World of Freeware

Foxit PDF Reader

2010-06-19T20:38:00.000-07:00

Foxit Reader is a free PDF document viewer, with small size, fast launch speed and rich feature set.. To put it gently, Adobe Reader is a real pain in the hindquarters. It's monstrously large, slow to load, and includes many features most users will hardly ever need. Foxit PDF Reader 3.0 kills the bloat and throws in some useful features, such as multimedia support and content-sharing options, while still allowing you to quickly access your PDFs.

The interface mimics Adobe's, so you won't have to change your reading habits. In our test, the text readability was similar. The small program starts surprisingly fast compared with Adobe. You might need to fiddle a bit to get it to work with your Internet browser, but you can find help on Foxit's support forums. It's a nice touch that it opens PDFs from the Internet in their own Foxit window, instead of sucking resources from within the browser.

Foxit's biggest flaw in the old version was hogging memory and that has been corrected. Recent updates include fixing the hyperlink problem, multimedia support, printing highlighted-only sections, and tabbed PDF browsing, so you can read multiple PDFs simultaneously and with ease. Overall, unless you're tied to Adobe we strongly recommend this freeware competitor.

Download Here:

Foxit Reader
Download.com

AbiWord

2010-06-18T20:31:00.000-07:00

This freeware, open-source word processor strikes us as a worthy alternative to pricey, big-name products. AbiWord has a quick learning curve, since the interface is very similar to those in Word and WordPerfect.

You'll find just about all the features you need, including the ability to cut and paste, highlight, and a bevy of common formatting tools. Although we did miss a grammar-checking utility, AbiWord can check your spelling in many languages--you'll need to choose the appropriate foreign language dictionaries during installation. A huge plus is the ability to open and save Microsoft Word documents, though the program also has its own proprietary file format. You can download plug-ins at the publisher's site to import and export a wide variety of other formats, including OpenDocument.

The latest version integrates with the AbiCollab Web service for sharing documents, and finally introduces an annotation feature that competitors have long had. AbiWord should appeal to a wide range of users who seek a functional word-processing app but lack a large bank account.

Download Here:

AbiWord
Download.com

BootSafe

2010-06-12T10:40:00.000-07:00

BootSafe takes the hassle out of rebooting in Safe Mode or back to Normal mode. BootSafe is 100% free and contains no adware, spyware or malware! No more fighting with the F8 key or MSCONFIG!

BootSafe Features:

Supports booting into Safe Mode (Minimal, Networking and Repair)

Easily boot back to Normal mode

Supports Windows 98, 98SE, ME, 2000 and XP

No installation required, no setup, just download and run - it's that simple!

Simple to use, fast to download and FREE!

Download Here:

BootSafe
Download.com

Dr.Web CureIt!

2010-06-11T03:36:00.000-07:00

FREE antivirus and anti spyware scanner based on the Dr.Web best-of-breed engine with the most up-to-date add-ons to the Dr.Web virus bases. As hundreds new viruses appear and spread in hours around the world daily, CureIt! with the newest definitions to the virus bases is re-built several times every day.

CureIt! will help you quickly scan and cure, if necessary, a computer operated by MS Windows 95OSR2/98/98SE/Me/NT4/2000/XP/2003/2003R2 without installation of the Dr.Web Anti-virus. The utility supports Russian, Arabic, Bulgarian, Byelorussian, Czech, English, Estonian, French, Georgian, German, Greek, Hungarian, Japanese, Latvian, Lithuanian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Slovakian, Spanish, Ukrainian.

Download Here:

Dr.Web CureIt!
Download.com

1 Year Free with avast!

2010-06-07T16:43:00.000-07:00

avast! is offering a rather good deal on their avast! Pro Antivirus and avast! Internet Security version 5 (their new version).

avast! Pro Antivirus is now at USD39.95 for 2 years
avast! Internet Security is not at USD59.95 for 2 years

This promotion is limited*. So hurry!

