Where To Download FREE & High-Quality Software Legally!

Ranked #20,638 in Computers & Electronics, #400,460 overall

Where To Download FREE & High-Quality Software Legally!

This lense will show you exactly where you can download free and high quality software to use legally! I am using these software myself and they are free from spyware, virus or any adware. Some are free for both personal and business use, some are for personal use or academic use only. Please refer to the software vendors' web site for more licensing information and how-to-use instructions if you need help!

I will be updating this list as I have more time. Trust me, I have more than enough information on getting free and legal software to even write an ebook about it. And with these information, I can easily save you tens, hundreds, thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars, especially if you use them for your business!

In my opinions, some free and legal software are even better than some paid software. Plus the fact that some paid software are so bloated with features that you do not even use or know how to use, and they take up additional download time for the software and they eat up more of your disk space and consume higher amount of memory and CPU power.

On the other hand, there are also some excellent software that I would like to learn more on how to use, and master them to create tutorials and contents to help others save time, money and headache. But these software costs money and as the Free Software Guy, I try not to buy paid software but I really love to own a copy of them. :)

And if I have saved you some money with the setting up of this squidoo page (which I definitely will because I have saved tons of it myself, especially software like anti-virus software which requires annual subscriptions), this is what you can do but they are OPTIONAL:

1. You can send me any amount of money via Paypal (only if you wish to) so that I can save them up and buy the desired software that I want. This is the list of software I will love to own now:

SnagIT from TechSmith.com

Camstasia from TechSmith.com

Dreamweaver from Adobe (there are many free web editors available but I just somehow seem to love Dreamweaver)

Well, if you are from TechSmith.com or Adobe and will like to give me a free copy, that will be wonderful!

2. I love Erdinger beer. If you wish to, you can buy me a pint of Erdinger.

3. Maybe sending me $ is not a good idea to you. So, what I ask of you now is to send some money to charities to help those who needs our help, ok? Any amount is up to you!

4. If you simply hate the fact that I am asking you to part with your money, then you can do this: Tell all your friends about this squidoo page and tell me push this page to the top 100 page on squidoo! :) 

I have put in my time to do up this page for you guys, so now you can do the same for me by telling others about it, ok?

Thank you for dropping by http://www.squidoo.com/freesoftwareguy !

Avast! 4 Home Edition

Anti-Virus Software

Download at http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

Award-winning free anti-virus software for home users!

Avast! 4 Home Edition is a complete antivirus solution, fully able to find computer viruses, to create and check the integrity of programs installed, to test executed programs and opened documents, to test and check email and other functions. Scanning is also available in the shell extension and screen server.

Some features are as follows:
- Antivirus kernel
- Automatic updates
- Simple User Interface
- Virus Chest
- Resident protection
- System integration
- P2P and IM Shields
- Integrated Virus Cleaner
- Network Shield
- Support for 64-bit Windows
- Web Shield
- Internationalization

Note: Avast! 4 Home Edition is designed exclusively for home users and non-commercial use. Both of these conditions should be met! Institutions (even non-commercial ones) are not allowed to use avast! Home Edition. However, ALWIL Software provides the full line of avast! antivirus products at special discount prices for non-profit, charity, educational and government institutions. Please check http://www.avast.com for more licensing information.

PC Tools AntiVirus 3.1 Free Edition

Anti-Virus Software

Download at http://www.pctools.com/free-antivirus

Scan and Protect your PC from Virus Attacks!

With PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition, you are protected against the most nefarious cyber-threats attempting to gain access to your PC and personal information. Going online without protection against the latest fast-spreading virus and worms, such as Netsky, Mytob and MyDoom, can result in infections within minutes.

Once infected, the virus will usually attempt to spread itself to your friends, family and associates by accessing your email contacts and networked PCs. The infection may also allow hackers to access files on your PC, use it to launch attacks against other computers and websites or to send mass SPAM email.

That's why PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition provides world-leading protection, with rapid database updates, OnGuard real-time protection and comprehensive system scanning to ensure your system remains safe and virus free. PC Tools products are trusted and used by millions of people everyday to protect their home and business computers against online threats.

