Free software for work and play

iDump
iDump is a godsend to iPod users who are frustrated with not having enough control over the media files on their iPods. Users of the iPod are inherently unable to copy and store music files between their iPod and different computers with iTunes. This handy iPod hack will allow users to copy songs from an iPod to a PC just as they would copy any other file. It works for all iPod models excluding the new iPod Touch and iPhone. Users can install the iDump in three languages, English, Spanish and German, and periodically check for updates. The entire application exists in a single executable file, which can also be stored and run from users’ iPods or from whichever system that their iPod is connected to. Once an iPod is plugged in, the application will automatically detect it and list each song in a simple flex-grid type user interface, which integrates search filters. Users can specify a destination folder and file naming system for the songs they wish to copy or move. Songs can be sorted according to title, artist, release date, bit rate and iPod file path and even exported to a playlist in standard m3u format. iDump does have some stability issues; the first time it is installed, if an iPod is not plugged to the system, the application will crash. Understandably, it does not automatically re-synchronise songs with iTunes once they have been copied to the hard drive.

iDump
URL: www.codershole.com/downloads.php
OS: Windows 2000/ME/XP/Vista
File Size: 667 KB

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Xp Anti Spyware

Microsoft Windows is notorious for “bloatware” and this small tool helps you disable some of these unnecessary services and security features that are often unnecessary. Users can disable the annoying error reporting service that pops up as often as Windows crashes (which is quite often), the Windows Media Player update service, Windows Auto Update service, Remote Desktop Connection service and many more services that even Microsoft admits to being the cause of many security flaws. XP AntiSpy also supports Windows Vista. The user interface lists many potentially flawed features native to Windows XP and Vista. Moving the mouse cursor over the checklist items will display a description of the service, benefits or flaws and recommendations. Users can enable or disable the services and apply the changes across the operating system. The software has the potential to ensure that not a single piece of sensitive data on or about a user’s computer goes beyond its hard disk, including the seemingly innocuous automatic codec/license download for Windows Media Player files.

XP AntiSpy 3.96-6
URL: xpantispy.org
OS: Windows XP/Vista
File Size: 320kB

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Mail Washer Free

This is the perfect freeware tool for intermediate and skilled users to get rid of spam and viruses in e-mail before it reaches their inbox and helps protect their privacy. Suited to corporate users, people can manage their e-mails before downloading them and inadvertently triggering any unknown payloads. Instead of checking e-mails for malware or spam as it downloads, it pre-emptively checks mail on a range of servers, including POP3, IMAP and several Web-based e-mail hosts, allowing users to safely examine the contents of the e-mails, instruct the program on what is considered to be spam and passes valid e-mail. It even allows users to bounce back unwanted e-mail, so it appears as though the target e-mail address is no longer valid. MailWasher features blacklists, filters and basic anti-virus capabilities that can automate the task for its users.

MailWasher Free
URL: www.mailwasher.net/download/
OS: Windows NT/2000/9.x/Me/XP
File Size: 7.3MB

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GMail Drive

Despite rumours of free, high capacity, online storage from the people who first brought us Web-based e-mail by the gigabytes, the dot com giant has yet to introduce the service, While the service itself would be pleasant to use, why wait when hardcore e-mailers already have more than six-gigabyte Gmail accounts. Thanks to GMail Drive, users can use that Gmail account as a virtual drive right now. GMail Drive is not so much an application as it is an OS shell extension that turns a user’s Gmail account or Google Apps account into a complete virtual file system. While devoid of advanced features, it simply incorporates already-present file system manipulation capabilities of any preferred file explorer. The virtual file system is accessible from any preferred file explorer of choice and is displayed as just another drive on the system. Users can create new folders, copy, move, rename, delete files and folders and sort files according to name, extension, date etcetera. The first time the tool is run, it prompts users for a Gmail user name and password and offers basic security features when logging in, including options for proxy authentication and Secure HyperText Transfer Protocol (S-HTTP). The utility works by sending an e-mail attachment to a user’s Gmail account when a file is added, and trashes the associated e-mail when a file is deleted.