Of course, there is always the free version which is very good. Just use your own combo to get your own security suite.

avast! homepage : http://www.avast.com/index

More info on avast! Pro Antivirus : http://www.avast.com/pro-antivirus
avast! Pro Antivirus promotion page : Here

More info on avast! Internet Security : http://www.avast.com/internet-security
avast! Internet Security promotion page : Here

avast! Free Antivirus : http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download

*offer valid until the 9th July 2010

VDownloader - Download and Convert YouTube videos for free

2010-06-07T00:20:00.001-07:00

Despite the lack of user guidance, this video-file downloader is easy to set up and use. VDownloader's interface is on the plain side and no Help file is offered, but it shouldn't take most users long to get the hang of downloading videos from their favorite sites.

The interface contains four large icons: Download, Search, Browser, and Settings. By default, VDownloader is set to monitor the clipboard when it's running, so as soon as we copied the link to a video, the program responded and asked us for Save As information. It's a small thing, but some programs don't allow you to choose a file name up front and it can be hard (without opening each file) to know what video you've downloaded if the file name is auto-assigned. The download began immediately after choosing the file name and location. You also can change this setting and manually paste a video link in to the URL field, but we preferred the time-saving clipboard monitoring step. VDownloader also lets you select the format you want to save video files in, another nice touch. Options include AVI, MP3, iPhone/iPod compatibility, and the original format.

The free program includes two useful extras. The first is the Search capability, which allows you to enter a video name and simultaneously search YouTube, Daily Motion, Google, and Yahoo Video. You can uncheck any of the four sites, but you aren't allowed to add any extras. The second extra is a built-in browser, which doesn't have any of the niceties you'll find in Firefox or Internet Explorer, but does include more than 20 bookmarks to video sites and a quick Download Video button for when you find a file you want to save. We recommend this free, easy-to-use video file downloader for any user.

Download Here:

VDownloader.com
Download.com

Unlocker

2010-03-16T15:56:00.000-07:00

This single-function system utility removes a file's access restrictions, but lacks some common features. Unlocker is unobtrusive: it resides in the system tray; an Unlocker command appears in files' right-click menus.

The application removes file-access restrictions that prevent a user from moving, deleting, or renaming a file. The user right-clicks on a file and selects Unlocker, which displays information regarding the selected file, such as Path Locked, PID, Handle, and Process Path. This program also allows terminating a currently running process. In some cases, files cannot be accessed due to Windows file-access bugs, for which Windows informs the user the file is currently in use--even when it's not.

Unlocker can effectively bypass this bug's restrictions; it unlocks or disables whatever is preventing the user to access that file. This tool would be a lot easier to use if it allowed hot keys. Novices to advanced users will find this free application very useful.

Download Here:

Unlocker
Download.com

WinPatrol

2010-03-15T15:47:00.000-07:00

This program uses a simple yet effective method of fighting all kinds of malicious programs. It inspects several Windows system spots that malware is most likely to alter, including programs launched at start-up, browser helper objects, scheduled tasks, services, and cookies.

The latest version includes two new logs: one emulates the popular HijackThis log style, while the other is a CSV-exportable format. There are also more tweaks for Vista users, as well as the usual bug fixing. The app consumes few resources, doesn't slow your PC, and is highly customizable. You can set the interval between checkups; the default is every three minutes. If something new installs on your PC, the program notifies you and asks whether you want the newcomer. This won't cure serious infections, but it will save you from annoying adware and malicious sites that hijack your browser's home page. You can view full reports in HTML format, and the app even lets you manage which programs launch on system start-up, including a "delayed" start-up.

Improved cookie handling is taken care of by Pinky the Squirrel, who eats "cookies with nuts"--that is, cookies that contain user-defined nuggets of text, such as ads. Users who install a lot of new software will find the program invaluable.

Download Here:

WinPatrol
Download.com

SpamBayes

2010-03-13T16:14:00.000-08:00

SpamBayes is a Bayesian or a form of statisitcal analysis anti-spam filter.

Its works by attempting to classify incoming email messages as 'spam', 'ham' (good, non-spam email) or 'unsure'. This means you can have spam or unsure messages automatically filed away in a different mail folder, where it won't interrupt your email reading.

First SpamBayes must be trained by each user to identify spam and ham. Essentially, you show SpamBayes a pile of email that you like (ham) and a pile you don't like (spam). SpamBayes will then analyze the piles for clues as to what makes the spam and ham different. For example; different words, differences in the mailer headers and content style. The system then uses these clues to examine new messages.

