Software

All the software that we review are included in this category. If you want to look for a specific software, go through the sub-categories listed here.

uTorrent Alternatives: 5 Best Free Torrent Clients For Fast And Secure Downloads

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A torrent is a way of sharing files, there is no limit on the size of the torrent. You can upload anything. Torrents are also a faster way of sharing files. torrent files may include video games,movies,TV shows or sofwares of big size. So in order to download these torrent files you need some softwares and uTorrent is one such software that let’s you download torrent files from  torrent websites.

uTorrent used to be one of the best torrent clients that lets you download torrent files but after BitTorrent.inc acquired uTorrent it started showing ads. Some of these ads are usually highly unethical and is not suitable for some viewers to see and what’s so annoying about ads is that if you accidentally click it, it opens it up and slows your computer. Other problem some users might face while installing uTorrent is that while installing it ,it installs others garbage softwares too without even asking for our permission and these softwares makes changes in our webpages etc.

So in order to save you from these inconveniences, here is a list of 5 best alternatives to uTorrent. So let’s begin.

Tribler

The first on the list in Tribler. Tribler is an open Source/free software that lets you download torrent files easily. It is an ad-Free software that does not annoy with different ads. The best thing I like about this software is that you don’t have to leave the software in order to search for a torrent file, you can easily search it within the software and start downloading it from there.

This is a great softwares for all those who like to stream videos a lot, as you can watch the videos on the torrent websites on these websites too without having to install them.

Highlights:

  • Ad-free
  • Open source/free
  • Video streaming online

Deluge

Deluge is another free open Source software that made to this list. It is a light weight software that does not consume much of your memory. It does not show any annoying ads as well. It has a very easy user interface. It’s interface is quite similar to uTorrent, so if you are switching from uTorrent to deluge then you won’t have any trouble adjusting to the interface as it is similar to uTorrent.

Highlights:

  • Ad-free
  • Open source/free
  • Easy interface
  • lightweight

qBitTorrent

qBitTorrent is another open source software that does not show any annoying or disturbing ads. It is very light weight as compared to uTorrent. It is available for windows. Mac OS and Linux. It’s interface is also very similar to uTorrent and qBitTorrent. Even though it’s very lightweight you will get everything in it that you can find in uTorrent.

Highlights:

  • Ad-free
  • Open source/free
  • lightweight

Transmission –Qt

Transmission –Qt is an another ad-free software that lets you download any game, movie or software using torrent files. It is an open source software that does not take much of your memory. In operating systems like Ubuntu and some of the Linux products it is installed by default.  But it is also available for windows, mac OS to download for free.

Highlights:

  • Ad-free
  • Open source/free
  • lightweight

Tixati

The last uTorrent alternative on this list is tixati. It is one of the most used and famous file sharing program. It is a lightweight software and one of the best uTorrnet alternative. Although its interface is a bit hard to understand, still It’s the most widely used software that is used as an alternative to uTorrent.

Highlights:

  • Ad-free
  • Open source/free
  • Widely used
  • Dark interface

There you go. If you download any of these then let us know how these worked out for you.

Best Internet Security Software for Windows 10

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Facing a Computer full of viruses and malware is the worst nightmare for many! So why not protect your Windows 10 by downloading a security software!

What is a security software?

A software that you download to protect your Windows 10 from getting corrupted and losing your data is a security software. When you do not have an antivirus installed on your computer, you are prone to attacks from viruses, Trojan horses, worms and many other forms of invasive software that can attack your computer’s  configuration and get hold of your personal data, deleting system files, and even getting access into other computers on the network.  The general concept that people have is that their Windows has protection and that is enough since they are browsing safely. Some people assume that when they are careful with USB usage they will be able to prevent any harm coming to their computers.

Why do you need Internet security software for Windows 10?