GMail Drive
URL: www.softpedia.com/progDownload/GMail-Drive-shell-extension-Download-15944.html
OS: Windows 2000/XP
File Size: 153kB

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Best Free Adware/Spyware/Scumware Remover

A couple of years ago most folks relied on "SpyBot Search and Destroy" and "Ad-Aware" for spyware protection. Alas, spyware has evolved so quickly that these once outstanding products are no longer up to the task of providing primary protection, although they remain useful as secondary on-demand scanners.
The new generation of malware requires a new generation of products which provide stronger active protection and broader spectrum detection. The best anti-spyware programs (WebRoot SpySweeper, Spyware Doctor and CounterSpy) are all commercial products, but there are three free products that we can recommend that provide real time protection.
The first is a special cut-down version of Spyware Doctor that's available as part of Google Pack, which is a bundle of free software offered by Google. Called "Spyware Doctor Starter Edition”, the cut-down version lacks the full array of real-time-protection monitors possessed by its commercial big brother, but it still offers some active protection along with full scan-and-remove capabilities, scheduled scans, and free signature file updates. And on the subject of signature files, it should be noted that the signature files in Spyware Doctor Starter Edition are neither as large nor as up-to-date as those in its commercial big brother.
Your second choice is Microsoft's Windows Defender. Defender is the latest reincarnation of the excellent Giant Anti-Spyware product that Microsoft purchased late in 2004. Based on my tests, Windows Defender is not as effective as its immediate predecessor, but it still has solid protective capability. I tested it on several drive-by download sites. Its multiple real-time monitors provided a reasonable (though by no means watertight) defense. It appears to be a little vulnerable to polymorphic malware in particular, and for this reason we suggest it should be used in combination with regular on-demand scans from the free AVG Anti-Spyware. Our other reservation about Windows Defender is that it consumes quite a lot of your processing power. If you have a modern PC this should not be a problem. However, older machines will definitely suffer a performance hit.
A third choice is Spyware Terminator. Unlike Spyware Doctor or Windows Defender, it works with all versions of Windows, so it's the stand-out choice for Windows 9x users. It's no slouch either. Like Windows Defender, it has strong active protection. Indeed, with it’s built in HIPS system that warns you of any unrecognized intruders, it has stronger protection against unknown threats than the Microsoft product. This was confirmed on some tests I ran on drive-by download sites where Spyware Terminator proved to be impregnable.
Spyware Terminator has its own spyware detection engine, and gives you the option of using a second engine based on the Open Source ClamWin anti-virus program. ClamAV is not the most effective AV scanner on the market, but it's certainly competent and the additional protection can only be a plus. On the downside, Spyware Terminator is slow to scan and can slow down your PC a tad, though not nearly as much as Windows Defender. We've also heard reports that support via their free forum is poor.
Choosing between Spyware Doctor Starter Edition, Windows Defender, and Spyware Terminator is not easy. The full commercial version of Spyware Doctor has outstanding detection, but the reduced signature file size and weak active protection in the free starter edition is a concern. Defender is heavy on resources but has reasonable active protection. Its detection, however, is mediocre.
As of today, we think that Spyware Terminator has the edge as the best balanced product of the three, but it's difficult to see how free products like this can remain viable, particularly in a high support product class such as anti-spyware.
However, if you use an anti-virus product with good, active protection, such as the free version of AntiVir, you may well be tempted to go with Spyware Doctor. It's a product which offers reasonably good detection and excellent removal capabilities, and it's backed by regular and reliable signature file updates. Note: Spyware Doctor Starter Edition can be obtained via the Google Pack, but you can get it as a stand-alone download.
If all you're looking for is a tool to scan for and remove spyware/adware, then you should definitely consider SUPERantispyware. Even though the free version provides only on-demand scans, it has a growing reputation as the one to use for detection and removal of hard-to-kill strains. It's also one of the few new products to be added to the well known Spywarewarrior trustworthy antispyware list.
Another product in the same mould (the free version provides only on-demand scanning) is Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware. Although it's very new, it has a fine reputation because the organization behind it is well known for being a strong supporter of the fight against spyware, and has in the past released other excellent freeware tools like RogueRemover Free.
Threatfire is a respected and efficient active scanner for malware, and can considerably enhance the effectiveness of protection tools already installed. However, you should approach Threatfire with caution. My own experience is that the active scanner can be too aggressive and may block legitimate programs (or in some cases, components) installing. I particularly found this to be the case with ATI graphics drivers, where Threatfire refused to allow the Catalyst Control Centre to install. I encountered similar random problems with other program installations, although the majority of mainstream software did not suffer. If you need the enhanced and aggressive protection level that I've described, then Threatfire is a good option.
Finally, there is a simple option that very few people are aware of already built into Windows. I can only vouch for this in XP (and presumably Vista), though it may exist in earlier versions. Go to the start button and choose "Run". Once there, type "MRT" (without the quotes) and press enter. This will load Windows built in Malicious Software Removal Tool. It isn't even close to dedicated malware removal tools, but since it's a part of the OS already, it certainly qualifies as free software.