Some feature highlights are as follows:
- Protects your PC as you are working, surfing and playing
- Detects, quarantines, disinfects and destroys Viruses, Trojans and Worms
- OnGuard protects your computer against threats in real-time
- Automatically checks for frequent updates against the latest threats

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition

Anti-Virus Software

Download at http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2

Protect your PC with FREE Anti-Virus software!

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition is a free anti-virus protection tool developed by GRISOFT for home use. Join the millions of satisfied customers worldwide who have downloaded the software and now enjoy the benefits of AVG Anti-Virus Free.

Note: AVG Anti-Virus Free is for private, non-commercial, single home computer use only. Use of AVG Anti-Virus Free within any organization or for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited. AVG Anti-Virus Free is absolutely not for use with any type of OEM bundling with SW, HW component or any service. Your use of AVG Anti-Virus Free shall be in accordance with and is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the AVG Anti-Virus Free License Agreement that accompanies AVG Anti-Virus Free.

Spybot Search & Destroy

Anti-Spyware Software

Download at http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Detect & remove lurking spyware on your computer!

Spybot - Search & Destroy detects and removes spyware, a relatively new kind of threat not yet covered by common anti-virus applications. Spyware silently tracks your surfing behaviour to create a marketing profile for you that is transmitted without your knowledge to the compilers and sold to advertising companies. If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you haven't intentionally installed, if your browser crashes inexplicably, or if your home page has been "hijacked" (or changed without your knowledge), your computer is most probably infected with spyware. Even if you don't see the symptoms, your computer may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging. Spybot-S&D is free, so there's no harm giving it a try to see if something has invaded your computer.

Spybot-S&D can also clean usage tracks, an interesting function if you share your computer with other users and don't want them to see what you have been working on. And for professional users, Spybot-S&D allows you to fix some registry inconsistencies and extended reports.

Ad-Aware Personal

Anti-Spyware Software

Download at http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php

Most popular anti-spyware software

Ad-Aware Personal remains the most popular anti-spyware product for computer users around the world, with nearly one million downloads every week. The free anti-spyware version provides you with advanced protection against spyware that secretly attaches and takes control of your computer, resulting in aggressive advertising pop-ups, sluggish computer activity, even identity theft through stolen bank details, passwords, and credit card account numbers. If you want real-time scanning capabilities, consider upgrading to Ad-Aware SE Plus for real-time protection against spyware, all the time!

The key features include:
- User-controlled spyware removal
- Customizable Scans
- Code Sequence Identification (CSI) technology
- Extensive Lavasoft Detection Database
- ADS scan
- Blocks browser hijackers
- Quarantine manager

There are many benefits when you use Ad-Aware Personal software. You are in control, ultimately deciding what you want on your computer. Many of our competitors automatically delete programs that you may actually want to keep (web toolbars, etc.).

Now you can surf the web safely, knowing your private information will remain private. Unprotected computers are an easy target for identity thieves.

Also, you can download all the music, videos and photos you want, knowing Ad-Aware is always watching and protecting you.

Harmful spyware that eat ups memory and steals bandwidth will be blocked, ensuring your home computer will run as smoothly as the day you bought it.

Easy-to-use installation and functions make securing your family's PC against spyware a breeze.

The extensive Lavasoft Definition File Library offers you high-level and up-to-date protection against the latest malware 'nasties'. It's as easy as clicking on the "Check for updates now" icon in your software.

Note: Ad-Aware SE Personal is not for commercial use.

SpywareBlaster

Anti-Spyware Software

Download at http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Prevent spyware installation on your computer

SpywareBlaster prevents the installation of spyware and other potentially unwanted software on your machines! And it is freeware. SpywareBlaster can help to keep your system spyware-free and secure, without interfering with the "good side" of the web.

As you know, spyware, adware, browser hijackers, and dialers are some of the fastest-growing threats on the Internet today.

By simply browsing to a web page, you could find your computer to be the brand-new host of one of these unwanted fiends!

The most important step you can take is to secure your system now. And SpywareBlaster is the most powerful protection program available. Unlike other programs, SpywareBlaster does not have to remain running in the background and it helps to protect you in the following:

- Prevent the installation of ActiveX-based spyware, adware, browser hijackers, dialers, and other potentially unwanted software.
- Block spyware/tracking cookies in Internet Explorer and Mozilla/Firefox.
- Restrict the actions of potentially unwanted sites in Internet Explorer.

