Software

Presented below is a list of software that I recommend, sorted alphabetically

Ad-Aware SE Personal - Removes spyware and other threats not covered by antiviruses. Recommended to use alongside Spybot.

DirectX Eradicator - Removes DirectX runtime core components from Windows OSs

Fast Module Extractor 2.1 - Extract MOD, MID, BMP, GIF, JPG, MOV, AVI, FLC and other file types from files such as executables.

IP filter.dat - IP filter list for use with p2p programs. Blocks government, malicious, fake-hash and anti-p2p peers.

ESET NOD32 Antivirus - the antivirus of (my) choice. Allegedly the fastest, least resource-hogging, and with the least number of missed in-the-wild viruses.

JDirPrinter - Allows recursive directory content listing.

HOSTS file - the hosts file maps IP addresses to device names. Use to block ads and malicious websites.

Miranda IM Unicode v0.7 - If you use Gadu-Gadu, don't. Miranda IM is a multi protocol instant messenger client for Windows. It uses very little memory, is extremely fast, requires no installation and can be fitted on a single floppy disc. Its powerful plugin system makes Miranda IM very flexible, meaning you can add and remove options as you like. The version I provide here is my own setup of Miranda IM bundled with a set of plugins which I find very useful, all configured in a way that I believe is least intrusive and most effective. It differs from the plain version from Miranda's website in that I have it set up to use skins, support the Gadu-Gadu and Tlen networks, display contacts' status messages when you hover over them using a plugin called Tipper, a statistics generator, a window that lets you quickly and easily send SMS messages and some simple games like Battle Ships that you can play with someone else who has them. Read "quick_install.txt".

Mozilla Firefox - An alternative to IE. If you're using Internet Explorer or Avant, you're making a serious mistake. Micro$oft products are unsafe, bloated and lack features.

Mozilla Firefox about:config settings - exactly that. A long and comprehensive list with definitions.

Mozilla Firefox FLASH blocker - um, flash blocker, for Firefox.

Mozilla Thunderbird - An excellent eMail client. If you're using Outlook (Express), then you're making another big mistake blablabla as above. TRY IT.

OpenOffice - A free multilingual, multiplatform office suite. It is smaller than Micro$oft office (~100MB) and compatible with M$ Office and other suits.

Opera - My favorite web browser. If you're using Internet Explorer or Avant, you're making a serious mistake. Micro$oft products are unsafe, bloated and lack features. TRT IT.

Spybot Search and Destroy - Removes spyware and other threats not covered by antiviruses. Recommended to use alongside AdAware.

QuickTime Alternative - Allows for the playback of QuickTime files without installing QuickTime players and viewers and all that other shit.

Real Alternative - Same story as above, but for Real media.

SID2MIDI - Converts Commodore64 SID music files to MIDI

UNACE32.EXE - Decompress .ace archives without installing the whole UnAce prog.

XnView ini - This file contains my settings for XnView [w], a free, portable program for viewing, manipulating and converting graphic files. Most important in this file are the settings for viewing file information while in fullscreen mode (press 'i' to see the info) - it will display important EXIF information.

xp-AntiSpy 3.96-4 - Lets you quickly enable/disable some WindowsXP settings that people who respect their privacy will wish to have disabled.