Download Here:

SpamBayes
Download.com

Free Download Manager

2010-03-12T16:14:00.000-08:00

What is Free Download Manager? It is a powerful, easy-to-use and absolutely free download accelerator and manager. Moreover, it is 100% safe, open-source software distributed under GPL license.

This download utility is surprisingly attractive and full-featured for a freeware product, and its operation couldn't be more straightforward. To download a file, just click a link in your browser or drag it onto the program's tiny, semitransparent window.

Download Here:

Free Download Manager
Download.com

KeyScrambler Personal

2010-03-11T18:14:00.000-08:00

KeyScrambler Personal is a free plug-in for your Web browser that protects everything you type from keyloggers. It defeats keyloggers by encrypting your keystrokes at the keyboard driver level, deep within the operating system. When the encrypted keystrokes reach your browser, then it will decrypts them so you see exactly the keys you've typed.

Keyloggers can only record the encrypted keys, which are completely indecipherable. Unlike anti-virus and anti-spyware programs that depend on recognition to remove keyloggers that they know about, KeyScrambler will protect you from both known and unknown keyloggers. What's more, KeyScrambler provides protection without getting in your way. You don't have anything to learn about the program and you don't have to do anything differently, but with KeyScrambler your important personal information will be a whole lot safer.

Download Here:

KeyScrambler Personal
Download.com

WinRAR 3.92 Final released!

2010-02-18T20:31:00.000-08:00

WinRAR 3.92 Final released:

WinRAR - What's new in the latest version

Version 3.92

1. If you start WinRAR command from Explorer context menu in multiple
monitor configuration, the command dialog will be displayed
on the same monitor as context menu. In previous versions it was
always displayed on primary monitor.

2. WinRAR "Compress and email..." context menu command adds the archive
name to email subject. Previous versions left the subject blank.

3. In RAR 3.91 -x switch could also exclude folders from archiving
even if mask contained wilcard characters and did not contain a path.
For example, -x*. excluded all those folders, which do not have
the extension in the name. Now -x switch uses RAR 3.80 approach
for masks without path, excluding folders only if mask does not
contain wildcards and matches the folder name exactly.

4. Bugs fixed:

a) WinRAR 3.91 reported the incorrect "Unexpected end of archive"
error, when opening an empty ZIP archive created with
"New WinRAR ZIP archive" context menu command;

b) if "Delete archive" option was enabled when unpacking several
ZIP archives and if one of archives was damaged, WinRAR did not
delete archives after the damaged one, even if they were unpacked
successfully;

c) if file matched two different masks in RarFiles.lst, WinRAR
could select the last match. Normally, if neither of masks
is a subset of another, the first match must be chosen.

Dowload Here:

WinRAR - Demo/Buy

Norton 360 Version 4.0 Has Launched

2010-02-18T20:16:00.000-08:00

Norton 360 is arguably the best-known software security suite in the world, but that doesn't necessarily make it the best. However, in this latest version Symantec responds aggressively to user complaints concerning resource-hogging while including improvements in botnet detection, warnings for suspicious online retailers, and virus-definition file updates pushed every 15 minutes.

The suite includes antivirus, antispyware, antiphishing, antispam, antirootkit protection, a firewall, Symantec's SONAR (Symantec Online Network for Advance Response) behavioral-monitoring software, and a vulnerability assessment tool to see what Windows updates your computer might be missing. It also rolls in 2GB of free online storage for backing up your most important files, which can be upgraded for a price. The resources manager lets you streamline your boot cycle to start faster when the computer's off. The new install time is blazingly fast, and should clock in for most users at under or around one minute.

Besides that, the interface overhaul is much easier to manage, with horizontal navigation and clearly delineated categories. Advanced options are available from two text links on the top nav, Tasks and Settings. From here, users familiar with Norton 360 will find more choices than ever before to customize and tweak protection behavior. In many ways, this version of Norton 360 has finally caught up with the times. Although it may pain the cynics to hear this, Norton 360's revamped approach to security and ease of use and its emphasis on speed make the program worthy of consideration again.

