All of the software we recommend is high-quality and free for personal use. Some of this software has reduced functionality if you are not using the paid version, but don’t worry. The only way it ended up on our list was if the free version was a superior product. If you know of something free and great on the web that is not in our list, please let us know about it.
1) Standard Security Software
- Microsoft Security Essentials: Great protection and easy to use.
This product cleanly integrates into your system and doesn’t nag you. It’s performance as a protective tool are nearly second-to-none. - Open DNS: Simple, clean, smart
Wouldn’t it be nice if someone researched infected sites and then stopped you from ever finding them in the first place? Here it is. Create a free account and use this service to safeguard your whole home from all sorts of bad sites!
2) Advanced Security Software
- Sandboxie: Simplest sandboxing application
This amazingly clever tool, lets you browse the web in a virtualized environment. Since virtualization is temporary, malware doesn’t matter. Want security? Then don’t surf the web without a sandbox. - WinPatrol (Cloud-edition): Host intrusion protection system (HIPS)
This is a dynamic system monitoring system that takes a snapshot of your critical system resources and alerts you to any changes that may occur without your knowledge. Very cool.
3) Alternative to standard security
- Comodo Antivirus: Top-of-the-line antivirus protection (we're testing this out).
Looks like a super-duper all-in-one tool. They even offer to pay for your service if you get an infection! We’ll keep you posted. :)
Fun and Educational
- Google Earth and Sky
Look at cars on the streets of New York, or check out the Forbidden City in China. Look at black holes and innumerable gigantic galaxies… - Physics Games
If your kids are going to play online games… they may as well learn about physics in the process. (The bridge building games are my favorites!) - TED: Ideas worth spreading.
Riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world.
Parental Control Software
- Open DNS: Simple, clean, smart
Wouldn’t it be nice if someone researched infected sites and then stopped you from ever finding them in the first place? Here it is. Create a free account and use this service to safeguard your whole home from all sorts of bad sites!
Utility Software
- Backup tool: FBackup
We use this routinely to automate backups to external hard drives and flash drives. If you want to backup your important data, this will help! - Office software: OpenOffice is equivalent to Microsoft's Word, Excel and PowerPoint… but free!
This will save you from having to buy Microsoft Office. This is enterprise level software. We use it daily. - Photo and video management: Picasa by Google
It makes photo organization, printing and manipulation easy and fun! Bryant uses this to organize his personal photos.
