Recommended Software

Hi guys I thought it would be a good idea for me to set up a computer advice thread for those who want it i help family and friends solve computer problems so why not the community ?

You mean a computer forum where users can post their threads to? If so, it will be a sub-forum and should we create in which forum?
Also, we can create a hardware forum in Web hosting forum for members discuss about hardware of hosting servers?

Sure I can give software tips help with malware answer basic questions we could also have a hardware section I see more and more general computer topics the last few days so why not?

You can research and give me "forum name" and "forum description" I will create this forum for discussing about computer, laptop, hardware, software...etc.

@fwh General PC Support Need help with Windows, PC hardware, networking, or Windows software? Post about it here

We can just make it sub of lounge?

Hmm ok you decide the best option

Well until we have a official forum section I will post this here
https://www.zdnet.com/article/magecart-claims-another-victim-in-newegg-merchant-data-theft/

ForwardWeb - Branden said:

Hi guys I thought it would be a good idea for me to set up a computer advice thread for those who want it i help family and friends solve computer problems so why not the community ?

Click to expand...

I like this idea, Has kudos from me!

Thanks @Malcolmjr96 I do not claim to be a expert in computer software in anyway but i quite literally started using computers while still in a highchair and have a massive collection of mostly open source tools and programs id love to share and also have basic malware clean up experience so why not help plus we need a spot for events like breech's and things

being a security and open source software advocate I have compiled a list of some of the best programs that I would recommend to everyone as alternatives to most major software.

Most Links in this post are “Ninite” links where possible for the sake of safe and secure downloads
What is Ninite?
Ninite is a package management system offering that lets users automatically install popular applications for their Windows operating system.
Ninite will do the following:

• start working as soon as you run it
• not bother you with any choices or options
• install apps in their default location
• say no to toolbars or extra junk
• install 64-bit apps on 64-bit machines
• install apps in your PC’s language or one you choose
• do all its work in the background
• install the latest stable version of an app
• skip up-to-date apps
• skip any reboot requests from installers
• use your proxy settings from Internet Explorer
• download apps from each publisher’s official site
• verify digital signatures or hashes before running anything

Start Menu
Open Shell is a computer software for Microsoft Windows that provides user interface elements intended to restore familiar features from past versions of Windows. It focuses on the Start menu, File Explorer and Internet Explorer — three major components of the Windows shell. In particular, it can serve as a Start menu replacement for Windows 8 and Windows 10 systems. (formally Classic Shell)
Why do we need this?
lets be honest windows 10 is a great move forward for the OS but the to be blunt the start menu in windows 8 and 10 are horrifically bad and a giant leap backwards so if you miss the start menu this is for you.
https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu/releases
privacy protection (both free & paid 10.00 for extra features 1 time)
Spybot Anti-Beacon
Anti-Beacon was designed to address these privacy concerns for user of Microsoft Windows (from the modern Windows 10
https://www.safer-networking.org/products/spybot-anti-beacon/
Video Player And Codec Package
Combined Community Codec Pack
The Combined Community Codec Pack is a simple playback pack for Windows with the goal of supporting the majority of video formats in use today.
http://www.cccp-project.net
Instructions
-Install CCP with media player classic checked
after install set file associations by
Going to MPC-HC Options, from “View” menu >> Options From the Options menu click on “Format” and then click on “Run as administrator”
Click on associate with video format only (V), check “Use the format-specific icon”
click apply and OK
Office Suite
LibreOffice
https://ninite.com/libreoffice/
LibreOffice is a free and open source office suite, a project of The Document Foundation. It was forked from OpenOffice.org in 2010, It is commonly used in Linux but has a windows version as well
PDF Reader
Sumatra PDF
Sumatra PDF is a free and open-source document viewer, it supports many document formats including: Portable Document Format, Microsoft Compiled HTML Help, DjVu, EPUB, FictionBook, MOBI, PRC, Open XML Paper Specification, Comic Book Archive file.
https://ninite.com/sumatrapdf/
File Archives
PeaZip
PeaZip is a free and open-source file manager and file archiver for Microsoft Windows, Linux and BSD made by Giorgio Tani. It supports its native PEA archive format and other mainstream formats, with special focus on handling open formats. I find it has a newer and more modern gui then 7zip and is a fork so handles 7zip files just fine
https://ninite.com/peazip/
Audio Player
Foobar2000

foobar2000 is a freeware audio player for Microsoft Windows, iOS and Android developed by Peter Pawłowski. It is known for its highly modular design, breadth of features, and extensive user flexibility in configuration.

Base Software
Foobar2000
Encoder Pack(for ripping and conversion)
Included encoders:
FLAC
Ogg Vorbis
Opus
Musepack
WavPack
AAC + Apple Lossless (qaac) – requires iTunes to be installed
AAC (fhgaacenc) – requires Winamp to be installed
Apple Lossless (refalac)
MP3 (LAME)

Audio Editor
Audacity
Audacity is a free, easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and other operating systems.
https://ninite.com/audacity/
Image Viewer
XnView is an image organizer and general-purpose file manager used for viewing, converting, organizing and editing raster images, as well as general purpose file management.
https://ninite.com/xnview/

Image Editor
GIMP is a free and open-source raster graphics editor used for image retouching and editing, free-form drawing, converting between different image formats, and more specialized tasks.
https://ninite.com/gimp/

Graphic Design
Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor; it can be used to create or edit vector graphics such as illustrations, diagrams, line arts, charts, logos and complex paintings. Inkscape’s primary vector graphics format is Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), however many other formats can be imported and exported.
https://ninite.com/inkscape/

