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Freeware / Open Source

A list of useful, mostly free software and Web services. The list is long, I suggest doing a “CTRL + F” search to find something specific. W = Website or Web application.

Updated Dec. 12, 2009.

CONTENTS:
Security
Finance
Email
Office Suites / Operating Systems
Productivity
Password Managers / Generators
Domain Tools
Remote Access / Desktop Sharing
File and Disk Encryption
File Backup / Disk Imaging
System and Network Tools

SECURITY:

OpenDNS (W) – DNS service with optional content filtering

Google Public DNS (W) – DNS Service without content filtering

ESET Smart Security – Not free, but better

Microsoft Security Essentials – Free, use with Windows Firewall

HouseCall (W) – Trend Micro’s online security scan

F-Secure Online Scanner (W) – Online scan with removal

ESET Online Scanner (W) – ESET’s online scan

Norton Removal Tool – Uninstaller for all Norton products

Panda Cloud Antivirus – Free real-time antivirus

ThreatFire – Use in addition to signature based tools

PC Tools Firewall Plus – Free Firewall

Spyware Doctor – Two free versions, one part of Google Pack

PrevxCSI – Malware on-demand scanner

McAfee SiteAdvisor – Internet security plug-in

Web of Trust (WOT) – Internet security plug-in that uses user feedback

VerificationEngine – Website authentication tool

Trend Micro eMail ID – Webmail authentication plug-in

Sandboxie – Application virtualization

VirtualBox – Full virtualization product

Windows Virtual PC – Create virtual machines in Windows 7

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FINANCE:

Financial Fate – Financial planning software

Intuit Billing Manager (W) – Create and send invoices online

AnnualCreditReport.com (W) – free annual credit report

Trulia (W) – Real estate search

Zillow (W) – Another real estate search

Budget calculator (W) – Simple budget calculator

Investment returns calculator (W) – Return calculator

Inflation Calculator (W) – Online tool to visualize inflation

CD Calculator (W) – CD calculator

RetireAbilty (W) – Nationwide’s retirement planning calculator

Retire Secure Index (W) – Wells Fargo’s retirement planning calculator

myPlan Snapshot (W) – Fidelity’s retirement modeling calculator

Retirement Quickplan (W) – E-TRADE’s retirement planner

Mint (W) – Aggregate your finances

Buxfer (W) – Another money tracker

QuickBooks Simple Start – Free, basic accounting software

Google Checkout (W) – Checkout integration, free with an AdSense

Buy vs. Rent (W) – Online tool to calculate your breakpoint

How Americans Spend (W) – Consumption breakdown

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EMAIL:

Global Mail Exchange (W) – Webmail service

Thunderbird – Alternative to Outlook Express/Live Mail

Trend Micro eMail ID – Webmail verification plug-in

thawte Email Cert – Digitally sign and encrypt email

Comodo Email Cert – A 2nd option for email encryption

Lightning – Integrated calendar for Thunderbird

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OFFICE SUITES / OPERATING SYSTEMS:

Ajax 13 (W) – Simple Web based suite

Zoho Office Suite (W) – Another Web office suite

Google Docs (W) – Writer and spreadsheet

OpenOffice.org – Open source suite

Lotus Symphony – ODF based by IBM

Portable OpenOffice.org – An office suite for your thumb drive

Ubuntu – Linux based OS

openSUSE – Linux based OS

OpenSolaris – Open source Solaris OS

Wubi – Ubuntu installer

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PRODUCTIVITY:

GTD-Free (W) – To-do manager (“Getting Things Done”)

CreativePro Office (W) – An office management suite

Basecamp (W) – Collaboration, free for one project

Sosius (W) – Online sharing and collaboration

Huddle (W) – Collaboration, free for one project

Open Workbench – Open source alternative to MS Project

Gantt Project – Another project planner

Hypertable – Open source database

Open System Architect – System modeling application

Drop.io (W) – File sharing

Install Creator – Free installer application

Perforce – Configuration management (free for two users)

