Free Internet Software , Software
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Free Internet Software
The Best Internet Software
I've scoured the online world to find the best Internet software in several categories, and I tried hard to find Macintosh equivalents for Windows programs when available. Most of the Windows programs are FREE, as are most of the Mac versions, but there were a few cases where I couldn't find a freebie or equivalent for the Mac. Let's have a look...
WEB BROWSERS
FireFox (WIN/MAC/LINUX) FREE Firefox is a full-featured alternative to Internet Explorer that offers more secure browsing, popup blocking, tabbed browsing (view more than one web page in a single window), built-in search and a download manager. http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
Opera (WIN/MAC/LINUX) FREE Opera's hallmark is compliance with Internet standards, and features a pop-up blocker, multiple-window navigation, mouse gestures, keyboard shortcuts, an e-mail client with a spam filter, and integrated search for user security and speed. The cross-platform browser includes chat, support for RSS newsfeeds, a password manager and cookie manager. http://www.opera.com
FORM FILLERS
Roboform (WIN) FREE RoboForm memorizes and stores your passwords, so you don't have to. It automatically logs you into websites and completes online forms with one click. Passwords can be printed, copied to another computer, backed up, and restored. http://www.roboform.com
My research shows no equivalent to Roboform for Macs. The Safari browser has some built-in form filling, but it will not work with IE, Firefox or other browsers.
RSS READERS
Feed Demon (WIN) FREE TRIAL Stop wasting time checking your favorite web sites for updates. Take advantage of RSS feeds and use FeedDemon instead, and make them come to you. Easy-to-read newspaper format displays the latest news from dozens of sites, and Watches alert you to items of interest so you don't have to look for them. http://www.bradsoft.com/feeddemon/
NetNewsWire (MAC) FREE TRIAL NetNewsWire is an easy-to-use RSS and Atom newsreader for Mac OS X. Its familiar three-paned interface—similar to Apple Mail—can fetch and display news from thousands of different websites and weblogs, making it quick and easy to keep up with the latest news. http://ranchero.com/netnewswire/
REMOTE CONTROL
LogMeIn (WIN) FREE Access your home or work computer via the Internet. LogMeIn offers full access and remote control of your computer via a web browser. You can view the desktop and use the mouse or keyboard to launch programs, open files or play a game. It's just as if you were sitting in front of the remote computer. http://www.logmein.com
Remote Desktop (MAC) Mac users, try Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac. http://www.microsoft.com/mac/otherproducts/otherproducts.aspx?pid=remotedesktopclient
SEARCH UTILITIES
Google Desktop Search (WIN) Google Desktop Search lets you search the web or your own computer. Very handy when you want to find that file or email containing a certain word or phrase. By continuously cataloging your hard drive, Desktop Search can find text inside files created by Outlook, Thunderbird, Firefox, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Instant Messenger, PDFs and more.
Finder (MAC) FREE If you have a Mac, then you've got search and more built in. Finder gives you lots of options for locating, displaying and organizing all your files and folders. And Dashboard helps you search the Internet for weather info, stocks, airline flights, phone numbers, language translations and more. http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/finder/ http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/dashboard/
FILE TRANSFER (FTP)
WINSCP (WIN) FREE A highly rated file transfer program useful for updating your web sites. Supports SFTP for secure file transfer and can set permissions on remote files too. http://winscp.net/eng/index.php
Fetch (MAC) $25 - FREE TRIAL This is the one everybody recommends for Mac file transfer. Full featured, but alas, not a freebie. http://www.fetchsoftworks.com
NETWORK UTILITIES
Sam Spade (WIN) FREE Sam Spade is a powerful tool for checking information on internet locations. Use ping, dig, traceroute and whois to trace any computer on the internet, or see the route to from your site to another. http://www.samspade.org/
IPNetMonitor (MAC) $40 IPNetMonitor provides a set of 15 commonly used Internet tools which allow Macintosh users to monitor and debug their connections to the Internet. http://mac.softpedia.com/get/Utilities/IPNetMonitorX.shtml
TELNET CLIENTS
Secure NetTerm (WIN) $30 - FREE TRIAL Telnet allows your PC to emulate another type of computer, and is especially useful for connecting to a Unix shell account. I use NetTerm to remotely login to my web host's Unix-based server and manage my websites. Make sure you ALWAYS use a telnet client that supports SSH encryption, or you will be sending your password and session data over the Internet in clear text, which could be intercepted. http://securenetterm.com
Nifty Telnet (MAC) FREE Nifty Telnet-SSH is said to be the best free SSH (secure shell) client for MacOS 9. http://www.msi.umn.edu/user_support/ssh/nifty_os9.html
For MacOS X users, you can use the built-in Terminal tool. This page tells how to enable Kerberos to make secure (encrypted) connections with Terminal. http://www.it.iastate.edu/pub/mng338/mng338.html
Reprinted from: http://www.askbobrankin.com/free_internet_software.html
BOB RANKIN... is a tech writer and computer programmer who enjoys exploring the Internet and sharing the fruit of his experience with others. His work has appeared in ComputerWorld, NetGuide, and NY Newsday. Bob is publisher of the Internet TOURBUS newsletter, author of several computer books, and creator of the http://LowfatLinux.com website. Visit Bob Rankin's website for more helpful articles and free tech support.
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