be necessary simply to register for a new free license.
3. Did you say youre using it for home use only?
4. you installed avast! Free Antivirus 5.0?

I have not registered (If i did im sure i would not be able to click 'Register AVG-antivirus Free' from the Help menu)

avast! not crappy avg

I keep hearing that Avast > AVG

Its funny you should say that, because my friend had a trojan on his memory stick, and when he stuck it in my computer AVG detected it so we were able to remove it. Yet he has Avast...

...whatdya think?

your friend needs more cowbell

[LuckySports]

You have all forgotten one of the most important FREE bits of software any student can get.

http://www.openoffice.org/
The office suite, for free. Works very similarly to Microsoft Office, is 100% free, and can be saved in the same file formats as any office product. I personally use this myself.

[Dax]

I have a cracked copy of Office '07 and '10 anyway :P

[Dark_Angel]

F.Lux (http://bushtarion.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5373)


f.lux makes your computer screen look like the room you're in, all the time. When the sun sets, it makes your computer look like your indoor lights. In the morning, it makes things look like sunlight again.

F.lux [...] makes the color of your computer's display adapt to the time of day, warm at night and like sunlight during the day.