Recommended Programs

NOT A PROGRAM, but a file that can speedup AND secure you online (attached)

A CUSTOM ADBANNER BLOCKING HOSTS FILE - IN THE ATTACHMENT BELOW, INSTALL DIRECTIONS ARE IN MY P.S. in this message

(Best there is out there, & the URL below explains how/what/when/who/where/why etc.)

See this thread, why it works and how!

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=25937

ALL per that thread URL above, all you need to know about it & why using one speeds you up AND secures you @ the same time, no extra software needed!

(The thread extolls threats in adbanners sites float, very recent & from a company you would NOT expect it from, not a first either, how to install it & use it, and even make it better on YOUR end, customizing it (easy)):



* Enjoy a faster & more secure online experience using it!

ALSO - IT WORKS ON VISTA too, no problem (any NT-based OS, or 9x OS (but install is diff. on 9x slightly), from NT/2000/XP/Server 2003 too).

APK

P.S.=> INSTALLATION DIRECTIONS (easy):

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?p=268995#post268995

How to update it (mostly for adding sites you speedup, IF they change URL-> IP Address equation (like when they change ISP/BSP hosting providers, rare, but does happen) is in the thread noted above first)...

IMPORTANT: UPDATED VERSION 02/26/2007 is attached in my last post below, much improved on many, if not ALL fronts, as to its function & documentation internally, & more... see below! apk

Um, how exactly do I use it? I try to extract it using the thing built into Windows, it demands a password, I extract it using WinRAR and I don't know what to do with it .

zekrahminator said:

Um, how exactly do I use it? I try to extract it using the thing built into Windows, it demands a password, I extract it using WinRAR and I don't know what to do with it .

Click to expand...

Install direction are in that URL thread above!



* Added them upon edit, per your request, see my P.S. above!

APK

P.S.=> Heck, it's just going to -> %windir%\system32\drivers\etc

& there, renaming your original oem HOSTS to HOSTS.OLD, & then extracting mine to that subfolder...

On Windows 2000, you will need to reboot, but on XP/Server 2003, you can use it the second you save it...

Newer NT-based OS since XP have a dynamically loading/reloading "plug-N-play" driver design for MANY devices (iirc, non-block device types)...

& the IP stack is one, & auto reloads (takes a second or two) & then uses it, once you change the hosts file & you make your FIRST request to the internet...

This custom HOSTS file works for BOTH better speed & also security, guaranteed, per the thread where we discussed it here on the forums above in my init. post about it! apk

WOW thanks Alec, my computer just got like five times more responsive .

zekrahminator said:

WOW thanks Alec, my computer just got like five times more responsive .

Click to expand...

Great - glad to hear it!



* You're not 'lagging yourself' loading banners anymore is why...

NOW - IF you look @ the interior of the file, where I use the UNIX-style # comments, & specifically in the FAVORITE SITES SECTIONS BLOCKS?

You can go to your fav. sites (like this one for instance) EVEN FASTER STILL!

Additionally, IF you make the "Favorite sites sections" in it active?

DO check the examples sites I used, IF you use the sites listed in it, as to their CURRENT IP ADDRESS, prior to uncommenting them, using a PING command, prior to committing them via uncommenting them.

After all - What is in there now?

They are JUST EXAMPLES!

They may be out of date on their URL-> IP Address setups listed in them currently (but, commented off so they are NOT currently active).

SO, do check them first, prior to committing them via uncommenting them, by amending their IP address if needed, prior to uncommenting them which makes them active.

Doing this, for your fav sites?

You get to them faster, but also secure yourself against this form of attack against DNS servers & routers:

Computer routers face hijack risk:

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=25734

By using the HOSTS file fav. sites sections, you act as your OWN DNS, for resolving the URL -> IP Address equation...

No DNS required & faster resolve to boot, by FAR!

Plus, you are not someone that has to worry about your DNS being down or hijacked in your router as noted in the URL above!

(Though javascript being off in a browser helps there as well to stop it from happening period)

Simply because YOU ARE YOUR OWN DNS & don't depend on them, especially if hijacked thus as the URL above notes, @ that point for your fav. sites.

You'll always get to your favorite sites when you make those sections in this file active!

(Which is WHY I suggest strongly looking @ it using notepad.exe & editing it for YOUR favs, because I leave mine commented off, as an example to others of how it works & why, & my fav sites may not be YOUR favs is why + also checking their IP Address prior to committing them as active in the HOSTS file) & to their CORRECT IP Address, regardless of your DNS from your ISP/BSP being down OR compromised otherwise (router level, or @ ISP/BSP level).

