Essential freeware for your notebook

Hi, this is my first comment in this new notebook forum. I though that I would share with you all the essential freeware software/utilities that any notebook owner should consider installing.

Anti-Virus Software
Antivirus tools are essential in protecting the host client from a multitude of viral, Trojan, and rootkit Internet threats. They also can also stop virus infestation from cross media file sharing. Antivirus is also essential as a secondary preventative Internet security solution beyond a firewall.

AVG Anti Virus Free Edition
AVG Free is the most popular free solution available at no cost to home users and provides the high level of detection capability that millions of users around the world trust to protect their computers.

Some of its key features are:

• Easy to use, low system resources
• Automatic update functionality
• Real-time protection as files are opened and programs are run
• AVG’s Virus Vault for the safe handling of infected files

Download this essential freeware from AVG Free Advisor - AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition

Anti-Spyware Software
Spyware is software that may display ads, collect your personal information, or change the settings of your computer without your consent.

In today's day and age everyone is at risk of losing their privacy and seriously damaging their computer because of spyware. So an anti-spyware is a must for all notebook owners.

Spyware Terminator
Spyware Terminator is a full-feature adware and spyware scanner with real-time protection that can remove or quarantine spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, home page hijackers and other malware threats. Spyware Terminator offers manual and scheduled scans as well as real-time protection.

Key Features of Spyware Terminator

• Free Spyware Removal
  Spyware Terminator scans your computer for known threats and reports findings that are easy to read and understand. Every entry is given a rating and a classification, which makes it very easy to decide if a detected item should be removed. Unlike some applications that only detect threats for free, Spyware Terminator will detect and remove all threats for free.
  
• Free Automatic Updates
  Spyware Terminator offers the ability to download and install free updates automatically. Users can specify how often to check for updates and how they are applied.
  
• Free Scheduled Scans
  Spyware Terminator can be scheduled to scan for spyware regularly to ensure computer integrity. Scans can be scheduled on either a daily or a weekly basis at any hour of the day.
  
• Free AntiVirus Integration
  For added security, Spyware Terminator includes the popular award-winning open-source antivirus, Clam AntiVirus (ClamAV) for free. Users can choose to integrate ClamAV into spyware scans, updates and real-time protection.
  
• Free Support
  Spyware Terminator users also enjoy free support which is provided through email and our public forum. Our highly qualified support team responds to all issues in a timely manner.
  
• Free for Personal & Commercial Use
• Spyware Terminator is licensed for free for both home and business use.

Download free spyware removal and protection program - Spyware Terminator

Personal Firewall
A firewall is simply a program or hardware device that filters the information coming through the Internet connection into your private network or computer system. If an incoming packet of information is flagged by the filters, it is not allowed through.

Comodo Firewall
Comodo Firewall is a personal firewall that filters ingoing and outgoing traffic on your computer. It alerts you of any applications that attempts to connect to the Internet and allows you to permanently or temporarily allow or block the connection.

Key Features of Comodo Frewall are:

• Complete protection from Hackers, Spyware, Trojans and Identity theft
• Host Intrusion Prevention System stops malware from being installed
• Clean PC Mode registers your current applications then will allow only applications that you approve to be installed on your computer
• Malware Scan Feature checks your computer for viruses, spyware and trojans before you install Comodo Firewall Pro
• Free Download. No charges or license fees ever.

Download Comodo Firewall

Office Suite
DOn't own MS Office, no problem OpenOffice.org suite is here. OpenOffice.org is both a fully-featured office suite compatible with leading office products like MS Office.

OpenOffice.org
OpenOffice.org suite contains five applications: the Writer word processor, Calc spreadsheet, Impress presentations program, Base database program, and Math equation editor. OpenOffice .org uses an XML-based file format by default, but it opens and saves files in MS Office format seamlessly, without special prompts or warnings.

Anyone who doesn't want to pay Microsoft's premium prices for rarely used features may prefer this free suite. It does mostly everything that typical users need it to do, and does some things better than MS Office.

Download OpenOffice.org

File Archiver/Zip Utility
Remember the times when RAR was the only archiver with graphical interface and its main competitors were command line ZIP and ARJ. In order to use these for creating a multi volume archive you had to go through a real adventure and write a command line. Those days are gone and most archivers use a friendly interface to make our lives easier.

One of the best ones is 7-Zip
7-Zip is a free archiver that can face commercial ones like WinZip without breaking a sweat.

The main features of 7-Zip

• High compression ratio in new 7z format with LZMA compression
• Supported formats:
• Packing / unpacking: 7z, ZIP, GZIP, BZIP2 and TAR
• Unpacking only: RAR, CAB, ISO, ARJ, LZH, CHM, MSI, WIM, Z, CPIO, RPM, DEB and NSIS
• For ZIP and GZIP formats, 7-Zip provides a compression ratio that is 2-10 % better than the ratio provided by PKZip and WinZip
• Strong AES-256 encryption in 7z and ZIP formats
• Self-extracting capability for 7z format
• Integration with Windows Shell
• Powerful File Manager
• Powerful command line version
• Plugin for FAR Manager
• Localizations for 69 languages

You can use 7-Zip on any computer, including a computer in a commercial organization. You don't need to register or pay for 7-Zip.

Download 7-Zip

I would also like to add:

Best Free Web Browser

Mozilla Firefox

Best Free Email Client

Thunderbird