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Geek Stuff
Here's the stuff that might interest those
of us who are geeks at heart. I know I can't be the only one out there
who gets excited at the prospect of a new gadget.
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Anti-Malware |
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The following are
anti-malware (malware = malicious software) programmes that I have used and do
use myself. There are other such programmes out there, but I have learned the
hard way that not all of these are legitimate. While they may well find
parasites, they are parasites themselves, which is why some of the programmes
below will identify other so-called anti-malware programmes as being malware.
Also remember that if
you use a P2P programme (peer-to-peer) such as Frostwire, Limewire or Shareaza, these are
often identified as parasites. This is because they create a vulnerability in
your computer - but Frostwire, Limewire and Shareaza don't actually contain malware. Others
such as BearShare, Kazaa, and the like, do contain bundled software. An
alternative to these programmes is Deepnet Explorer web browser. It is Internet
Explorer-based and has built-in file sharing (Gnutella network). The version I
have, I have found to be malware-free.
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Ad-Aware |
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One of the best-known malware
detection and removal tools. Free. |
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CW Shredder |
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Get rid
of Cool Web Search. Free. |
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Hijack This! |
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A POWERFUL tool that, when used incorrectly, has the potential to screw
up your computer - but it's this
tool that enabled me to regain control over my PC again. I love it. Just
be careful and remember: when in doubt, do nought. Free. |
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McAfee
Stinger |
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A free
stand-alone tool to detect specific viruses. Is not an antivirus
programme. |
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Microsoft AntiSpy |
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Free
detection and removal tool from Micro$oft, based on the Giant AntiSpy
programme. Can also be obtained from
Major Geeks. |
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Microsoft
Malicious Software Removal Tool |
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The name
says it all, really. Free. :)
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Security Task Manager |
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While this programme doesn't remove malware per se, it DOES identify
hidden processes that you otherwise wouldn't be able to pinpoint. I have
found this programme to be absolutely invaluable. Ever tried to delete a
malware file manually only to be told that "file cannot be deleted - in
use by another programme" - yet try as you might, you can't find the
process on your Task Manager? Security Task Manager was what enabled me
to locate, terminate and ultimately remove parasites that I didn't want.
You can also quarantine processes if you're not sure of them, and a risk
rating of each process is given. If you purchase the programme (after
your trial period expires) you also get a free copy of Spy Protector. |
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Spy Subtract |
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Malware
detection and removal tool. Includes CW Shredder on the Pro version, but
CW is available free of charge separately if you wish. |
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Spy
Sweeper |
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An
excellent malware detection and removal tool. You will need to pay for
this, but there is a free trial.
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Spyware
Blaster |
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A tool to prevent malware from
installing in the first place. This is not a detection or removal tool.
Free. Check out their
downloads page
for more utilities. |
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Spyware Doctor
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Free trial. |
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WinPatrol |
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WinPatrol
protects your computer from malware, worms, trojans, etc., There is a
free version and a plus version.
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X-Cleaner -
Online scan |
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An online
scan and malware removal tool. |
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X-Cleaner - The programme |
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A really
handy tool that cleans your tracks and helps maintain your privacy. |
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XP AntiSpy |
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XP
AntiSpy is a free utility that allows you to disable some built-in
update and authetication 'features' in Windows XP. |
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Yahoo! Toolbar with AntiSpy |
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Free programme that I installed,
then went into Program Files and found the AntiSpy programme, moved it
elsewhere and then uninstalled the toolbar (which I didn't need). Yahoo! AnitSpy (based on Pest Patrol) works fine. :) |
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a2 - a Squared |
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Malware detection and removal
tool. Free. |
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Chat Clients |
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Yahoo! with gaim offering an alternative to more than just Yahoo. I have all of
these programmes and have found them to be free of malware, and overall very
good alternatives to standard Yahoo! chat (including bottomless iggy bins - you
can ignore as many people as you like!). |
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gaim |
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gaim is a multi-protocol
messenger that accommodates Yahoo!, MSN, Jabber, AOL, GMail Messenger
(via Jabber) and others. You
can log in multiple IDs at once. It has chat logging, display picture
and other features like "buddy pounce" that alert you when a friend
comes online. It's free. |
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Trillian |
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Trillian is a
free multi-protocol instant messenger that is free of malware. It
enables you to log in simultaneously with as many IDs as you want. It
accommodates Yahoo!, AOL, MSN, and ICQ. There is a pro version that you
need to pay for, and that has the additional protocol of Jabber/Gmail
Messenger. It has chat logging, display picture, voice chat and more.
You can also find plug-ins at the Trillian website, including plug-ins
for "original" Yahoo! (and other) chat programmes' emoticon sets.