ALSO - When/if you load (or, unload blocks on) various adbanner servers?

You can find them & add them MUCH easier from its list of 27,000 adbanner servers blocked, because it is FULLY alphabetically ordered inside, making for easier seeks thru it when adding or removing blocked adbanners!

APK

P.S.=> Take a look @ its interior zek, fully documented so you REALLY can understand HOW to use it fully, & you are also surfing safer too, per the thread above that notes the scripted threats in banner ads possible out there today... enjoy it! apk

02/20/2007 APK Updated Adbanner Block/fav Sites Speedup HostsFile Attached .zip File

See the subject-line/title line above, the directions to 'install it', & the downloadable attached .ZIP file below!



It guards you against threats that are noted in this thread:

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=25937

(AND, speeds you up as well: BONUS, moreso IF you activate the favs sections (on your own, they are 'commented off' in this shipping model with some of my own, which you may or may not use) & a "win-win" situation!

==================================================
INSTALLATION DIRECTIONS:
==================================================

1.) To replace the one you use now, simply first backup your original one located here:

%WinDir%\system32\drivers\etc

TO HOSTS.OLD, & then unzip this one into that same subfolder!

2.) On Windows 2000, you will need to reboot for it to take effect... but, on Windows XP/Server 2003, the IP stack is 'dynamically loaded/reloaded' & "plug-N-play" driver design, so it takes effect nearly immediately.

==================================================

3.) NOTES ON HOW IT WORKS & HOW TO FULLY USE IT - It is FULLY internally documented on HOW to use it. You can examine & edit it using notepad.exe & add your favorite sites to it to speedup access to them & be able to reach them even IF your DNS 'goes down' @ your ISP/BSP as well.

----------------------------------------------------------------

A.) ACTIVATING, EDITING, & UPDATING THE INACTIVE FAVORITE SITES SECTIONS:

The ping command is used for this with notepad.exe... this is noted inside the file, with step-by-step examples thereof.

I mention this, because I leave the section where you add in your favorite sites # "Unix Style" commented off & they MAY be out of date in terms of the IP Address currently used for that particular site, if you use the ones I have in there now commented off!

(Ms' IP stack IS based off the BSD model & thus, why the UNIX comments exist & work in it)

That is so you can add your own personal favorites.

----------------------------------------------------------------

B.) NOTES on "AS IS" FUNCTIONALITY (USING IT AS IT SHIPS, W/ FAV. SITES INACTIVE):

The adbanner blocking portion IS active however, the moment you start using it. This leaves it flexible for folks in both capacities.

Again - It is also FULLY internally alphabetized in addition to being organized into diff. sections, so hunting down servers that may already exist in it for blocking adbanners is easier!

This is so you can add new ones easily IN alphabetical order, or find them so you do NOT have 'double entries' (no big deal, because once it is loaded by your local dns cache, it removes those, but the shorter it is, the faster it is loaded!))

Nice part of this is, you go faster resolving URL-> IP address equations, far faster than calling out to your DNS from your ISP/BSP when you use it, & if that server goes down? You STILL can reach them!

(Again - Step-by-Step examples are in the file of all things it can do & how/why it does them, & how YOU can add to it easily!)

==================================================



* Enjoy a faster & safer internet experience using this file... it DOES help on both security & speed accounts!

APK

P.S.=> 02/26/2007: Updated internally with better documentation, more examples of sites to speedup that have been re-ping'd today for accuracy in their URL-> IPAddress equations, & some more adbanners servers blocked...

NOTE: IF THE ATTACHED HOSTS.ZIP GIVES YOU TROUBLE UNZIPPING IT USING WINDOWS NATIVE UNZIP or WINZIP (other zip/unzip programs)? USE WINRAR - it was what I used to compress it, on NORMAL setting only! apk

What burning software is good for all formats besides nero?
I see none listed so far..

More sites

Antivirus Free Online Scanning:
- Infected Or Not, www.infectedornot.com (owned by Panda software)

Free Video Converters
- Easy Video Converter 7.2.7, www.amigoshare.com
- Total Video Converter 3.10, www.effectmatrix.com
- Video Converter 2005 1.5, www.reganam.com/video-converter.htm
- McFunSoft Video Solution 7.9, http://www.mcfunsoft.com/products.htm

how about for bit torrent sites: BitComet v0.86

Hello all, i would like to ask you about a anti spyware program, except ad-aware 2007 or who has vista please tell me if you have problems with it, and of course, how did you repare it .

might wanna add coolbits to the list there for overclocking nVidia cards
http://www.overclockers.com.au/techstuff/a_coolbits/

hamachi is a very nice program.

