The Best Free Downloads In The World

Though my job is to discover new things technology can do to make life easier, I am a creature of habit. I rarely deviate from using the same few programs and applications. Just like when I was 7 and my mom finally convinced me to try broccoli again, sometimes branching out from a comfort zone can lead to wonderful discoveries. This week and next, I'm suggesting some downloadable programs that are worth taste testing. In my opinion, these are the best free downloads in the world.

#1 Download: Google Chrome.  If you're still surfing the net using the old, familiar Internet Explorer that came loaded on your Windows machine, it's time to graduate to Google Chrome. It's fast and less vulnerable to virus attacks than Internet Explorer (and websites look better on Google Chrome, so you will actually enjoy a higher quality internet experience). Chrome will import your settings from the browser you're using now, and it's intuitive, so it won't take long to get used to. If you rely on the login info and passwords you've saved in your browser to get into sites you frequent, it will even import cookies, temporary Internet files and saved passwords. Google Chrome is our favorite browser, and it definitely deserves to rank first place on our list of the world's best downloads!

#2 Download: Crash Plan. (disclaimer, Crash Plan offers a one month free trial, and after the trial is over, you will have to pay. So, why did we add it to our list of the World's Best FREE Downloads? Mostly because it's prices are so low, it's almost free, keep reading to find out more) We all know we should have an automatic data backup process to protect data that would be hard or impossible to replace in the event of system failure, but most of us figure we'll take care of it tomorrow -- just like flossing. If tomorrow has turned into never, Code 42's CrashPlan is a super-easy system to set up, I promise. You can schedule automatic backups to another computer, external hard drive, or -- for prices starting at $1.50 a month per computer -- to its remote server. Though you may hesitate to consider the cloud backup option, keep in mind that fire or theft could imperil your computer and backup simultaneously if they are in the same location. Downloading Crash Plan can save you a lot of heart ache in a "worst case senario" situation.

#3 Download: VLC Player.  If you've seethed about compatibility issues while trying to get a video to play with Windows Media Player, you may love me for introducing you to VLC, a free multimedia player that will handle just about any type of video or audio file. It's from VideoLAN Project, part of the open-source community, so fixes and improvements are released quickly and regularly. In my opinion, VLC is the best media free media player you can download.

#4 Download: Skype.  Even if you've never checked out the video-chat capabilities of Skype, I'd bet you know someone who uses it. Since it's free, consider installing it to cut back on your long-distance or cell-minute use for those long calls to your friend in London or grandma in Des Moines. If you have kids, try video chat. You'll be amazed by how much easier it is for them to connect with the person on the other end of the call when they can see them. This is especially great if you ever have to travel without the kids.

#5 Download: Recuva. There's nothing like the flood of panic when you realize you've accidentally deleted the most up-to-date version of the report you need to turn in to your boss tomorrow. If you've already installed Recuva, from Piriform, the software often can recover the missing document for you. You don't have anything to lose with this free application. It's a great tool in case of emergency, and your stomach will thank you.

Stay tuned next week for more of the world's best free downloads. If you have any questions about our list of free downloads, send me a note through my contact form.

5 Easy Steps To A Clean Computer

A Clean Computer In 5 Easy Steps

Long summer days with the kids downloading all manner of Internet sludge has likely left your computer with the technology equivalent of a hangover. Before you give in to your kids' pleas to replace your old reliable, try a few simple things to help you get back to a clean computer. After all, your computer needs to run smoothly for schoolwork (at least until winter break).

Clean Computer Tip #1 Run your antivirus and antispyware:

I know, I know, you're probably tired of me saying it. However, when the kids have been wreaking havoc on your system all summer, it's highly likely that viruses and spyware are slowing it down.One of the best suggestions to help your computer is to run regular and through virus scans, bu before you click "Run Scan" and assume all is good, make sure you download the most current updates. If your protection programs have expired, consider downloading Microsoft's free all-in-one solution, Microsoft Security Essentials (www.microsoft.com/en-us/security_essentials/). Once you've installed it, it will automatically update itself and run regular scans without much more interaction from you. The best protection is the one you can forget you have.

Clean Computer Tip #2 Remove unwanted programs:

Your teenager may think the program he installed to download and share music with his friends is imperative, but I bet you don't need it running in the background slowing down your system. Go to your control panel's "Add or Remove Programs" option to remove programs that have mysteriously popped up over the summer.

Clean Computer Tip #4 Activate parental controls:

Both Windows 7 & Windows Vista operating systems have embedded parental control options that will allow you to limit your child's screen time and control Internet access and downloads.

Clean Computer Tip #5 Install a Firewall:

One of the most reliable ways to help your computer, is to install a hardware firewall. Most users access the Internet through some sort of broadband connection (cable and DSL are the most common). While they're far speedier than dial-up Internet access, the lines also let malicious software more easily access and attack your system if you don't install some sort of firewall on the connection. Windows has a software firewall you can (and should) activate. But a better line of defense is to also install a hardware version.

Installing a basic router will adequately protect most home-based users. Make sure that it's configured per the manufacturer's recommendations, that you change the router's default password settings and that you keep the firmware updated.

If your kids protest these measures, tell them they'll have to make it through high school without Internet access. I would love to hear any other clean computer suggestions that you have tried. Drop a note in the comments below.


[transcript]
Hi, I'm Ryan from Nerds on Call, and today we're going to talk about securing your PC.

I've said it a million times, run your anti-virus and your anti-spyware. If you don't have one, go to Microsoft.com and download Microsoft Security Essentials. It's free, it's easy to use, and it'll run in the background and not take up a lot of resources.

Next, you're going to want to remove unwanted programs. Now, they do more than just take up space on your hard drive. A lot of times, different programs have security risks. For example, you ever wonder why Microsoft Office always needs an update? It's because people find different ways to exploit problems in their code in order to attack your system. So, you want to go through and clean out programs you don't ever use.

Next, you're going to want to set up user accounts. Don't ever run as an administrator. Set up one administrator account, and then set up a different account for everyone else that's a limited user. The reason you want to so this is, one, you can customize your experience. Have different desktops, different program for every single user without anybody having to cross-infect anybody else if one person happens to download a virus.

Next, you want to activate parental controls in Windows 7. The reason you want to do this is because there's no reason why you want your kids going to some of those unwanted websites. And a lot of times, those are infected with all kinds of stuff, and all of a sudden your computer is running slow and not working right.

Last, you want to install a hardware firewall. Now, an unsecured connection like DSL or cable, that is perfect for hacker to use to attack other computers, and a lot of times you won't even know it's happening. Go down to the store and buy a cheap hardware firewall or a wireless router, and attach that to your system and you'll stay more protected.
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