Free Stuff
for Home PC Users

Productivity

Verisign Personal Identity Portal

In addition to offering OpenID logon credentials (which can be used across multiples sites, if supported), Verisign offers 2 GB of FREE secure storage space. Verisign's first priority is security. They know encryption as well as anyone. So, if you're looking for a free online spot to safely store important files, this is a good first stop.

Google Docs

A free, basic-functionality, document creation suite available via the Web. If you have basic needs to create, edit, share, and store documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, this is a nice free alternative set of tools. It won't replace Microsoft Office in business settings, but it's a good start.

PrimoPDF

PrimoPDF's free PDF writer enables you to create PDF files directly from Microsoft Word and other applications. It's easy to use and creates nice looking PDF docs.

Web Communications

LogMeIn

LogMeIn gives you free remote access to your computer from anywhere. It's very easy to setup and very cool. You just logon to the LogMeIn web site from anywhere and it opens a screen allowing you to see and work within your PC.

Himachi VPN

Hamachi provides a free, instant, secure VPN. It enables you to immediately share files as if you're connected on a network with computers across the internet.

DimDim

DimDim provides FREE web conferencing for up to 20 participants. Share your desktop, show slides, chat, talk, and broadcast - all free.

InstantConference

InstantConference provides FREE audio (phone) conferencing for up to 150 participants. If you need to have a phone meeting with a large group, this might be the way to go. Web Conferencing also coming soon.

Skype

You should already know about Skype. It enables free over-the-web phone calling to anywhere in the world. You can either use your PC (with a headset) or you can purchase a Skype phone (like this one or this one) that will work over your home's WiFi network. You can even do free video calling if you have a web cam setup (or get this).

ooVoo

Some are calling this "the next Skype". ooVoo offers free video chat and three-party video conferencing from your PC to anywhere in the world.

PC Utilities

FoxIt

FoxIt is a fast and free PDF reader. If you're tired of waiting for Adobe Acrobat Reader to open up PDF files, try FoxIt. It's much faster, smaller to download and install, and also free.

IrfanView

A fast, easy, solid photo viewer that views many photo file formats. It gives you a thumbnail view or photo-by-photo view with easy to use zoom tools.
Also See: FastStone Viewer

VLC Viewer

VLC Viewer is a very small and quick application that views many video file formats. It's easy to use, straight forward, and free.

Computer Security

AVG

AVG provides a proven, free, antivirus package.

ZoneAlarm

ZoneAlarm provides a free personal firewall for your PC. Among other things, a personal firewall protects you against software installed on your machine communicating over the web without your permission.

KeePass

KeePass is a free, easy to use, and very secure password management solution. If you still write your three dozen passwords on paper, this tool might make your life easier. You can take it with you, noone can get access to your passwords, and it'll even auto-type your passwords for you.
Also See: PasswordSafe

LastPass

LastPass is a free online service that stores your passwords and account information for numerous sites and applications in a central web-accessible location. Also provides auto-logon from your browser simplifying your browsing experience.

Prio

Prio is an add-on to Windows Task Manager that makes it easy to track processes and related performance.

OpenDNS

OpenDNS isn't exactly software (as far as you need to know). The Internet uses DNS servers to find the location of the web sites that you enter into your browser. You type [www.google.com]. Your computer uses DNS to translate that into a numeric address [72.14.207.99] and the request is routed based on that number. Typically you would use the DNS server provided by your ISP (Comcast, Verizon, AT&T) but OpenDNS may be faster, more secure, and more reliable.
Also see: Google DNS and the GRC DNS Benchmark tool.

TruCrypt

Free, powerful, secure encryption solution for personal use.

Steganos LockNote

LockNote is a self-contained program that is encrypted by password and behaves like Windows Notepad. So, you can use it to maintain notes, passwords, bank account info, or any other information that you'd like to keep encrypted. Extremely easy to use and free.

Microsoft SysInternals ProcessExplorer

ProcessExplorer is a very advanced tool for understanding what processes are running on your PC. Also in the SysInternals toolkit is AutoRuns, which helps you identify and control what is running on your PC and other, more advanced tools.

PC Maintenance

CCleaner

CCLeaner is a free system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space.

SpaceMonger

This cool little utility gives you a visual view into how your hard drive is being used. It'll help you find large files that you no longer need so you can do some cleanup.

Defraggler

Defraggler is a free disk defragmenter that also works on individual files. Perhaps better than the built-in Windows Disk Defragmenter.