Antivirus software are the key to your computer’s protection. How much ever you may try to protect your computer from coming to harm, cybercriminals are on the loose and they might attack your computer. Some of the reasons that will convince you about the need of security software for your Windows 10 are:

  • Your computer may have exposure to fraud, security software will protect you from intrusions.
  • It will prevent your computer from any kind of attacks.
  • It will give Rootkit protection so that any malware will not get the opportunity to embed in your system files.
  • You will be getting Bot Protection, that is if there is any cyber criminal how is trying to get remote access to your Windows 10, will not be able to fulfill his attempt.
  • The security software will give your Windows 10 Worm protection. This means that it will protect your network. Worms attach network and then ultimately reach to computer files and infect all the computers on the network.

Internet Security software to download for Windows 10

These software has been ranked as the most trusted software who give value for the money spent on them. The criteria that were used for judging are:

  1. Superior detection
  2. Parental controls
  3. Virus detection and Removal
  4. Safe banking
  5. Easy install
  6. Loss of computer resource
  7. Ransomware
  8. Firewall
  9. Password Manager
  10. Online Backup
  11. Live Chat
  12. Weekday and weekend support

Bitdefender Internet Security:

This is an amazing antivirus software for your Windows 10. It protects against viruses that may attack system and malware. Its database has been built using algorithms from 500 million users and is updated in real time to be aware of all possible and newer threats. It has been ranked as the best software due to its detection and efficient performance. The only con that was found was that it does not have any online backup option, and if you want to avail online backup facility, you need to buy a higher priced version that is Bitdefender Total Security software.

Norton security Deluxe

Norton is one of the most oldest providers of security. It is, therefore, a great choice for your Windows 10. They are one of the most celebrated security providers. They have a variety of packages to select from and are really good at firewall and virus protection. Norton provides protection for up to 5 devices at once. It has a personal firewall and parental controls which helps parents keep a check. Norton Security is compatible with all the operating software and devices. The only drawback is that it has no protection against attacks and threats from social networks.

Kapersky Labs Internet Security

As the name suggests this security software is a total package. It protects your Windows 10, from all virus, malware, and stealthy attacks.  It also protects your children from inappropriate content and at the same time ensures that all your passwords are safe. Kapersky also has a constant online back up that protects your files from being lost. The software also has malware protection along with the firewall to prevent insecure connection to approach your PC. It also has a virtual keyboard and that prevents keyloggers from tracing passwords and later hacking your accounts. Though it is a secure option it does not provide password vault. Password vault can be created when you purchase the higher priced version.

Trend Micro

This security software protects the computer from malware, ransomware and all potential threats that could hack your system files. It also strengthens the system against the possible weak points. The only issue that the users have complained about is that it causes the system to lag, which in turn slows down the system’s performance. It provides premium security and is also compatible with Android mobile devices. It is quite effective in identifying threats and protecting the system. They have a very responsive live tech support even on the weekends.

Bull Guard Internet Security

It is quite an efficient security software, that helps identify the possible weak points of the system. It helps strengthen them against, malware, virus, and ransomware. BullGaurd is able to secure all possible leaks from which the hackers can attack. It is better than the free and general security software that is a part of the operating system. The major flaw as reported by the users is that it slows down the computer quite noticeably and it does not have a password manager. They are not pro in detecting fairly newer threats and that is the only major weak point.

Consequently, it is upon the user to decide the one security software that is the best fit for his requirements.

2 Useful Tools To Uninstall Multiple Programs At Once In Windows

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We can manage installed programs in Windows using Programs and Features control panel app. If you are using Windows 8, you can reach Programs and Features using Ctrl + X + F shortcut key. Programs and Features has very limited features. It only runs the uninstallers provided by each program and doesn’t do anything of its own.

There are other third-party popular uninstaller apps including Revo Uninstaller, Glary Utilities, GeekUninstaller, AppCleaner, AppZapper, MyUninstaller and Total Uninstall. Here we will talk about two uninstallers which can uninstall multiple programs at once. This is also called batch uninstall.

