Free Software Recommendations

The myriad software applications, tools and utilities available on the market today can be a little overwhelming to the average consumer. Are there reliable, free anti-malware (e.g. anti-virus, anti-spyware) programs? Is there a free alternative to MS Office? Can you download free software to optimize and speed up your PC? The answer to all of these questions is “yes!” You just need to know where to look.

I have comprised a list of several free programs that I have first-hand experience with and highly recommend. These programs are not just for those on a budget, but for those who are curious and just want to try something different. While some of these programs may not do “everything” that commercial software will do, most of them do a pretty good job. It is definitely worth a shot to give them a try. After all, you can’t beat the price and you just might be surprised with the results.

Anti-Malware
• Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
• SuperAntispyware

Anti-Virus software
• AVG
• Avast

PC Optimizers/Cleaners
• CCleaner
• ATF Cleaner

Productivity Suite (Nice Microsoft Office Alternative)
• Open Office

Photo/Graphics Editing
• Picasa
• Gimp

Sound Editor
• Audacity

FTP Client (Requires Firefox Web Browser)
• FireFTP

Email Client (Requires Firefox Web Browser – Yes, I love Firefox!!)
• Thunderbird

Remote PC Networking
• LogMeIn

Media Players
• VLC Player

These are just a few of the free programs that I have used. There are far too many to list in this article, but if you have any requests, please let me know what you are looking for and I’ll do my best to recommend additional software. You can also check out my website at www.toddkile.com for other tips and recommendations ... TK

Secure Your Email!!

2009 is here, ready or not. With a new year, expect new technology. With new technology, expect new security threats. It’s inevitable. No matter how hard you try to protect and secure your data at home or at work, some 15 year-old in Iowa will figure out a way to beat the system. While I can’t prevent hackers from stealing your data, I CAN give you some advice to better protect your data.

At the workplace, don't send critical files via email. Ask your IT staff if they can set up a secure FTP site. FTP is a fast, easy, and secure way to transmit files to your staff and clients. Most people at home don't have the luxury of FTP so they resort to email as the primary means of sending files.

If email is your only option for sending files, use encryption to protect your attachments. Here are few programs that will encrypt/password protect your email attachments.

1. WINZIP— Use WinZip to compress and password protect the files you attach to emails. You can purchase and download WinZip at www.winzip.com.

2. PGP— Is much more secure than WinZip. PGP is a very effective way to send secure files via email. Using encryption technology, PGP only allows the intended recipient of the email to open the attachment which make it an ideal solution very very critical files sent at the workplace.
To learn more about PGP, go to www.pgp.com.

3. GPG - Is a FREE alternative to PGP, but has a little bit of a learning curve. You can't beat the price, though. Check it out at www.gnupg.org.

I can't stress enough how important it is to secure your data. Sending files with critical information through email in an “unprotected state” is very dangerous. Don't wait until your data is compromised before you decide to take action. I've seen first-hand what can happen when important emails are intercepted and the consequences can be dire.

TK