Suggested software for Windws

From Hugme.org

Contents 1 Web Browser 2 Instant messenger 3 Media 4 Security 5 Productivity applications 6 Linux/UNIX utilities 7 Other stuff 8 Software I would like to try

Web Browser

I do not suggest using Internet Explorer, there are plenty of other browsers out there all of them better than IE.

• Firefox - Used to be mozilla, now it's called firefox, it's the browser I use 99% of the time
  • How I set up firefox
• Opera - Neat alternitive OS
• Crome - Google's browser, I tried it a while back however it was too buggy for me to use.

Instant messenger

You can spend your time downloading 10 different instant messenger programs or just download one

• Pidgin - This is pidgin the only IM I would actually suggest you use. It's what I use.
  • How I set up pidgin
  • During the install make sure you scroll down and click on "english" for the spell checker. It will install aspell for you.
  • Off The Record - Plugin for Pidgin which encrypts you messages. I HIGHLY suggest it.
• Trillian - Free for the basic, pay to use the full version.
• AOL IM - AOL's version of IM
• Yahoo Messenger - Yahoo's version of IM
• MSN Messenger - Microsoft's version of messenger
• ICQ - Older messaging program
• Skype - make your computer a voip phone. Call your friends. (skype is AES 256 encrypted)
  • Skype Recorder - Record mp3's of calls from the above software.

Media

Windows media player has quite a few problems. The DRM check is one of the big ones, it may decide you don't own the media on your hard drive and just not play it. There are a few better alternitives:

• VLC - This is what I use. Plays just about anything and works great.
• WinAmp - This used to be really great software. Now it's crap. It's covered in spyware and it changes stuff on your computer without asking.
• Gimp - Great graphics editing program. Even if you can afford something like photoshop some of the tools of gimp are worth the install.
• Flash Player - This goes along with your web browser
• G-spot - This is a great program which will give you information about your media files.
• UTorrent - Peer-2-peer application - find and download stuff
• YouTube Downloader - Easily pull videos from you tube and convert them to mpeg4 so you can watch them later.
• Xbmc - free media center. Some people like it but it tries to take over your computer and is a resource hog. I wasn't a fan.
• handbrake - video transcoder
• K-Lite Codec pack

Security

• WireShark - very useful packet sniffer
• NetStumbler - Use this to search for wireless networks
• Kismet, and AirPcap - Wireless packet sniffer decrypter, etc
• nessus - great vulnerability tester
• NetCat - Method of opening tcp connections easily
• Metasploit - frame work for vulnerability writing and testing
• aircrack - wireless siffer and wep key cracker

Productivity applications

• Google Sketchup - 3D modeling program.
• Unity 3D - 3D video game development engine
• Youtubedownloader - turn youtube movies into avi files, including high def
• Notepad++ - extended version of notepad which can handle proper newlines along with some other really nice features

Linux/UNIX utilities

• Putty - allows you to connect to console servers securely
• XMing - an X server for windows.
• CYGwin - Unix like virtual OS for windows

Other stuff

• Google earth - great mapping software
• DexPot - Virtual desktops for Windows 7
• Magic ISO - Gives you the ability to mount iso images on a virtual cdrom

Software I would like to try

• GPU - computer clustering software. cluster CPU's together