IObit Uninstaller

Uninstalling one program at a time is a tough job if you have to uninstall many programs in a row. IObit Uninstaller includes a feature called Batch Uninstall which will let you select programs that you want to uninstall and then click the Uninstall button to uninstall the selected programs one by one automatically.

IObit Uninstaller with batch uninstall option

Please note that this process is not completely automated as the IObit Uninstaller will only run the uninstallers of the corresponding apps which may need user input. For example, some apps ask the user “Do you really want to remove this app” type questions when uninstalling.

After the standard uninstall has been completed, you can also run the Powerful Scan function which will scan for leftover items in the hard drive and Windows Registry.

Absolute Uninstaller

Absolute Uninstaller is another program which lets you batch uninstall multiple programs in Windows. Absolute Uninstaller will let you uninstall a single app in standard mode but if you want to uninstall multiple programs at once, you will need to click the Batch Uninstall button.

Absolute Uninstaller in Batch Uninstall mode

After pressing the Batch Uninstall button, you will be able to select multiple programs using the check boxes in front of each program.

Please note that if you are using Absolute Uninstaller in Windows 7 or Windows 8, you will need to run it using administrative privileges.

7 Bootable Antivirus Rescue Discs For Offline Scanning

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Most security companies offer a rescue disc along with their antivirus or other security products. This is because if a system is already infected with a malware which is not letting the antivirus installation to continue, then the user will have to use the rescue disc to scan and remove the viruses. The antivirus or security suite can be installed after cleaning the virus.

Here you will find the list of Rescue Discs provided by major security software vendors.

system rescue

1- AVG Rescue CD

AVG Rescue CD is a portable version of AVG Antivirus Free. The bootable CD is a Linux distribution which contains the antivirus. The antivirus can be run once the user boots through AVG Rescue CD. It can remove infections, repair files and recover the system.

2- Avira AntiVir Rescue System

Avira AntiVir Rescue System comes in two forms, an ISO image and an executable. The ISO image is a bootable form of Avira AntiVir antivirus plus other addons which help you backup your data in an emergency.

3- BitDefender Rescue CD

This bootable rescue disc comes with the latest BitDefender antivirus and includes troubleshooting and management utilities like GParted, TestDisk and other utilities for browsing the Internet and opening documents.

4- ESET SysRescue

This rescue disc is only available for ESET users. If you want to create the rescue disc, you will need to have Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) to be installed on the system.

5- F-Secure Rescue CD

F-Secure Rescue CD automatically scans the target system for viruses and malware. It will automatically try to disinfect the infected file and delete it if cleaning is not possible. The catch here is that if a Windows system file is deleted, the system will get corrupt and may not boot again.

6- Kaspersky Rescue Disk

Kaspersky Rescue Disk allows you to boot into the system using a graphic mode and will let you do the virus scanning and other recovery tasks. You can install it into the USB Flash drive using their own Rescue2USB tool. Otherwise, you can burn it on a CD or DVD and boot the computer.

7- Norton Bootable Recovery Tool

Norton Bootable Recovery Tool is not free. It can be used by the people who have already bought a Norton product. Norton Bootable Recovery Tool will scan the system and will get the problem resolved fast.

Photo credit: system rescue

4 Free Tools To Use SSH In Windows

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As compared to Telnet, SSH is a secure way of connecting to remote terminals on Linux Operating Systems. If you have an SSH server running on Linux or on Windows, you will need to download an SSH client to connect to the server.

Windows comes with Telnet by default. Telnet is highly insecure because everything is sent in clear text from and to the telnet client. Telnet should only be used in a secure network which has no Internet accessibility.

putty on my droid

1- PuTTY

PuTTY is the most popular Telnet and SSH client for Windows and Linux platforms. Its comes as an installable as well as a portable program. It is also one of my favorite to get access to my servers through the command line.

You may also like to use look a likes of PuTTY like PuTTY Tray, MTPuTTY and Superputty.