For Video/ codecs

VLC- http://www.videolan.org/

CCCP(Combined Community Codec Pack) - http://www.cccp-project.net/

Free Anti-Virus

AOL Active Virus Shield (Made by Kaspersky) - http://www.activevirusshield.com/antivirus/freeav/index.adp?

ktr said:

hamachi is a very nice program.

Click to expand...

Good for playing games against friends without using online servers and good for sharing files - I use it, but one issue I have with the newer versions is that it hangs my PC for two minutes when I boot unless I disable the network adaptor it installs.

How about Avast Antivirus think its on version 4.7 been using it for years instead of notron or ne thin else i love it even works on vista too ne on else used it?

Come on people hasn'y anyone tested ad-aware 2007 on vista??? . It gives me a weird error after I complete the scan

Patrauleac said:

Come on people hasn'y anyone tested ad-aware 2007 on vista??? . It gives me a weird error after I complete the scan

Click to expand...

wrong thread to post that question...

All Free software:

FTP:
FileZilla

Graphics:
GIMP
Inkscape (the code it produces is **** but functionally it's great)

IM:
Miranda
Pidgin (formerly Gaim)

Media:
FFmpeg
VideoLAN VLC

Text:
Programmer's Notepad


Not Free but freeware:

Compression:
kzip

Slater said:

Yeah well I'm thinking TPU should put up a "Recommended Programs" sticky.

Mainly System tweak/upkeep


Oh yeah FREEWARE/SHAREWARE ONLY
(Inlcuding commercial programs that have free versions).

Adware/Spyware Cleaners:
Ad-Aware Personal
ADS Scanner
AVG AntiRootkit BETA
BHO List
BHO Scanner
BlackLight
HijackThis
IceSword
RootkitRevealer
SOPHOS AntiRootkit
Spybot S&D
Spyware Blaster
Windows Defender Beta 2

Antivirus Free Online Scanning:
Infected Or Not, www.infectedornot.com (owned by Panda software)

Audio/video tools:
Audiograbber
dBpowerAMP Music Converter
DVD Shrink
Easy Video Converter
McFunSoft Video Solution
Total Video Converter
Video Converter 2005

Benchmarking:
3DMark 2005 Free Version
AquaMark 3
Everest Home
ScienceMark 2.0
TPUBench

Browsers:
Firefox
Opera

Codecs:
3ivx
Gordon Knot Codec Pack

Compression:
7-Zip
WinRAR

Disk Defraggers:
Auslogics Disk Defrag

Driver Cleaners:
DH Driver Cleaner Professional

File Recovery/unlock:
PC File Inspector
Restoration.exe
Restore My Files
Roadkil Unstopable
Unlocker

Firewalls:
Comodo
Sygate Personal Firewall
ZoneAlarm Personal Firewall

Image/File Viewers
Foxit
Irfanview

Memory Testing
Rightmark

Overclocking/System Control:
ATiTool
Speedfan
SysTool

Registry Backup
ERUNT

Registry Cleaners:
RegSeeker

System Cleaners:
CCleaner

System Information:
Belarc Advisor
Cpu-z
Everest Home
Sandra

Torrent:
Azureus
UTorrent

Tweaks:
WinGuides Tweak Manager

Virtual CD/DVD Emulators:
Daemon Tools

Virtual Enviorments:
Sand Boxie

Virus Scanners:
AntiVir
Avast! 4 Home Edition
AVG Antivirus
McAfee STINGER


Let's get a good list going.

& feel free to include more categories.

Click to expand...

By the way i am new here HI,But how about Vundofix,which is handy when you are getting those deep unwanted viruses.

Frankly, thank you very much for all.
GOD,bless U.

older version of o&o defrag for free,
http://www.oo-software.com/en/special/defrag4/

all free:

defrag: jkdefrag http://www.emro.nl/freeware/
virus: avg
video: MEdia player classic
codecs: k-lite codec pack
compression: 7zip
image: faststone
audio: winamp
office: openoffice
pdf: foxitreader
cleaning windows: ccleaner
pc info: pc wizard and cpuz

Registry Cleaners!

For all of you that use registry cleaners here are a couple of links to some good info about them. Oh, and I do use CCleaner.

http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000743.html

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/askjack/2005/11/registry_cleaner_scam.html

Recently have discovered this apps:
IcoFX - free icon editor.
Supports XP alphablend icons.

Poster Forge – free poster generator.
Allows to generate wanted, movie, motivational, wanted posters and print them in wall size.