New Features:

New! Provides unprecedented and unmatched threat detection.
New! Warns you of dangerous downloads.
New! Helps you improve and maintain PC and application performance.
Improved Protects your identity when you buy, bank or browse online.
Improved Scans only files at risk for shorter, faster scans.

Download Here:

Norton 360 Version 4.0 - Ultra Fast and Super Light Performance - US
Norton 360 Version 4.0 - Ultra Fast and Super Light Performance - UK
Norton 360 Version 4.0 - protection, performances et tranquillité optimales contre les dangers numériques. - France

Smart Popup Blocker

2010-02-13T20:11:00.000-08:00

Smart Popup Blocker can intelligently block pop-up ads and messenger pop-up spam, and speed Internet Explorer by optimizing settings. It also cleans cookies and guards your default Internet Explorer home page. The application resides in the system tray, works as an add-on of the IE browser, and automatically starts when you start up Internet Explorer.

Download Here:

Smart Popup Blocker
Download.com

McAfee SiteAdvisor

2010-02-13T18:52:00.000-08:00

McAfee SiteAdvisor software is a free Web security plug-in that provides you with simple red, yellow and green Website safety ratings, McAfee SECURE trustmarks for sites passing more rigorous daily tests, and a Secure Search Box so you can click with confidence and safely surf, search and shop online. This award-winning program tests websites for spyware, spam, phishing, and browser exploits, and its automatic updates help protect you from the latest threats. SiteAdvisor technology works with 20 search engines, including Google, Yahoo!, Bing, AOL, and Ask. It has been downloaded more than 200 million times and does not require any other security software to work. With SiteAdvisor software installed, your browser will look a little different than before.

They add small site rating icons to your search results as well as a browser button and optional search box. Together, these alert you to potentially risky sites and help you find safer alternatives. These site ratings are based on tests conducted by McAfee using an army of computers that look for all kinds of threats (detailed below). The result is a guide to Web safety. The SiteAdvisor technology is free, easy to install and even easier to use. And it doesn't collect any personally identifiable information.

Download Here:

McAfee SiteAdvisor
Download.com

K-Meleon

2010-02-13T17:31:00.000-08:00

K-Meleon is the browser you control. K-Meleon is a fast and customizable Web browser that can be used instead of Internet Explorer on Windows. Powered by the same Gecko engine as Firefox and Mozilla, K-Meleon provides users with a secure browsing experience. Based on Mozilla 1.8.0.7 codebase.

Download Here:

K-Meleon
Download.com

Sleipnir

2010-01-30T18:15:00.000-08:00

Sleipnir is designed to be a highly customizable browser that you can configure to suit your individual needs. With Sleipnir, you can create your ideal browser by changing the design, skin, and visual appearance. You can also add custom functionality to Sleipnir with a wide range of plugins and user scripts. Users love Seipnir for its unique blend of high-performance and customizability.

Downoad Here:

Sleipnir
Download.com

Maxthon Internet Browser

2010-01-30T06:32:00.000-08:00

Based on Internet Explorer's engine, Maxthon is probably something of a curiosity for most North American users. It never really caught on there, but elsewhere--especially China--it's one of the most popular browsers around. It renders pages fast and comes loaded with features, as if Firefox came with 90 percent of its most popular plug-ins. Maxthon 2 features loads more customization ability, but sacrifices a bit of stability for the privilege. Its design is stylish compared to the old version, and its new approach to accessing functions makes this free browser more competitive.

All the basics are represented here, from tabbed browsing to skins to add-ons, and many of the rolled-in features make Maxthon hard to ignore. Some of our favorite features include rolled-in auto-form filling, the ability to set up bookmark groups that open on start-up--excellent for news or blogs, the ability to autoscroll Web pages, and pop-up and content filters for blocking ads and specific content formats you don't want. There are also customizable hotkey commands for such nifty features as auto-completing URLs, so if you type "download" and hold down the Ctrl key, it will auto-fill the "http://" and the ".com". The online favorites service is similar to that offered by other browsers, and works well.

We also like the super drag-and-drop feature, which lets you directly select and drag keywords to a current Web page or directly to the address bar. Maxthon is fast, small, flexible, and easy to use, and the extra features make it a browser we highly recommend for those looking for a change of pace.