2- KiTTY

KiTTY is a fork from PuTTY version 0.62. It has been designed for Windows only. KiTTY has all the features of PuTTY including additional features like graphical features, session filter, automatic logon script, automatic password, automatic command, automatic saving etc.

3- Bitwise SSH Client (Tunnelier)

Bitwise SSH client is one of the most advanced SSH and sFTP clients with graphical as well as command line interfaces. Its advanced features include SSH port forwarding capabilities, dynamic forwarding through SOCKS and HTTP CONNECT proxy, FTP to sFTP bridge, single click remote desktop forwarding etc.

4- Xshell

Xshell is a powerful SSH1, SSH2, sFTP, Telnet, Rlogin and serial terminal emulator for Windows. It supports features like tabbed environment, dynamic port forwarding, custom key mapping, user defined buttons, VB scripting, and UNICODE terminal for displaying 2 byte characters and international language support. Xshell is also compatible with Windows 8. It is free for personal use.

You may also like to use FireSSH which is a cross-platform SSH terminal client for Firefox. You can use the SSH client from within Firefox.

In commercial clients, SecureCRT is the best and most used SSH client for Windows.

Photo credit: Putty on my droid

Download Bitdefender 2014 Offline Installers For All Products

Download Bitdefender 2014 Offline Installers For All Products

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Bitdefender product line for 2014 has been released. Last year, Bitdefender 2013 was released in September but this year Bitdefender has been quick to launch the new line of products.

The latest Bitdefender 2014 products include a new technology called Photon technology which makes sure that system performance doesn’t get a hit while the security software is scanning the computer. Here’s the official word:

Bitdefender Photon™ Technology is an innovative antivirus technology that boost scanning time, eliminates slowdowns and accelerates scanning speed by gradually (in matter of hours) understanding and adapting to your PC.

Bitdefender Windows 8 Security

A new wallet has also been introduced which keeps your important data safe and secure. Other than that, minor improvements have been made to the already best performing products of 2013.

Here are the direct download links to offline installers of each Bitdefender 2014 product:

Bitdefender Antivirus Free 2014

Bitdefender Antivirus Free 2014 is a free antivirus which provides lightweight system protection against viruses. It lacks features like anti-spyware, wallet etc. An online installer is available for Bitdefender Antivirus Free 2014. When you run the installer, it will download the remaining files to your system for installation.

Bitdefender Antivirus Free 2014 online installer: Antivirus_Free_Edition.exe

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2014

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2014 includes features like Bitdefender Autopilot, USB immunizer, online remote management, secure browsing, wallet, social network protection, personal data filter et. It can be download from the direct download links below:

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2014 (32-bit): bitdefender_av_17_32b.exe

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2014 (64-bit): bitdefender_av_17_64b.exe

Bitdefender Internet Security 2014

In addition to all the features of Antivirus Plus 2014, the Internet Security 2014 includes features like parental control, cloud antispam, two-way firewall and file shredder. It can be downloaded from the following direct download links:

Bitdefender Internet Security 2014 (32-bit): bitdefender_is_17_32b.exe

Bitdefender Internet Security 2014 (64-bit): bitdefender_is_17_64b.exe

Bitdefender Total Security 2014

Bitdefender Total Security is the ultimate security suite containing all the features Bitdefender has to offer. It includes all the features of Bitdefender Internet Security 2014 and more features like Bitdefender Safebox (Online cloud storage solution), anti-theft, file encryption and PC tune-up. You can download it from below mentioned locations:

Bitdefender Total Security 2014 (32-bit): bitdefender_ts_17_32b.exe

Bitdefender Total Security 2014 (64-bit): bitdefender_ts_17_64b.exe

How To Find And Remove Dead Pixels On Your LCD Monitor

How To Find And Remove Dead Pixels On Your LCD Monitor

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Dead pixel is an area on the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) monitor which is not performing as expected. Usually the problem that leads to dead pixels is that the liquid flowing through the display is not flowing through that pixel properly. In this article, we will take a look at how to identify the dead pixels and then try to make those pixels into working condition.