Note: SpywareBlaster is free software for personal and educational use. For more information, please visit http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

SpamFighter

Anti-Spam Software

Download at http://www.spamfighter.com

Spam Filter for Outlook and Express, Windows Mail and Servers

If you are looking for a tool to remove spam from your inbox, Spamfighter is the tool you are looking for. Spamfighter is using the power of 3+ million people that instantly report if they receive a spam mail. When several people have reported the same spam mail, it's automatically filtered for the rest of the Spamfighters. In this way very few people will ever see the spam mail. On top of that a lot of spam is filtered before it ever hits the community.

SPAMfighter Standard is a free tool for Outlook, Outlook Express and Windows Mail that automatically and efficiently filters spam and phishing fraud.

Whenever new mail arrives, it will automatically be tested by SPAMfighter. If it's spam, it will be instantly moved to your spam folder. If you receive a spam mail that is not detected, click on a single button, and the spam mail is removed from the rest of the 3+ millions SPAMfighters in 214 countries/areas in seconds.

Cactus Spam Filter

Anti-Spam Software

Download at http://www.codeode.com/spamfilter/index.html

Easy-To-Use Spam Blocker

Cactus Spam Filter is a free easy-to-use spam blocker. It protects your inbox by learning to detect spam as it is being used. After a short while it has adapted to your personal mailbox and blocks out most of the junk e-mail. Since the filter becomes personal, spammers will not be able to fool it.

Even though this is a brutal, merciless spam killer, no e-mails will get lost unless you delete them. Installation is very simple. No setup is required in your e-mail client; this spam stopper integrates seamlessly with all e-mail clients that use POP3.

It has been successfully tested with Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Outlook Express, Netscape, Opera, Mozilla, Mozilla Thunderbird, Eudora, Pegasus Mail, IncrediMail, Foxmail, POP Peeper, Command Line POP Client, The Bat!, and Phoenix Mail.

This anti-spam program Cactus Spam Filter learns to detect spam as it is being used and is a fast learner. After a few e-mails, it will start to make its own decisions to relieve you from the spam burden.

One of the unique features of Cactus Spam Filter is the ease of use. After you have downloaded and installed it no more settings are required! No account setup, no POP proxies, nothing! Just start your favorite e-mail program and Cactus Spam Filter will instantly protect it!

Cactus Spam Filter is compatible with Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

Comodo Firewall

Personal Firewall Software

Download at http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/download_firewall.html

Comodo Firewall, rated by PC Magazine Online as an Editor's Choice in 2006, constantly monitors and defends your PC from internet attacks. It's easy to install and use and passes the industry's most stringent firewall "leak" tests.

Unlike some other 'free' firewalls, this is not a stripped down version but is the full, completely functional product. This free solution comes complete with continual updates that are free forever.

Some reviews have indicated that Comodo Firewall outperformed some other paid firewall software, despite being a free piece of software.

Note: If you need help using this software, please check out the user documentation available online.

ZoneAlarm Free Personal Firewall

Personal Firewall Software

Download at http://zonealarm.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp

Protect your PC from Internet threats with FREE award-winning firewall software

Millions of users have selected ZoneAlarm as their basic Internet security solution. The award-winning personal firewall blocks dangerous Internet threats, guarding your PC from many of the tactics used by hackers and data thieves. A FREE version of the ZoneAlarm is available on their web site at http://www.zonelabs.com. The free version also allows you to try out a 15-day trial if you opt to install it. ZoneAlarm firewall (free version) will regulate what goes in and out of the computer while it is hooked up to the Internet - it's the PC's gatekeeper at the door of the Web.

For more complete protection from all threats-from email-borne viruses to privacy-violating cookies and web bugs-consider ZoneAlarm Pro if you are willing to pay some money for it. Otherwise, you can stick with the free version.

CutePDF Writer

PDF Converter Software

Download at http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp

Create PDF documents on the fly - for Free!

Portable Document Format (PDF) is the de facto standard for the secure and reliable distribution and exchange of electronic documents and forms around the world.

CutePDF Writer (formerly CutePDF Printer) is the free version of commercial PDF creation software. CutePDF Writer installs itself as a "printer subsystem". This enables virtually any Windows applications (must be able to print) to create professional quality PDF documents - with just a push of a button!