Download Here:

Maxthon Internet Browser
Download.com

Sygate Personal Firewall Free

2010-01-29T21:10:00.000-08:00

Sygate Personal Firewall is more than an advanced, user-friendly personal firewall, it's a bi-directional intrusion defense system. It ensures your personal computer is completely protected from malicious hackers and other intruders while preventing unauthorized access from your computer to a network. In essence, it makes your protected machines invisible to the outside world. That makes it a must-have security measure for any PC that connects to a private network or the public Internet. Once you've been compromised, every other network you connect to is at risk; including your home, business and online bank accounts. No matter where you use your computer, whether remote or behind a corporate firewall, whether dial-up or an always-on broadband Internet connection, it gives you complete confidence that your precious business, personal, financial and other data is safe and secure. If that isn't enough, it includes advanced active-scan vulnerability assessment to pinpoint your weaknesses and fine-tune your security policy.

This application is a good bet for beginners because it's not necessary to configure any settings to get started. When the utility detects a program trying to connect to the Web for the first time, it asks you whether to allow or disallow access and remembers the setting. Advanced users can set permissions manually for any group of applications, such as a range of trusted IPs and protocols. Unfortunately, the current version isn't Vista compatible if you're looking for an alternative to the Windows Firewall.

The app didn't slow down our computer and less than 10 MB of RAM. Password protection guards against other users, such as children or employees, changing settings or turning off the firewall. Whether you're new to firewalls or have used them before, this free option should be on your shortlist.

Download Here:

Sygate Personal Firewall
Download.com

TweakVI

2010-01-29T05:52:00.000-08:00

Unlike other tweaking utilities, TweakVI bundles lots of different utilities in one. It was developed to combine both tuning and optimizing features to increase the speed of your Windows Vista system. It's the worlds first software for Windows Vista to combine both customization, tweaking and optimization features.

Download Here:

TweakVI
Download.com

PC Tools Firewall Plus

2010-01-28T21:05:00.000-08:00

PC Tools Firewall Plus Free Edition is a powerful personal free firewall for Microsoft Windows that protects your computer from hackers and intruders. Firewalls control the network traffic in and out of your PC by monitoring applications that connect to the network. Firewall Plus can stop Trojans, backdoors, and keyloggers from damaging your computer and stealing your private information. PC Tools Firewall Plus is advanced technology designed specially for people, not experts. Powerful prevention against attacks and known exploits is activated by default and advanced users can also easily create their own packet filtering rules to customize the network defenses. The program is recommended for use alongside of AntiSpyware and Antivirus software like AVG or Spyware Doctor to protect PC against Spyware, hackers, worms, and viruses.

This freeware firewall won't replace user vigilance, but intermediate users will appreciate its configurability. From the primary interface to the packet content logs, simplicity is the key to PC Tools Firewall Plus Free Edition.

You don't "set and forget" any good firewall. This application makes it easy to set filtering rules, provided you know what you're doing. That's why we don't recommend PC Tools Firewall Plus Free Edition for novice users. This program expects you know the uses of UDP, ICMP, ARP, TCP, and a few other computer protocols. However, adding a new filter is as easy as answering a few questions in a wizard.

There are numerous filters preset to block many known problems. You'll only find a brief explanation for each, so you'll need to research elsewhere anything you don't understand. This application's Help file is a simple quick-start guide. Novice users will be overwhelmed and advanced users underwhelmed, but intermediate users wanting basic filtering would do well to install this firewall.

Download Here:

PC Tools Firewall Plus
Download.com

Revo Uninstaller

2010-01-28T05:45:00.000-08:00

Where the built-in and sluggish Windows Add or Remove Programs option fails, freeware Revo picks up the slack. It builds out a useful feature set on top of a fairly light, 1.5MB installation. Launching Revo fires up the Uninstaller screen, which shows icons and titles of all programs installed on your machine. You can change the View to List or Details, if you'd like more information. Right-clicking gives users a list of choices, from the fundamental like Uninstall and Remove from list, to Search Google, Show the installation directory, and quick access to the app's Help file, its About screen, and an Update link.

