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• Free of spyware, malware, and other nasties
  
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• Widely used, easily operated, quickly learned and genuinely useful (some would say 'Essential!")

When used in concert with the 'default' programs already built in to Windows XP and Vista, our Top IDF50 Downloads will make your system much more versatile and keep it in tip-top shape.

TIP: You should always update all downloaded programs immediately after installation and regularly thereafter.

We encourage you to submit program suggestions via the Computer Room forums, but please - they must meet the above-mentioned crite.

Moderators: Kasapres,Gazman, (with special thanks to Dr. Mac)
Last update: February 14, 2008

End-It-All2
To avoid potential conflicts and freeze ups, you should always close down as many running programs and/or processes as possible before installing or uninstalling programs or performing system maintenance (including Scandisks or Defrags etc).
End-It-All2 makes doing so a very easy "three-click" operation
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,298888,00.asp

End-It-All1
This less powerful alternative to EndItAll2 closes down fewer running processes and lacks the "Kill programs" option of EndItAll2 (above) but still does an adequate job of minimizing potential conflicts....making it a better alternative for more timid users.
Direct-to-download link:http://tinyurl.com/4cln8

Note: For more details about EndItAll, see Dr.Macs Computer Clinic 5 and 6.
Please note that the pictures included therein refer to Version 1.

Disk Cleaner
This excellent utility clears much of the performance-slowing junk, left-overs and other detritus from your system drives.
Note: Be sure to download the version that has ALL the plug-ins.
http://www.diskcleaner.nl/

Full "how to use it" details are in Computer Clinic 15.

RegSeeker
Over time, your computer registry accumulates a lot of junk which, if left unattended, may lead to a variety of problems.
Regseeker includes a powerful and comprehensive registry cleaner, program uninstaller, start menu editor and several other rather useful features
(I especially like their 'Tweak' section).
Tip: Once you have downloaded and opened the folder, just copy the .exe icon/file directly to your desktop via Right click> Send to> Desktop....Create Shortcut
Tip: Make sure you review all the items it finds and that you tick the 'Backup before deletion' option (lower left corner) before deleting anything. Then, should any critical files get tossed with the bathwater, you'll be able to restore them.
http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm

RegCleaner
This less powerful alternative to Regseeker may be more suitable for our more timid users and comes with several similarly useful and informative features (like the uninstaller and the 'Installed Programs' lists
http://www.worldstart.com/weekly-download/archives/reg-cleaner4.3.htm

Note: You are STRONGLY advised to study Computer Clinic 30 thoroughly BEFORE using Regseeker or RegCleaner!

CCleaner
This great little workhorse frees up valuable hard disk space, helps to protect your privacy and generally optimizes your systems performance by removing much of the junk, temp files, usage tracks and other detritus left behind during your online activities and normal everyday computing.
This is one program no computer user should be without.
http://www.ccleaner.com/



MailWasher
Ever wish you could separate out the spam and junkmail before it clogs up your Inbox?
This invaluable program allows you to decide whether or not that incoming e-mail item is from a 'Friend' and should be allowed through - or to block, 'blacklist' and/or delete it while it is still on the ISP server - before it hits your system.
Mailwasher learns as it goes, remembering your selections and 'tagging' future arrivals accordingly.
It even identifies some of the junk mail for you!
http://www.mailwasher.net/

Note:There are several versions of Mailwasher available, each offering different features and capabilities. Some versions handle both POP and Hotmail-type account access, others allow multiple e-mail accounts.
Ask in the IDF Computer Room forums which version is the best option for you.

Tip: Avoid using the 'Bounce' feature since this simply adds to online congestion and really doesn't deter spammers from targetting your address.

AnalogX 'POW'
This tiny and simple to use program blocks those annoying 'pop-up' or 'pop-under' ads before they show up on your screen. You can keep the lists up-to-date by adding to or editing the 'blocked items' list as new ads present themselves.
http://www.download.com/AnalogX-POW/3000-7786_4-10032281.html

AnalogX 'CookieWall'
This similarly tiny and easy-to-use program from the same developers as 'Pop-Up Blocker (above) compiles an ongoing yet revisable lists of 'good' and the 'bad' cookies and can be set to automatically 'Block', 'Allow', 'Delete' or 'Prompt' you to designate new cookies as they arrive. http://www.snapfiles.com/get/cookiewall.html

Cookie Spy
CookieSpy builds a reference list of all cookies delivered to your system while you are online. You can then choose which cookies to keep, block, allow or delete.
Often used in conjunction with DiskCleaner (above), CookieSpy can be very enlightening as to who is sending you cookies when, and from which websites or pages.

