- Ninite.com - Ninite is a website that lets users automatically install popular applications on their computer malware and toolbar free. It allows users to make a selection from a list of applications and bundles the selection into a single installer for hands free installation. This is a fabulous website I use it all the time.
This is the exact order I install applications after a fresh install of Windows. A must have on all my personal computers.
- Start Up Monitor - Start Up Monitor is a small utility that runs transparently and notifies you when any program registers itself to run at system startup. It prevents annoying programs from registering themselves behind your back. I have this on every computer in my house - it is a must. Although not stated at the website,I have Start Up Monitor running on Vista and Window 7 - 32 and 64 bit systems.
- Microsoft Security Essentials - I use Microsoft Security Essentials to guard against viruses, spyware, and other evil software. It provides real-time protection for your home or small business PCs. Microsoft Security Essentials is free and it is simple to install and easy to use. It runs quietly and efficiently in the background. Say goodbye to Norton and McAfee.
- Fences - Clean and organize your desktop by creating shaded areas (Fences) which become movable and sizable containers for your icons. Makes for a nice clean desktop.
- CutePDF - Stop wasting paper and just print your document or web page using CutePDF Writer. CutePDF will create a digital copy of your document in PDF format. Then, if that day every comes that you absolutely, and positively need that document in your hand - you can print it from your digital copy, but please don't print it and file it.
- Thunderbird - Thunderbird is a free email application that's easy to set up and customize - I personally have to have Thunderbird or Outlook on my computer because I hate internet email applications. Thunderbird is a great alternative if you don't have Microsoft Outlook.
- SyncBack - SyncBack free is a freeware program that helps you easily backup and synchronize your files to the same drive, a different drive or medium (CDRW, CompactFlash, etc), an FTP server, a Network, or a Zip archive.Backup is a must.
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Here are some free tools I personally use to remove Virus, Malware, Spyware, and other malicious programs from infected computers in my shop.
- Malwarebytes - Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free utilizes Malwarebytes powerful technology to detect and remove all traces of malware including worms, trojans, rootkits, rogues, dialers, spyware and more. Malwarebytes and Superantispyware is my first one-two punch on all infected machines.
- SUPERAntiSpyware - SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition is 100% Free and will detect and remove thousands of Spyware, Adware, Malware, Trojans, KeyLoggers, Dialers, Hi-Jackers, and Worms. SUPERAntiSpyware features many unique and powerful technologies and removes spyware threats that other applications fail to remove. I also use the free portable version from Safe Mode when Windows will not boot because of infections.
- CCleaner - CCleaner is the number-one tool for cleaning your Windows PC. It protects your privacy online and makes your computer faster and more secure. If the infected computer will let me I run CCleaner first to remove a lot of debris from computer before scanning with Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware.
- UVK - Ultra Virus Killer - Ultra Virus Killer, also known as UVK, is a free and portable application designed to help users detect and remove malware. The strength of this application is not just its ability to help you remove the offending malware, but repair the damaged Windows install afterwards. Nice all in one tool.
- Tweaking.com - Windows Repair (All In One) at Tweaking.com is an all-in-one repair tool to help fix a large majority of known Windows problems including registry errors and file permissions as well as issues with Internet Explorer, Windows Update, Windows Firewall and more. Malware and installed programs can modify your default settings. With Tweaking.com - Windows Repair you can restore Windows original settings. This is a great tool that fixes a lot of stuff that gets broken during an infected PC's repair.
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Here are some more free antivirus applications I recommend.
- AVIRA - Avira Free Antivirus is not only one of the worlds most popular basic virus scanners, it's also the easiest to use. It takes just two clicks to install and configure this free program that effectively removes adware, rootkits and other malware.
- AVG - Virus FREE 2012 - Anti-virus protection that automatically updates to protect you from continually evolving threats. As hackers develop new techniques, AVG's research labs are constantly processing web data to provide new defenses to keep you automatically protected.
Here are some more free maintenance tools for your PC that I recommend.
- CrystalDiskInfo - A HDD/SSD utility software which supports S.M.A.R.T. and a part of USB-HDD. Great utility to see how healthy your hard drive is.
- FileHippo Update Checker - The Update Checker will scan your computer for installed software, check the versions and then send this information to FileHippo.com to see if there are any newer releases. The results are then neatly displayed in your browser for you to download. Great little program to keep your PC running efficiently.There is no need to update all suggestions, but all major applications should be up to date for security reasons.