TOP of 2014

TOP of 2014

Windowssecrets.com

The Windows Secrets Top 10 utilities

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

• • Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (free/paid)

  • Secunia Personal Software Inspector (free; application updating service)

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

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

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

  • Foxit Reader (free/paid; PDF reader/creator)

  • VideoLAN VLC media player (free)

  • IObit Start Menu 8 (free; start-menu replacement for Windows 8)

  • IrfanView (free; image editor)

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

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)

  • Parted Magic (paid; partitioning, erasing, rescue)

  • EaseUS Partition Master (free/paid)

Mobility

• • Softpedia CoreTemp (free)

  • Softpedia MobileMeter (free)

  • SpeedFan (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

• • MythicsoftAgent Ransack (free)

  • Avanquest PowerDesk Pro (paid)

  • Copernic (free/paid; desktop search)

  • DOSBox (free; MS-DOS emulator)

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

  • 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

• • NoScript (free; Script blocker for Firefox)

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

Encryption

• • Boxcryptor (free/paid; not recommended on Win8)

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)

  • Microsoft Safety & Security Center page (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)

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