The Windows Secrets' top utilities

The Windows Secrets' top utilities

When we set up a new PC, here are the first 10 utilities we install.

• Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (free/paid)

• Dropbox (free/paid; cloud storage/file synching)

  • Piriform CCleaner (free/paid; diagnostics and repair)

• 7-Zip (free; file compression/encryption)

• KeePass Password Safe (free; see excellent alternatives below)

• VideoLAN VLC media player (free)

• Skype (free/paid; Web-based communications)

• Notepad ++

Diagnostics and repair

Total system

• ITSTH WhatsMyComputerDoing (free)

• BillP Studios WinPatrol (free/paid)

Hard drive

• PassMark DiskCheckup (free/paid)

• Paragon Drive Copy 14 Pro (paid)

• Paragon Hard Disk Manager (paid)

• EFD Software HD Tune (free/paid)

• Paragon Alignment Tool (paid)

• Paragon Partition Manager (free/paid)

• EaseUS Partition Master (free/paid)

Mobility

• Softpedia CoreTemp (free)

• Softpedia MobileMeter (free)

• SpeedFan (free)

Other

• Nirsoft USBDeview (free)

Entertainment

Imaging applications

• GIMP (free)

• Greenshot (free; screen-capture tool)

• CodePlex Image Resizer (free)

• Mp3tag (free; music metatag editor)

• Paint.NET (free)

• PhotoFiltre (free)

General Utilities

• Mythicsoft Agent Ransack (free)

• Avanquest PowerDesk Pro (paid)

• Copernic (free/paid; desktop search)

• DOSBox (free; MS-DOS emulator)

• ISO Recorder (free)

• Nitro Pro (free trial/paid; PDF creator)

• Jujuba's PC Benchmark (free; Win8 performance tests)

• Pdfcrowd (free/paid; webpage-to-PDF conversion)

• Karen Kenworthy's Replicator (free).

• TechSmith Snagit (free trial/paid; screen capture)

• Microsoft SyncToy (free)

• TeamViewer (free trial/paid; remote access/control)

• Jam TreeSize Free

• Oracle VirtualBox (free)

Security

Browser addons

• Codefocus Donotlink (free; search-site privacy service)

• NoScript (free; Script blocker for Firefox)

• EFF Privacy Badger (Chrome and Firefox; free; helps block online tracking)

• Ove Self-Destructing Cookies (for Firefox; free; full-time cookie crusher)

Encryption

• Boxcryptor (free/paid; updated to support Windows 10)

• VeraCrypt (free/paid; the succesor to TrueCrypt)

Firewall checkers

• HackerWatch Probe (free)

• ShieldsUP (Gibson Research Corporation; free)

Networking

• Metageek inSSIDer (free)

On demand antivirus scanners

• ESET Online Virus Scanner (free)

• Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool (free)

• Microsoft Safety Scanner (free)

• Trend Micro HouseCall (free)

Online password checkers

• How secure is my password?

  • How big is your haystack? (Gibson Research Corporation; free)

• Password Meter (free)

Password recovery

• Offline registry tools and password resetter

Password vaults

• AgileBits 1Password (paid)

• LastPass (free/paid)

• Siber Systems RoboForm (free/paid)

Windows security

• Microsoft EMET(free)