Revo also provides some powerful tools. Advanced mode adds program-specific Registry key access to the context menu. The Tools Optimizer holds the Autorun Manager, Windows Tools access screen, and a Junk File finder/killer. The Autorun Manager provides one-stop shopping for startup tweaking. Windows Tools pulls together various and disparate basic utilities under one umbrella, and the Junk killer is just killer.

The Tools Tracks Cleaner accesses cache-cleaning features, include standard browser cache functions as well as crash memory dump files, MS Office cleaners, system-wide and program-specific search histories, and more. Another cool function is the Hunter, which offers click-and-drag uninstall and process-killing functionality. Revo and the way that it will revolutionize your uninstall workflow is hard to pass up.

Download Here:

Revo Uninstaller
Download.com

Outpost Firewall Free

2010-01-27T20:57:00.000-08:00

Agnitum Outpost is the first personal firewall for Windows developed with Open Architecture. The Open Development Process proved its efficiency with the development of the Internet and with Linux. No company can be as fast, flexible and innovative at enhancing a closed product as thousands of developers from different countries all working on an open one.

Agnitum Outpost is the first personal firewall that supports plug-ins. Sample plug-ins are included to show how this revolutionary technology can easily be employed for such tasks as Intrusion Detection, Advertisement Blocking, Content Filtering, E-mail Guard and Privacy Control.

Agnitum Outpost is equipped with every feature a personal firewall should have. It is the most functional firewall in the world. Outpost supports all the latest security techniques and features such as: Full Stealth Mode, Anti-Leak, and MD5 Authentication.

Although Agnitum Outpost is setting new standards in the firewall market, it looks like any Office application! It needs no configuration before using-it starts protecting your system as soon as it's installed.

Compatibility is no problem. Agnitum Outpost brings you peace of mind in any environment no matter what:

- Connection type you are using (dial-up, DSL, ISDN, Cable, T1 or Satellite).
- MS Windows version (95,98, 98SE, ME, NT, 2000, XP).
- Network (standalone PC, office network, home network, VPN or Microsoft Internet Connection Sharing).
- Application you are using (every browser and e-mail client, Web or FTP server, ICQ, IRC, Online Gaming and every other application imaginable) .

Download Here:

Outpost Firewall Free
Download.com

Google Earth

2010-01-27T05:44:00.000-08:00

The latest version of Google Earth continues to set the mapping paradigm. Accessible enough for casual users, Google has added features that make it a necessity for those whose topographic desires are more serious. Although Google Ocean is the big newsmaker in version 5, you can also check out the surface of our nearest neighbor, Mars, as well as incorporating historical Earth maps.

If you'll forgive the pun, the oceanic maps are pretty cool. They provide the capability to plunge to the floor of the sea, view exclusive content from the BBC and National Geographic, and explore shipwrecks like the Titanic in 3D. Exploring the Martian surface is limited to data provided from NASA, but that's not much of a limitation considering that it's unlikely that most of us will ever get to visit the Red Planet. Switching between Google Earth, Sky, and Mars can be done from the menubar or from the planet icon on the toolbar.

Most of the interface's real estate displays a rendering of the globe, which can zoom in on a satellite image of your destination once you've keyed it in. Controls live on a top toolbar and a left-side navigation window that lets you quickly jump between different views and locations. Google's Street View, real-time illumination of the Earth, roads, restaurants, and even crime statistics can be displayed. Smooth integration with Google's 3D rendering program SketchUp means that you can design buildings and see how they'd interact with their surroundings on the fly.

The only downside to the program is that it can consume a large amount of RAM, so older machines might experience performance issues, but even that can now be configured through the Options menu. Everyone else is bound to love Google Earth, both as an entertaining novelty and an informational tool.

Download Here:

Google Earth
Download.com

Kerio Personal Firewall

2010-01-26T21:50:00.000-08:00

Kerio Personal Firewall (KPF) protects PCs from Internet threats. KPF inspects both incoming and outgoing connections ensuring that only legitimate traffic is allowed. MD5 signatures are assigned to all applications to prevent Trojan horses from posing as a trusted application. Kernel monitoring prohibits installation of potentially dangerous kernel drivers that may bypass the firewall inspection.

KPF offers a remote administration, logging of suspicious activities, open connections overview and automated update checker.

Download Here:

Kerio Personal Firewall
Download.com

KPF - Last Free Version