Note: Many cookies are harmless and may even be necessary to properly access or view some web pages.
The latest version of CookieSpy includes a cookie blocker and a very strong cookie cleaner. Please be extra careful when selecting which cookies to allow or to deny.
http://camtech2000.net/Pages/Cookie_Spy_SE.htm

Download Express
Should you be unlucky enough to have your internet connection severed half way through a download, your 'built-in' Windows download manager will leave you and your download high and dry.
Download Express will RESUME a download right where it left off (or was cut off) so you'll avoid having stacks of 'partially' downloaded files cluttering up your hard drive (and threatening to conflict with later attempts to download or install new items).
For Download Express "how to's", see Dr. Macs Clinic 25.
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/dlexpress.html

Winzip
The smaller the file, the faster it loads....and 'zipping' is the most common means of shrinking 'em.
With Winzip, you'll be able to 'unzip' the zipped items you receive and/or zip (compress) then send or store your files without affecting their quality or content.
Note: Although this download is labeled as an 'evaluation' version, you can use it indefinitely (for 'personal use').
http://www.winzip.com/linkfpp.cgi

AVG - Anti-Viral Grisoft
AVG quickly became the "official" free anti-viral program for IDF50.
To ensure your defences are always strong and secure, AVG offers frequent, regular and free 'signature file' updates

Note: Although there are complete usage details in Dr. Macs Computer Clinics 9, 10, 11, 12 and 21, these clinics have NOT yet been updated to include all latest versions of AVG nor their relation to Windows XP and Vista.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/2/ Also note that the Clinic sections devoted to the AVG 'Rescue Disks' are no longer valid.
(Sorry folks. We just can't keep up with all the changes as quickly as we'd like.)

SpyBot Search and Destroy

When it's 'signature' files are kept up-to-date, this popular and comprehensive malware scanner targets most known worms, trojans, adware, BHOs, spyware and other nasties - then scours them from your system.
The latest versions of SpyBot S&D also include the 'Immunize' (spyware and browser-hijack blocking) and 'Secure Deletion' components.
Teamed with AdAware (below) or other complementary scanner program(s), SpyBot S&D may be an important part of your first line of defence in the ongoing war against hackers and other internet ne-er-do-wells.
Download here: http://security.kolla.de/
Tutorials Here:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=43

http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=tutorial

Ad-Aware
When kept properly updated and partnered with SpyBot S&D (above), AdAware will target, quarantine, 'heal' or remove most known types of malware.
Full details are in Computer Clinic 17
http://www.lavasoft.de/

Avast Anti-Virus
This 'new favourite' alternative to the AVG anti-virus program includes an integrated real time ('resident') e-mail and download scanner.
The Avast 'safe room' feature known as the ''Virus Chest'' provides a contained and virus-free environment in which you can safely open your more sensitive files
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

Superantispyware
This well-featured and increasingly popular anti-spyware program boasts both real time ('resident') blocking and a comprehensive, configurable, schedulable and multi-dimensional scanning engine.
Oh--and it can even fix broken internet connections.
http://www.superantispyware.com/

Spyware Blaster
This small, unobtrusive, yet efficient program sits quietly in the background, preventing the installation of ActiveX-based spyware, adware, browser hijackers, dialers, and other nasty bits from getting a toe hold. It also blocks spyware and tracking cookies in both Internet Explorer and Mozilla/Firefox browsers ttp://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

A-Squared
Although A-Squared does not have a 'resident scanner' or real-time blocking capabilities, this efficient and essential addition to your arsenal thoroughly scours your system for trojans, spyware, adware, worms, keyloggers, rootkits, dialers and other rogue file types - then either quarantines, 'heals' or removes them at your behest
Tip: Check out the 'HiJackFree' system analysis tool on the same download page.
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/

Threatfire
This well-featured, easy to use and immediately effective bit of software is designed to complement the average consumer's exisitng anti-virus programs.
The built-in real time ('resident') scanner identifies and blocks most viruses, worms, trojans, spyware, adware, rootkits, keyloggers, and buffer overflows.
And, because it is tracks suspicious behaviour rather than simply checking for known 'signatures', ThreatFire protects against both known and unknown (or 'zero-day') malware threats.
http://www.freewarezoom.com/archives/threatfire