This is free for personal and commercial use! No watermarks! No Popup Web Ads! Creating a PDF with this free software couldn't be easier.

Foxit Reader for Windows

PDF Reader

Download at http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php

Small, Lightweight and Fast PDF Reader

Foxit Reader 2.0 is a free PDF document viewer and printer, with incredible small size at only a mere 1.5 MB download size. It boosts a breezing-fast launch speed and amazingly rich feature set. Foxit Reader 2.0 supports Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/2003. Its core function is compatible with PDF Standard 1.6. If you hate Adobe Reader for taking time to load, then you will love FoxIt Reader.

Version 2.0 introduces many exciting new features, including interactive form filler, multi-language UI support, on-demand download of add-on, self upgrade, Javascript support, improved printing speed, streamlined UI and much more.

In the past, you have to download a huge PDF Reader from other software company, go through a lengthy installation process and wait for an annoying splash window to disappear just to open a PDF document. Moreover, if you want to annotate a PDF document, you have to pay US$299 to buy certain PDF software.

Now with Foxit Reader 2.0, you don't have to endure such pain any more. The following is a list of compelling advantages of Foxit Reader 2.0:

- Incredibly small: The download size of Foxit Reader is only 1.5 MB which is a fraction of Acrobat Reader 20 MB size.
- Breezing-fast: When you run Foxit Reader, it launches instantly without any delay. You are not forced to view an annoying splash window displaying company logo, author names, etc.
- Annotation tool: Foxit Reader 2.0 allows you to draw graphics, highlight text, type text and make notes on a PDF document and then print out or save the annotated document.
- Text converter: You may convert the whole PDF document into a simple text file.
- High security and privacy: Foxit Reader highly respects the security and privacy of users and will never connect to Internet without users' permission. While other PDF Reader often silently connects to the Internet in the background. Foxit PDF Reader does not contain any spyware or adware.

Note: You can download Foxit Reader 2.0 for other Operating Systems like Linux etc on http://www.foxitsoftware.com

Nvu

Web Page/HTML Editor Software

Download at www.nvu.com

Cross-platform web authoring software

Nvu is a complete Web Authoring System for Linux desktop users as well as Microsoft Windows and Macintosh users to rival programs like FrontPage and Dreamweaver. Nvu (which stands for "new view") makes managing a web site a snap. Now anyone can create web pages and manage a website with no technical expertise or knowledge of HTML.

The features of Nvu are as follows:
- WYSIWYG editing of pages, making web creation as easy as typing a letter with your word processor.
- Integrated file management via FTP. Simply login to your web site and navigate through your files, editing web pages on the fly, directly from your site.
- Reliable HTML code creation that will work with all of today's most popular browsers.
- Jump between WYSIWYG Editing Mode and HTML using tabs.
- Tabbed editing to make working on multiple pages a snap.
- Powerful support for forms, tables, and templates.
- The easiest-to-use, most powerful Web Authoring System available for Desktop Linux, Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh users.

PageBreeze

Web Page/HTML Editor Software

Download at www.PageBreeze.com

Award-winning HTML Editor

PageBreeze Free HTML Editor is an award-winning HTML Editor which has both visual (WYSIWYG) and HTML tag/source modes. The editor's design emphasizes simplicity and ease-of-use. You'll find that you'll be creating great looking websites almost instantly--with virtually no learning curve!

PageBreeze Free HTML Editor is a completely free download for personal use and will never expire.

PageBreeze Free HTML Editor Features
- A full-featured but easy to use visual (WYSIWYG) HTML editor for creating web pages.
- Our freeware visual editor is actually powered by Microsoft Internet Explorer. So you can always be sure you are seeing exactly what you will get.
- Color-coded HTML source (tag) editor. You can switch between HTML source and visual modes at any time with a click of the mouse, and any changes you have made will instantly be reflected in both modes.
- Preview mode lets you instantly see what your finished web page will look like in Microsoft Internet Explorer.
- Included webpage templates and direct access to hundreds of free website templates to give you a fast start on creating a great looking site.
- Drag-and-drop Form Builder makes it fast and easy to create powerful web forms.
- Built-in integration with our form processing service, so you can make your web forms work almost instantly with no programming, scripts, or technical knowledge required.
- Built-in in integration with our web knowledgebase, so you can easily add a 24x7 customer service system that will answer your customers' questions instantly.