First of all, see this video about dead pixels on LCD monitors:

What is a dead pixel? (NCIX Tech Tips #55)

IsMyLcdOK is a nifty portable software which does what its name implies. It helps you find all the dead pixels on the LCD monitor. Although it’s just 25 KB in size but it checks the LCD quite effectively. Basically, it will make all the screen of one color so that you can spot the dead pixel.

IsMyLcdOK

Just run the utility and press the desired number for painting the screen with corresponding color. Make sure that you have gone through all the colors to confirm all the dead pixels.

Once you have identified the dead pixels, follow the steps below to remove the dead pixels.

  1. Turn off the computer or LCD and make sure there is no dust on the LCD monitor
  2. Take a damp cloth and apply a little pressure on the dead pixel. Just make sure that you are applying pressure only on the dead pixel spot
  3. Turn on the computer and remove the pressure after a little while

This should remove the dead pixel and the fluid will start flowing in all the pixels of the LCD screen. Run IsMyLcdOK again and check if the dead pixels are gone.

There are several alternatives to IsMyLcdOK which can be used for the same test. If you don’t want to download anything, you can simply visit this web page and follow the instructions there to check for dead pixels. Undead Pixel is another program that not only locates the dead pixels but tries to fix them too.

I hope these tips will help you keep your LCD in a good health. Please share your experiences with us in the comments below.

4 Ways To Open Docx Document Files

4 Ways To Open Docx Document Files

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In Office 2007, Microsoft introduced a file format called the Microsoft Open Office XML Format (.docx). This format is not compatible with older versions of Microsoft Word and with some other popular word processing software. Thus, Microsoft offers a list of compatibility packs for your older Office suite versions so that they can support the new format of .docx.

Today, we will look at the different options available to create, open and edit the .docx files without installing the Office Suite. We have solutions for the people with different tastes i.e. view your .docx files either using online tools or install an alternative suite. You may also think of converting your file to other formats. We have gathered all these options for you.

Use Online Viewers

Several online viewers can be used to view .docx documents. Gmail allows you to view attached docx document using Google Docs. Recently, Google Docs have been renamed to Google Drive which also comes as a desktop app.

Google Drive allows you to create and edit .docx files. You can also upload your files or folders which are stored on your PC. It provides all the basic features of word processing software. You can share your files with your friends and get them synchronized over the cloud using Google Drive.

Google Drive

Think Free Online is another online tool which enables you to view word files without opening them in the Office Suite. You need to create a free account on ThinkFree Online to receive more benefits. You may view your files, save them online and access them from anywhere. You can also use your Gmail credentials to use ThinkFree Online without signing up for an account.

Install Alternative Software

You may also install alternative software to the Office Suite which usually support the Word, Excel and the Powerpoint tools. Kingsoft Office is a free alternative to the costly Microsoft Office Suites. Kingsoft office can open the word documents which are stored using the .doc and .docx formats. It can also create .doc/.docx format files. Kingsoft Office is a lightweight alternative which offers Word, Excel and Powerpoint in its suite. Other alternative software include the Libre Office and Apache OpenOffice.

Install Browser Extensions

Another option is to install the browser extensions that could read the .docx format. Installing lightweight extensions will  free you from installing any software and lets you view documents easily.

Docs Online Viewer is an extension for the Firefox users which uses API of Google docs and Zoho Viewer to open the files of different formats.  It supports PDF, DOC, DOCX and some other formats.

Chrome Office Viewer (Beta) is an extension for chrome browser that lets you open the Microsoft Word, Excel and the PowerPoint files with a single click.

