Below is a list of our favorite free software, some of the best software we use comes free through the hard work of dedicated coders and the open source community.
Firefox - All debates about security, memory use, or compatibility amongst the web browsers aside, Firefox can adapt to nearly anyone's browsing habits through a range of adaptations.Firefox can probably be what you want it to be. Put down the Internet Explorer and slowly back away into a better web life.
[Download] [Homepage]
7-Zip - The fix-all archiving/un-zipping program. It basically fills in all the gaps in your system's compression abilities. Multi-file RAR packages, Mac-formatted archives, and even ISO images can all be opened, and the right-click integration makes it all too easy to do so.
[Download] [Homepage]
ImgBurn - It does just about everything you can possibly do with a CD, DVD, Blu-Ray or HD-DVD disc, and the image files that make them. Use this instead of the software that came with your system or add-on disc drive, because it can make music discs, data backups, video DVDs, and other projects with grace and speed, and all for free.
[Download] [Homepage]
AVG Free Edition - the well-known antivirus protection tool. AVG Free is available free of charge to home users for the life of the product. Rapid virus database updates are available for the lifetime of the product, thereby providing the high level of detection capability that millions of users around the world trust to protect their computers.
[Download] [Homepage]
Spybot Search & Destroy - Just read through the list of what Spybot protects against—trackerware, info-tracking cookies, homepage hijackers, trojans, pop-up producers, keyloggers, advertising controllers—and you'll want to stop thinking about what a trip around the net leaves inside your system. Spybot is a tested and true veteran of the net annoyance wars, and has a support network of enthusiastic updaters.
[Download] [Homepage]
Ad-Aware - It somewhat crosses over with Spybot's protection, but if you (or a friend/relative) have a system that's regularly filled with mysterious, malicious stuff, it's never a bad idea to let Ad-Aware comb through and safely clean the cruft out.
[Download] [Homepage]
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware - A high performance anti-malware application that thoroughly removes even the most advanced malware and spyware. With one of the fastest, most effective quick scans and malware removal capabilities on the market, this program is the perfect addition to your PC's defenses.
[Download] [Homepage]
CCleaner - Freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. Additionally it contains a fully featured registry cleaner.
[Download] [Homepage]
PDFCreator - A free tool to create PDF files from nearly any Windows application. It installs a printer which you can use to print any document to pdf. This is one the handiest applications we use every day.
[Download] [Homepage]