PC Help Forums recommended Software

Anti-Virus Software:

Free versions:

• Microsoft Security Essentials
  
• Bitdefender ... Win 7, 8, 8.1 (not fully compatible with Win10 yet)
  

Paid versions:

• Eset Nod32 Antivirus
  
• Emsisoft AntiMalware
  
• Kaspersky
  

Anti Malware:

• Malwarebytes 3 (Free..after trial and Premium)
  
• Zemana AntiMalware .... Fully functional 15-day trial. Zemana AntiMalware is a cloud based malware scanner that provides excellent malware detection, quick scans, and easy malware removal.
  

Browser AdBlockers:

• Ad Muncher ....Blocks ads and pop up windows in all browsers.
  
• Adblock Plus .... Can block tracking, malware domains, banners, pop-ups and video ads
  
• uBlock Origin for Firefox .... .... It doesn’t just block ads but also tracking mechanisms and known malware sites.
  
• uBlock Origin for Chrome .... .... It doesn’t just block ads but also tracking mechanisms and known malware sites.
  
• uBlock Origin (Preview) for Edge .... It doesn’t just block ads but also tracking mechanisms and known malware sites.
  

Anti AdWare

• Unchecky .... Automatically unchecks unrelated offers in 'free' software.
  
• AdwCleaner ....Searches for and deletes Adware, Toolbars, Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUP), and browser Hijackers from your computer.
  

Anti Keylogger

• KeyScrambler Free .... Encrypts your keystrokes in a wide variety of supported programs, so you can avoid tracking by keylogging software
  
• Zemana AntiLogger ....Fully functional 15-day trial. Protects your computer from keyloggers by encrypting your keystrokes.
  

Alternative Browsers:

• Firefox
  
• Google Chrome
  
• Opera
  
• Pale Moon
  
• Vivaldi Browser
  

Password Managers:

Free versions:

• Last Pass .... Save your passwords and keep everything organized in your LastPass vault
  
• KeePass .... Open source password manager, which helps you to manage your passwords in a secure way.
  
• LogmeOnce
  
• Dashlane
  

Paid versions:

• LogmeOnce Professional/Ultimate
  
• Dashlane Premium
  

Burning Software:

• Cd Burner XP Pro .... Burn CDs, DVDs, Blu-Ray and HD-DVDs. It also includes the feature to burn and create ISOs.
  
• IMGburn .... A lightweight CD / DVD / HD DVD / Blu-ray burning application
  
• Ashampoo Burning Studio FREE .... Burn files and folders, Creates CD, DVD and Blu-ray data discs.
  
• BurnCDCC .... This utility is used to burn an ISO file to a CD/DVD/BD disc. Many new systems come with a limited CD/DVD software package that lacks the ability to burn ISO files.
  

Partitioning and Formatting:

Free versions:

• EaseUS Partition Master
  
• Paragon Partition Master .... Organize and optimize your hard disk with Create-, Resize-, Format- and Delete partition Wizards
  

Paid versions:

• EaseUS Partition Master Professional
  
• Partition Commander .... Create, modify, merge, resize, move and restore your partitions.
  

Backup Software:

Free versions:

• Macrium Reflect Free .... Disk cloning and imaging solution.
  
• EaseUs Todo Backup Free .... Back up partitions, restore partitions & individual files.
  

Paid versions:

• Macrium Reflect Home Edition .... File & folder backup, Password protection, Support Essentials, Disk cloning and imaging solution.
  
• Argentum Backup .... Backup your documents and folders, both manually and automatically.
  
• EaseUs Todo Backup Home
  

Startup Control:

Free versions:

• WinPatrol .... Monitors pc for browser hijackings, malware attacks and critical changes made to your
  computer without your permission.
  
• AutoRuns .... Comprehensive 'startup' monitoring and configuration utility.
  

Paid versions:

• WinPatrol
  

Uninstall Utilities:

Free versions:

• Revo Uninstaller .... free version only works on 32bit systems
  

Paid versions:

• Revo Uninstaller Professional .... fully compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows Server
  

System Stats:

Free versions:

• Speccy ....Need to find out what’s inside your computer? Speccy has all the information you need!
  
• Process Explorer .... System monitoring utility useful for tracking down resource problems.
  
• Belarc Advisor .... Builds a detailed profile of installed software and hardware, missing security patches and anti-virus status.
  
• Crucial Scanner .... Will analyze your system's hardware and provide a list of compatible upgrades.
  

Paid versions:

• Speccy .... Same as free version, but with Advanced PC insights, Automatic updates and Premium support
  

System Cleaning:

Free versions:

• CCleaner .... Clean potentially unwanted files (including temporary internet files).
  
• TFC by OldTimer ....A small utility that will clean out all the folders on your computer that house temporary files. (Win 7, 8, 8.1 (not compatible with Win10)
  

Paid versions:

• CCleaner Pro
  

File Recovery:

Free versions:

• Recuva
  
• EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
  

Paid Versions:

• Recuva Professional
  
• Recover My Files
  
• EaseUS data recovery software
  

Harddrive Erasers:

Free versions:

• Hard Drive Eraser .... Destroys ALL data on your hard drive, once for all.
  
• Kill Disc
  
• Disc Wipe .... Application for permanent volume data destruction.
  

Paid Versions:

• Kill Disc
  

Defragmentation Tools:

Free versions:

• Defraggler .... Defrag entire hard drives or individual files.
  
• Auslogics Free Disk Defragmenter
  
• Puran Defrag
  

Paid versions:

• Auslogics Disk Defrag Pro
  
• Diskeeper
  

PDF Reader:

• Foxit Reader
  
• Adobe Acrobat Reader ... Unclick the optional offer of installing McAfee Security Scan and True Key™ by Intel Security before clicking Install now.
  

Memory Test: (often called RAM test software)

• Memtest86 .... Stand alone memory testing software for 32Bit computers.
  

Productivity:

• Apache OpenOffice .... Open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases, etc.
  
• Kingsoft Office (WPS Office 2016 Free) .... A powerful office suite which includes a word processor, a spreadsheet program and a presentation maker.
  
• LibreOffice .... A powerful office suite, includes several applications that make it the most powerful Free and Open Source office suite on the market.
  

Audio/Video:

• VLC for Windows
  
• RealPlayer
  
• DivX Player
  
• Voicemeeter ..... A Virtual Audio Mixer ....To mix your voice and video game audio on Skype and more
  

File Compression:

Free versions:

• 7-Zip
  

Paid versions:

• WinZip
  
• WinRAR
  

System Monitoring:

Free versions:

• Speed Fan .... Will read the temperatures of your motherboard and your hard disk, read voltages and fan speeds etc.
  
• HWMonitor .... Hardware monitoring program that reads PC systems main health sensors
  

Paid versions:

• HWMonitor Pro .... Extended version of HWMonitor