The way to enter a Yahoo! chatroom isn't obvious, but it can be done.
When you sign in, under your contact list, you'll see coloured dots
(depending on which IDs you have logged in). Red is for Yahoo - click on
this and then choose a logged in Yahoo ID from the drop-down menu. When
you choose an ID, another menu appears - choose the option to join a
chatroom. |
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Y!mLite |
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Another great alternative to
ordinary Yahoo! Messenger, though I personally have found YahELite to be
more stable. Y!mLite however, is much nicer to look at. |
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YahELite |
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A fantastic alternative to Yahoo!
Messenger - no ads, custom auto-reply messages, wildcard ignore
feature... It's free. |
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YaZak |
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Another alternative to Yahoo! Messenger.
On a par with YahElite and Y!mLite. |
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Download Managers |
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FreeDownloadManager |
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This is the
only TRULY free download manager that I've found that works well and
doesn't have malware. I love it. All other "free" download managers
that I've found so far that don't contain malware, aren't truly free -
every single one of them had restrictions of some sort, whether it was
just a "free trial" of the software, or you could only download a
limited number of files at a time. Not the case with FreeDownloadManager.
It really IS free. |
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Download Sites |
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Please note that despite my own positive experiences with some of the
following sites, you should still scan everything you download with an
anti-virus programme, and you should still do a bit of research on
anything you're planning on installing. I find that using Google and
entering the name of the programme followed by the word "malware" will
turn up information on dodgy files. Also search the technical support
sites listed further down and see what people there have to say. |
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Download.com (aka
CNet) |
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All sorts of
downloads. There's some great stuff here. They guarantee that they
screen all their downloads for malware before they make them available
to the public. You can read their comments
here. I've personally never had any problems with anything
downloaded from this site. |
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File Hippo |
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More great
stuff. |
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Major Geeks |
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I LOVE this
site! It has so many groovy gadgets and heaps of free stuff. It truly is
a nerd's paradise. They also have HEAPS of anti-malware tools and all
sorts of doo-dads to help keep your computer healthy. |
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TuCows |
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Lots of
downloads of all sorts. Freeware, shareware, paid software and (yuck!)
adware. But hey, you can just choose not to download it if it contains
malware. At least they tell you.
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Softpedia |
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An encyclopedia
of downloadable software. My favourite thing about this site is that
they tell you if a download doesn't contain malware. If you don't see
their certification, you know there's a chance it has gremlins in it. |
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Security |
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Antivirus Programmes and
Firewalls
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AVG AntiVirus |
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AVG provide a free antivirus programme
for home users. |
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Avast! AntiVirus |
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Antivirus that I have found to be excellent. Home edition is FREE.
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Kaspersky |
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Free online virus scan. |
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Nod32 |
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Not free, but has won "best anti-virus"
numerous times - four years in a row in Australia. |
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Panda AntiVirus |
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Antivirus with anti-malware features
built in. This is not free, but Panda does provide a
free online virus scan which I have found to be quite good. |
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Sygate |
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Free firewall for personal use |
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ZoneAlarm |
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ZoneAlarm has a home version firewall that's free. |
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Virus Removal Tools
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Simple Database |
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AZZ CardFile |
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I spent AGES
searching for a simple database that I could use to record information
about bill payments, friends' details, quotes, links - virtually
anything I wanted, all in one place. There were lots of programmes out
there that cost $100 and more, and none were what I needed. Then I found
AZZ CardFile. This one has a fully-functional free trial. The only
"catch" is that it comes up with a "register now" message and shuts down
at random. However, it saves before shutting down and only takes a
moment to reboot. So if you don't want to pay the whopping $19 US to
register it, you only stand to lose about two seconds each time it does
this. |
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Web Browsers |
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Avant Browser |
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Tabbed browing based on Internet
Explorer. If you find you can't log in on some sites using Mozilla or
Firefox, but still want tabbed browsing, try this. It's free, and has no
malware. |
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Deepnet
Explorer |
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Tabbed browsing based on Internet Explorer, and also
includes a comprehensive news search, as well as built-in peer-to-peer
file sharing on the Gnutella network. I have this programme and have
been unable to find any malware. |
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Maxthon |
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Another
tabbed browser based on IE with various skins and plug-ins available,
including a plug-in that enables the right-click feature that some sites
disable. Free, and free of malware, too. |
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Mozilla Firefox |
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Alternative to Internet Explorer
- more secure, has tabbed browsing, pop up blocker and more - and it's
free, and has no malware. |
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Opera |
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Mozilla-based tabbed web browser.
Free. No malware. |
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Slim Browser |
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Internet Explorer-based tabbed
browser. Free. No malware to my knowledge. |
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