Comodo Firewall Pro
A firewall is supposed to hide your computer from all those ne'er-do-well net skulkers who would do it harm.
Comodo Firewall Pro is a full-featured yet easy-to-use firewall bundle that completely obscures your internet connections from prying eyes. This highly-rated, increasingly popular, and easily configurable program (which now includes a secondary resident scanner/blocker called 'Defence Plus') automatically 'learns' and remembers your online activities and preferences.
http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

Zone Alarm
Although ZoneAlarm uses decidedly more resources than most other firewalls, the developers of this easily-configured, progressively-featured, 'tried and true' program provide frequent, regular and free updates and upgrades.
http://filehippo.com/download_zonealarm_free/

Note: Even the best security program will only be reliable if kept properly up-to-date and no single anti-malware program should be expected to prevent, detect or otherwise protect against all possible types of malware.
You would be very well advised to deploy a suitable combination of programs for your specific needs and to use any available or built-in automatic updating features to ensure that your defences keep pace with the rapid and ever-changing onslaught of increasingly nasty malware.

PowerPoint Viewer
This much-less-expensive (aka: 'FREE') alternative lets you view all Powerpoint-type presentations.
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Office-tools/Other-Office-Tools/PowerPoint-Viewer.shtml

Note: Once installed, both Wordviewer and Powerpoint Viewer will automatically associate themselves with the appropriate file types.

Note: There are several versions of both WordViewer and Powerpoint Veiwer available from the MS download site. Select the one(s) best suited to your system requirements.

Foxit Reader
This much less bloated and tidier alternative to the Adobe Acrobat Reader opens your .pdf files quickly and easily.
http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php

Irfanview
This extremely versatile and exceptionally well-designed image manipulation, graphics editing and multi-media handling program is loaded with such an extensive collection of tools, features and capabilities that it easily eclipses many of the expensive, store-bought, 'professional' alternatives.
On top of all that, you can expand Irfanview's already enormous feature-set even further by downloading the "All plug-ins" module and perusing the extensive list of tutorials available at the main site.

Note: Install the plug-ins only after you have installed the main program.
http://irfanview.com

Jet Audio 7
This multi-featured media player will easily accommdate almost every popular Audio and Video format - both static and streaming - with crystal clear sound reproduction and video handling capabilities which are second to none. The intuitive interface is both sleek and skinnable and an ever-growing list of features which already includes tag and image editors, multi-channel output, audio and video recorder with normalization, playlist editor, format converter, CD ripper and burning module, 6 band equalizer and broadcasting capabilities - to mention just a few)
This truly is the 'Swiss Army knife' of media players.
http://www.cowonamerica.com/products/jetaudio/

Frostwire
This free file-sharing P2P (peer to peer) alternative to LimeWire PRO boasts 'firewall-to-firewall' filtered through a dedicated junk filter.
Because it connects simultaneously to multiple hosts or sources over several file-sharing networks, Frostwire downloads most typically shared formats with turbo-charged speed.
Since it is an 'open-source project' (which already includes community chat rooms, iTunes integration, BitTorrent and Proxy support), Frostwire comes bundled with with absolutely no spyware, adware, malware, junkware, or banner ads.
http://www.frostwire.com/

Audacity
This free, easy-to-use audio editor and recorder handles most of the more popular formats including MP3, WAV, AIFF, AU and Ogg-Vorbis and is compatible with Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and other operating systems.
With Audacity, you can easily edit, split, copy, merge, slice or mix your sound files, record live audio, convert tapes, vinyl LPs and 'mic-audio' into digital recordings and CDs, change speed, pitch and tempo or add a myriad of different sound effects.
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/about/

CD Burner XP Pro
CdBurnerXP Pro is an excellent free application for burning all types of CDs and DVDs, including Blu-Ray and HD-DVDs on to CD-R, CD-RW, DVD+R/RW or DVD-R/RW disks.
It can burn audio, data and other ISO image CDS and will easily handle audio or DVD disks in .WAV, .MP3, .WMA and a multitude of other formats.
http://www.cdburnerxpsoft.info/uk/

Google
Looking for a program or file to download but can't find it here?
Google is regarded by many as one of the best - if not THE best - search engine in the world!
http://www.google.com/

Belarc Adviser
This excellent program scans your hard drive then produces a list of EVERYTHING you have on your computer! Make sure you don't overlook important programs when performing back-ups or reformatting your hard drive.
BelArc will also record those important serial numbers of your operating system and other installed programs.
http://www.belarc.com/

Searchy
Another search engine worth a look.
http://www.searchy.com

Mirago
Need a more UK-specific search engine??
http://www.mirago.co.uk/