Celtx – Storyboards and scriptwriting

PlanningWiz (W) – Create and share floor plans

Google Apps (W) – Collaborate with your family or small business

Google Calendar (W) – Track, coordinate, and share your schedule

Sunbird – Mozilla’s desktop calendar

Foxit Reader – A better, faster PDF reader

CutePDF Writer – A quick “print to PDF” utility

Text Mining Tool – Convert anything into TXT

YouConvertIt (W) – Convert things into other things

Zamzar (W) – Convert PDF to DOC

Picasa – Free image editing software, including Web sharing

GIMP – Open source image manipulation program

Photoshop Express (W) – 2G online storage with basic editing tools

Gadwin PrintScreen – A free print screen alternative to SnagIt

Fireshot – Firefox extension for taking Web page screenshots

PortableApps – An entire suite of portable applications

Citebite (W) – Create direct links to text within a Web site

Geni (W) – Create your family tree

jMemorize – Flashcard management

ClassMarker (W) – Create hosted or embedded quizzes

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PASSWORD MANAGERS / GENERATORS:

KeePass Pasword Safe – Open source password manager

Clipperz (W) – Online password manager

GRC Password Generator – Online password generator

SafePasswd.com – Alternate online password generator

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DOMAIN TOOLS:

Aptana IDE – IDE

Microsoft Web Platform – Windows Web server, database, and other tools

FileZilla – Full-featured FTP client

Kampyle (W) – Collect, analyze and manage your website visitors’ feedback

DialogCentral (W) – Add an optional visitor feedback form to your site

Wordpress.org – Content publishing platform

Joomla! – Open source CMS

Magento – Open source shopping cart

Defensio – Comment spam management

Google Analytics (W) – Web site stats

Woopra – Web analytics software

Google Webmaster Tools (W) – Everything Google about your site

Yahoo! Site Explorer (W) – Everything Yahoo! about your site

Live Search Webmaster (W) – Everything Microsoft about your site

Live Search (W) – Add a Live Search box to your site

Yahoo! Search Builder (W) – Add Yahoo! search to your site

Google Site Search (W) – Add Google Search to your site

reCAPTCHA Mailhide (W) – Show a CAPTCHA before showing your Email address

Enkoder (W) – Convert email addresses into encrypted JavaScript code

Google Checkout (W) – Checkout integration, free with AdSense

Browsershots (W) – Screenshots of your site in different browsers

WhoisThisDomain – Small app to perform WHOIS queries

Domain Tools (W) – WHOIS and more

Favicon Editor (W) – Free favicons, plus editor

Color Sphere (W) – Assists with color selection

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REMOTE ACCESS / DESKTOP SHARING:

CrossLoop – Free desktop sharing tool, easy

TeamViewer – Another free desktop sharing tool

Fog Creek Copilot – Free on weekends

LogMeIn (W) – Remote access, free version

OpenVPN – Open source SSL VPN

dimdim (W) – Open source Web meeting service

Yuuguu (W) – Web meetings and desktop sharing

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FILE AND DISK ENCRYPTION:

TrueCrypt - Open source full disk encryption application

FreeOTFE – Disk encryption program for PCs and PDAs

EncryptOnClick – Folder and file encryption tool, portable

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FILE BACK-UP / DISK IMAGING:

Comodo Backup – Scheduled folder and file backup system

SyncBack Freeware – Free automated file backups

MozyHome Free (W) – Free remote, automated backups

SpiderOak (W) – Free remote backups, supports Linux

IDrive (W) – Another choice for free remote backups

DropBoks (W) – Very simple, not automated

Genie Backup Manager Pro – Not free, disk imaging and file backup software

DriveImage XML – Free disk imaging software

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SYSTEM / NETWORK TOOLS:

EASEUS Partition Manager – Disk partitioning utility

Axence NetTools Pro – Network scanning, security, and administration tools

Spiceworks – Network management and asset reporting

Darik’s Boot And Nuke – Bootable hard disk wiper

CCleaner – System cleaner

Sysinternals – system utilities and technical info

PageDefrag – Defrag your paging files

AutoRuns – Startup monitor

BGInfo – Displays system config/info as a background image

Process Monitor – Displays file system, registry, and process activity

SysInspector – A system analysis tool

Microsoft PowerToys for XP – A little suite of extra PC tools

ClearType Tuner – Manage your ClearType via the control panel

ClearType Tuner (W) – Manage your ClearType via the Web

Pandora Recovery – File recovery tool

Calibrize – Calibrate monitor colors

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