Utility: CCleaner Enhancer

I found this the other day and it works well. It's suprising what CCleaner doesn't remove by default. This little app will "boost" it's cleaning ability and can add up to 500 more programs to the CCleaner list.  

It's free, very easy to use, requires no installation and can be found here: http://thewebatom.net/software/ccenhancer/

I'm using it on Win7/64 and the latest version of CCleaner with great results.

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"Security" :VirusTotal, now with plugins for Firefox, Chrome and IE.

Virustotal is a service that analyzes suspicious files and URLs and facilitates the quick detection of viruses, worms, trojans, and all kinds of malware detected by antivirus engines.

http://www.virustotal.com/about.html

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"Security - Link Scanner"

AVG Link Scanner 2012 - dl link: http://download.cnet.com/AVG-LinkScanner-Free-Edition-2012/3000-2144_4-10610872.html

Size: 40.2 Mb. 

Pros: Will scan and notify by colored icon after a link if it is safe or not. Easily understood. Updates itself. Mac version available. c|net provides a dedicated forum for Q&A, problems with the software: http://forums.cnet.com/avg-forum/

Cons: From c|net so beware any future "wrapping". Currently none. "Safe" can be a false negative. Works by collecting data. Beware it wanting to change your default search page/engine. Beware it 'offers' a Tool Bar "to increase security". Beware it will collect info from your computer if you do not "un-check" that also. Pay attention during the installation process. Green flags on Google indicate a result is safe to click through to, while Yahoo-safe results display no flags. 

OS: XP,Vista, W7 and Mac. 

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Great idea! I'll be watching this thread!!  Thanks Doc!

I didn't know that you call reply other than posting a software link.  I agree with RnD, excellent thread, thanks to all those who made it happen. 

Filemanager

Unreal Commander

The best filemanager I've ever used. Back in the day I used Windows Commander which changed its name to Total Commander. Eventually it stopped working and I searched for a filemanager roundup. Unreal Commander gotted among the highest scores (possibly the highest), it works like Total Commander and I've stayed with it.

Using it on Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1.

Pros: LOTS of customization options available (just like Total Commander). Choose a color theme or make your own!

Cons: Seems to be a hobbyproject. Isn't at v.1.0 yet (but it has never crashed).

I pity the n00b who believes everything (s)he reads on the internetz.

 Gadget: 7 Sidebar Gadget.

Ok, so it's not an app, call it a mini-app.  I find it useful and use it every day. I like my sidebar gadgets and missed having a "parking space" for them. (as in Vista if anyone remembers that OS)   I also missed the WindowBlind skins for the sidebar. This replaced it plus extras.

You can check it out here: http://nes.bplaced.net/sidebar7.html

Pros: This gadget also has window management and for you graphically inclined out there, it can be easily skinned (29 are included) or you can run it  without a skin at all. It allows for width adjustment,  l/r screen placement as well as monitor selection and has multi-languge support.

Cons, if you want to call it one: With Aero glass enabled Windows 7 resembles Vista.

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"Anti-spyware"

Threatfire

"Behavioral, real time" anti-spyare to be used in addition to your other program/s for layered protection.

Pros: Excellent for new, and zero-day threats. low resource (10 Mb) usage. Free. Low "false positive" rate with excellent "true positive" detection and isolation. "on demand" root kit scanning.

Cons: Won't install nor work if computer is in "Safe" mode. Do not install until full antiviral/antimalware scan of computer done.

OS: XP, 2000, 2003, Vista. W7.

Current Version: 4.7.0  Size: 8.59 MB. Maker: PCTools 

Software conflicts: Possible competition slow downs if using another "real time" antiviral scanner. Support only for paid "Pro" version.

Download link:  http://www.threatfire.com/download/

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This is a bit off-topic, but I'm running a few threads in the forums at Skinnalicious concerning free software. I usually post at least one a day. (If anybody's interested, I also do one on guitars, and there's one called Skinning Stories that has autobiographies by people like Adni18, Messiah1, sViz, etc.).

FREE UTILITIES:                     http://www.skinnalicious.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?viewmode=flat&type=&topic_id=10&forum=5

APP: Cool Timer

Cool little timer that can be configured to count up or down in many ways. I use it to time many things and the alarm is quite loud.

http://www.harmonyhollow.net/cool_timer.shtml

MalwareBytes    (www.malwarebytes.org/)

This thing (the freeware version, though there's also a paid one with realtime protection) cleared up a really annoying browser hijacker that Spybot and AdAware seemed unable to locate and deal with.

Note: When I was infected with the browser hijacker, it was devious enough to notice my search for MalwareBytes and to redirect that search to its own (presumably full of malware) download page!  So if you're already infected, be careful.

"Image Viewer/Manipulation"

"XnView"

Pros: Free, very long list of features, >400 file types supported, plugins at the site. http://www.xnview.com/en/features.html

Cons: Few if any.

Download: http://www.xnview.com/en/download.html

Excellent image viewer and manipulator. Fully recommended. Supports all Windows. Portable available.

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Marked.

"Notebook, Organizer, Sharing App"

"Evernote"

Pros: Free. Evernote helps you remember everything-and by everything.

Cons: Haven't found any yet! 

Support: The service's webapp, desktop apps for Windows and Mac OS, mobile apps for iPhone and iPad, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7, and even WebOS.

Evernote can help you take notes, save them, tag them with a location, create and organize notebooks, and share them anywhere you are and on any device you happen to have on you. Evernote is great for taking notes and organizing them. It's just as good at letting you capture, scan, and save objects in real life, clip web pages you browse, and share them.

Download: http://www.evernote.com/

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"System Utility"

"System Explorer"

Link to article about this killer app: https://forums.wincustomize.com/411749

Pros: Free, smal;l app. Very powerful, great interface.

Cons: Should have an instruction manual.

Dl link: http://download.cnet.com/System-Explorer/3000-2094_4-10784281.html?tag=nl.e784 which redirects to:

http://systemexplorer.net/download/1315258295-b95df9f8dd516de931aacd1f3ec8a0ea/SystemExplorerSetup_308.exe

which is kosher. 

Maker's Website: http://systemexplorer.net/index.php

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