Beginner’s SIG – Free for the Taking
1. Zone Alarm http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp
2. Adaware http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/
3. Spybot http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/
( These three topics above were presented by Gael Miller, February 23, 2006
And titled Protecting your Computer with Free Downloads, in the Beginner’s SIG Archives)
4. WordWeb http://wordweb.info/free/
5. StripMail http://www.snapfiles.com/get/stripmail.html
6. Picasa http://picasa.google.com/download/index.html
7. AVG http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1
8. Belarc Advisor http://www.belarc.com
(Belarc also presented by Doug Willoughby in Monday Meeting Archives, May 1, 2006
The goal of this workshop is to familiarize you with the download process by demonstrating the complete download steps, give a brief description of the above programs, and provide demonstrations of any of the above programs requested.
Steps to download a utility from the web.
1. Find the download button or link. Click on it.
2. If you are asked to Run the utility or Save it, choose Save. (Keep a Utilities folder on your desktop and save it to that location.)
3. Run a Virus check on the file (usually a .exe file) Right Click the file, choose Scan with …
4. If it is virus free, double click the .exe file to begin the installation.
5. You may be asked if you want a shortcut on the desktop (OK it you will be using it frequently.
6. You may be asked if you want this in the Startup Menu. Answer NO except for AVG. This slows down the boot process.
7. Let the install do its thing. Usually you will not have to do anything except accept the EULA – End User License Agreement.
What they do.
1. Zone Alarm – firewall –
a. Prevents hackers from entering your computer while you are on line.
b. Notifies you when you are trying to access the web.
c. Permanently allows or denies access to the web by certain applications from your computer.
d. Does not need to be updated.
2. Ad-aware - by Lavasoft
a. Checks for Trojans, key loggers, malware, browser hijackers and cookies on your computer.
b. Must be regularly run manually or automatically scheduled to run when the computer is on.
c. Must be updated manually for new detector definitions.
d. Allows you to quarantine and delete any of the above in #1.
e. Not to be confused with NoAdaware which is not recommended.
3. SpyBot Search and Destroy – similar to Ad-aware.
a. Removes or blocks spyware or browser hijackers before they get into your computer.
b. Must be regularly run manually or scheduled to run automatically when computer is on.
c. Must be updated manually for new Spyware detectors.
d. Allows you to quarantine or delete infections.
4. WordWeb – a dictionary, speller, thesauraus.
a. Can be used while typing documents without leaving the document.
b. Simple to use.
5. Strip Mail – Cleans up e-mail which has been forwarded forever
a. Removes extraneous characters (^).
b. Reformats lines that are badly divided.
c. Easily changes the copy in e-mail you forward to be neat and clean.
6. Picasa – manages photos
a. Catalogs your photos by date.
b. Provides for some editing features, for printing photos and viewing slide shows.
c. Allows large photos to be resized smaller for e-mail. With some e-mail programs, this can be done without making a duplicate photo, keeping your hard drive uncluttered.
7. AVG – Anti Virus program
a. Should be running all the time.
b. Warns of a virus trying to establish itself on your computer or a suspected virus on incoming and outgoing e-mail.
c. Automatically regularly downloads new virus definitions and checks your computer for any new resident viruses when the computer is on.
Additional Freebies.
1. Bit Defender – eliminates spyware from your computer
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
2. ccleaner – short for Crap Cleaner – self descriptive – cleans up your computer
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/
3. Cute Writer and Converter – create pdf documents
http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp
must download both cute writer and converter
4. Google Earth – a close up satellite view of any location
http://earth.google.com/downloads.html
5. Spell Check for Outlook Express when you don’t have Microsoft Word
http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/2038
6. Windows Defender – can speed up your computer by cleaning up unnecessary files, pop ups, and spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
Presented by Barbara Resnick