GIMP

Graphics/Image editor

Download at http://www.gimp.org

Graphical/imaging editing software. Most popular alternative to Adobe Photoshop!

GIMP is an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed piece of software suitable for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring.
It is an extremely capable piece of software with many capabilities. It can be used as a simple paint program, a expert quality photo retouching program, an online batch processing system, a mass production image renderer, a image format converter, etc.
GIMP is extremely expandable and extensible. It is designed to be augmented with plug-ins and extensions to do just about anything. The advanced scripting interface allows everything from the simplest task to the most complex image manipulation procedures to be easily scripted.

ThunderBird

Email Software

Download at http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/thunderbird

Powerful, popular alternative to Microsoft Outlook Express

Simple to use, powerful, and customizable, Thunderbird is a full-featured email application. Thunderbird supports IMAP and POP mail protocols, as well as HTML mail formatting. You can easily import your existing email accounts and messages. Built-in RSS capabilities, powerful quick search, spell check as you type, global inbox, deleting attachments and advanced message filtering round out Thunderbird's modern feature set.

Each email you receive passes through Thunderbird's leading-edge junk mail filters. Each time you mark messages as spam, Thunderbird improves its filtering so you can spend more time reading the mail that matters. Thunderbird will also use your mail provider's spam filters to keep junk mail out of your inbox.

Thunderbird protects you from increasingly common email scams-also known as "phishing"-which try to fool you into handing over your passwords and other personal information. Thunderbird will tell you when it thinks a message might be a scam.

Thunderbird provides enterprise and government grade security features including S/MIME, digital signing, message encryption, support for certificates and security devices. Attachments are never run without your express permission, protecting you from many worms and viruses.

The new Software Update feature makes it easy to get the latest security and feature updates to Thunderbird. Thunderbird automatically downloads these small updates in the background and prompts you when they are ready to be installed.

You can select new button controls for your toolbars, install extensions to add new features, or change the look of your browser with themes-the way Thunderbird looks and works is under your control.

PS: I hate using Outlook Express after using ThunderBird! :)

OpenOffice

Productivity Software

Download at http://www.openoffice.org

Popular, Alternative Office Suite to Microsoft Office

OpenOffice.org is a multi-platform office productivity suite. It includes the key desktop applications, such as a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation manager, and drawing program, with a user interface and feature set similar to other office suites. Sophisticated and flexible, OpenOffice.org also works transparently with a variety of file formats, including those of Microsoft Office, and the vendor-neutral OpenDocument standard from OASIS.

Available in over 65 supported languages with more being constantly added by the community, OpenOffice.org runs stably and natively on Solaris, Linux (including PPC Linux), Windows, Mac OS X (X11), and numerous other platforms.

OpenOffice.org wins international awards for its quality, innovativeness, usability as well as countless testimonials from computer users worldwide.

Compatible with other major office suites, OpenOffice.org is free to download, use, and distribute. Download it now, and get the following:

Writer - a word processor you can use for anything from writing a quick letter to producing an entire book.

Calc - a powerful spreadsheet with all the tools you need to calculate, analyse, and present your data in numerical reports or sizzling graphics.

Impress - the fastest, most powerful way to create effective multimedia presentations.

Draw - lets you produce everything from simple diagrams to dynamic 3D illustrations.

Base - lets you manipulate databases seamlessly. Create and modify tables, forms, queries, and reports, all from within OpenOffice.org

Math - lets you create mathematical equations with a graphic user interface or by directly typing your formulas into the equation editor.

OpenOffice.org is easy to use because it looks and feels familiar and is instantly usable by anyone who has used a competitive product.

It is easy to change to OpenOffice.org as the software reads all major competitors' files. OpenOffice.org is also supported by a global community of friendly volunteers, only too happy to provide assistance to newcomers and advanced users alike.

New Text / Write module

New Text / Write module

New Text / Write module

by

donaldlim

Hi there, I am an Internet Entrepreneur and Marketer. I also founded a web services company in 2002 and has been doing this till now.  I am the Free... more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!