Convert file formats

Although, this option is not very handy. However, you may sometimes need to convert the .docx file into any other format. Zamzar  is an online tool that converts your documents from one format to another. It is a simple 4-step process which including uploading file, selecting the desired format, entering email address and pressing the ‘Convert’ button. The converted file will be sent to your email address. You need to sign up for a free account on Zamzar to grab your converted files.

zamzar docx converter

Docx-converter offers a portable solution for .docx format conversion. It is compatible with Windows XP/Vista/7. If you do not want to download any software, you may use the online converter to convert your files to other format quickly. The converted file is sent to your email address. It may strip out some formatting from your .docx document but it has fixed several issues, now. It also come as a desktop widget which is very helpful to convert the files from your desktop. It supports lesser several formats as compared to Zamzar, still, you may think of  Docx Converter  Desktop widget as an option.

docx online converter

Did you find today’s post helpful? Do share with us , if you have any other way to .docx document file without an Office suite.

SysMate: Replace System Files Without Restarting In Windows

SysMate: Replace System Files Without Restarting In Windows

File Management 0 Comments

System files in Windows can not be modified or deleted directly. The user can’t replace the system files without taking ownership of the files first. By default the ownership belongs to the System user. And even if the user does take ownership, it is not sure that the file is replaced because sometimes the file is being used by the Operating System.

SysMate System File Walker is a free portable tool which can replace system files without taking ownership of the files or even restarting the system. As a precaution, SysMate will save a copy of the file being replaced in a separate folder.

Since SysMate is a portable app, it does not need any installation. You will need to download the zip file and unzip it in a separate folder. There are two folders included in the zip file i.e., .NET 2.0 and .NET 4.0 client profile. You can run the executable SysMate – System File Walker.exe from any of the two folders.

SysMate requires administrative privileges to run properly. If you run it without administrative privileges, you will get the following error message:

sysMate error

To run it with administrative privileges, right click the executable and select “Run as administrator”.

right click admin privileges

The interface of SysMate is quite simple and self-explanatory. There are two fields. In one field, you will need to enter the path of original file location and in the second field, you will need to add the location of replacement file. You can always press the “…” button at the end of each field to browse to the required file.

SysMate

Pressing the Start button will start the replacement process. There will be no need to restart the computer in order for the replacement to be successful. In fact, the replacement will take only a moment and the success message box will appear on screen.

SysMate operation completed successfully

Normally, the backup folder is located at the root of C:\ drive i.e., C:\SysMate_Backup. Unfortunately, there is no button to restore the backup automatically. You will need to replace the file using the same procedure discussed above.

SysMate works on all versions of Windows including Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8 on both 32-bit and 64-bit Operating Systems.

Download SysMate  –> SysMate_System_File_Walker.zip

Download Skype 6.6 Offline Installers With Optimized Video Messaging

Download Skype 6.6 Offline Installers With Optimized Video Messaging

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If you remember that Skype 6.5 had been released with video messaging support. That was a major feature update. But now Microsoft has released Skype 6.6 which enhances the existing features. Video messaging feature has been optimized further.

Skype 6.6 is a minor update which concentrates on ensuring consistent user experience on every device Skype is installed. You can right-click any Skype contact and select “Send Video message” to record and send a video message. A maximum of 3 minutes of video message can be recorded.

About Skype version 6.6.0.106

Apart from the video messaging enhancement features, 7 issues have been resolved. Here’s the list of resolved features:

Screen share: Doesn’t work when restarted a second time for users on 6.1 version.

Video messaging: Cannot playback video on Windows XP

Hanging: Client hangs when hovering over heart emoticon

Crashing: Skype crashes when resuming PC from sleep

File sharing: After cancelling transfer by recipient, cancelled transfer is not shown to sender

Lync contacts: After adding phone number to a Lync contact, information is not shown in their profile

Video calling: Changing camera stops video call in progress

Skype 6.6.0.106 can be downloaded from the following direct download links:

Skype for Windows Desktop 6.6: SkypeSetup.exe

Skype for Mac 6.6: Skype_6.6.0.467.dmg

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