Video Production
DaVinci Resolve
originally designed for Hollywood’s elite colorists, DaVinci Resolve has been used on more feature films and TV shows than anything else because it lets you create images that are simply impossible with other tools. DaVinci is also the world’s fastest growing and most advanced editing software!
Register and download
DaVinci Resolve (studio version is the paid version and just that made for studio productions)
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/ca/products/davinciresolve/
Recommended AV (paid)
https://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/antimalware/
No-bloat dual-scanner protection for your Windows PC

Password Manager(both free & paid 3.33 USD/ MO)
Dashlane is a password manager app and secure digital wallet. The app is available on Mac, PC, iOS and Android. The app’s premium feature enables users to securely sync their data between an unlimited number of devices on all platforms. Dashlane is more modern and easier to mange then lastpass the leave of security measures and encryption is better too
https://www.dashlane.com

Computer Backup (paid $50 1-Time Purchase per device )
Acronis True Image is a software product produced by Acronis that provides data protection for personal users including, backup, archive, access and recovery for Microsoft, OSX, iOS and Android operating systems.
https://www.acronis.com/en-us/personal/computer-backup

FTP Client
WinSCP is a free and open-source SFTP, FTP, WebDAV and SCP client for Microsoft Windows. Its main function is secure file transfer between a local and a remote computer. I find it more stable and user friendly than Filezilla
https://ninite.com/winscp/

Web Browser
Vivaldi is a freeware, cross-platform web browser developed by Vivaldi Technologies, a company founded by Opera Software co-founder and former CEO Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner and Tatsuki Tomita. and truly seeks to be a browser for people who want to take control of their user experience its also great for power users
https://vivaldi.com

Uninstaller and leftover cleaner
Revo Uninstaller is an uninstaller for Microsoft Windows. It uninstalls programs and additionally removes any files and Windows registry entries left behind by the program’s uninstaller or by the Windows uninstall function.
https://ninite.com/revo/

Video encoding
HandBrake is a free and open-source transcoder for digital video files, originally developed in 2003 by Eric Petit to make ripping a film from a DVD to a data storage device easier. Since then, it has undergone many changes and revisions. and now is a full fledged encoder
https://ninite.com/handbrake/
CD/DVD creation and management
ImgBurn is an optical disc authoring program that allows the recording of many types of CD, DVD and Blu-Ray images to recordable media. Starting with version 2.0.0.0, ImgBurn can also burn files and data directly to CD or DVD. It is written in C++.
https://ninite.com/imgburn/
ALL IN ONE DOWNLOAD FOR NINITE LINKS
https://ninite.com/audacity-foobar-...eoffice-peazip-revo-sumatrapdf-winscp-xnview/

Here is a recommended list of adons for the audio player listed above
Recommended Components
Midi Player
Adds decoding support for General MIDI files (.MID, .KAR) and RIFF MIDI files (.RMI) as well as several proprietary MIDI formats (.MIDS, .MDS, .HMI, .HMP, .MUS, .XMI, .LDS).
HDCD Decoder
HDCD encodes the equivalent of 20 bits worth of data in a 16-bit digital audio signal by using custom dithering, audio filters, and some reversible amplitude and gain encoding: Peak Extend, which is a reversible soft limiter; and Low Level Range Extend, which is a reversible gain on low-level signals. There is thus a benefit at the expense of a very minor increase in noise.
The claim that the encoding process is compatible with ordinary CD players (without audible distortion) is disputed: “Not being able to decode the peak soft limiting, a normal CD player will output distorted peaks”.)
MusicBrainz Tagger
Allows tagging files using data from MusicBrainz.
DSP Effect Pack
Includes the following effects:
Chorus
Vibrato
Tremolo
Pitch Shift
Tempo Shift
Playback Rate Shift
Echo
Phaser
Reverb
WahWah
IIR Filter

WASAPI output support plugin
The Windows Audio Session API (WASAPI) is Microsoft’s most modern method for talking with audio devices. It is available in Windows Vista, Windows 7, and later versions of Windows. It allows delivering an unmodified bitstream to a sound device,
File Integrity Verifier
Checks specified media files for decoding errors. Note that with most formats, its accuracy is limited to detecting errors that abort the decoding process.

Recommended Status Bar Layout
$info(bitspersample)-bit %codec% | %bitrate% kbps | %samplerate% Hz | %channels% | %playback_time%[ / %length%] $if($info(hdcd),'(HDCD:’,) $if(%__hdcd%,PE: %__hdcd_peak_extend% LLE: %__hdcd_gain% TF: %__hdcd_transient_filter%’)’)

What is Emsisoft
I was looking for a decent security application for a laptop, I came across Emsisoft Anti-Malware. I have been using it as my main security solution for a few years now. I will admit that up till now I have used a sometimes controversial leading consumer product but here is why I switched to Emsisoft Anti-Malware instead.
Emsisoft uses dual scanning engines – its own sophisticated engine as well as the engine of Bidefender – giving it a amazing Advantage. Emsisoft in their own words,
“We believe two engines are better than one, and we use our own technology to detect threats to your computer that might otherwise be missed. But we won’t compromise efficiency in this process — Emsisoft works to keep your memory clean and uncluttered, and to detect threats at optimal speeds”
The program is very light weight, but powerful. It lacks the bloat of most other products. Most malware companies today included needless bells and whistles, like browser reputation extensions that often do not function, due to poor programming, or lack of interest by the company to up keep such extensions. Emsisoft focuses on one, job keeping you safe, and it does it well

Simple Clean interface
Unlike most products, Emsisoft has a wonderful, simple and effective interface, while most other security programs have cluttered interfaces.

Amazing Detection
In October 2016 Emsisoft scored 100% in AV-TEST’s Product Review and Certification Report – Sep-Oct/2016 for Protection against 0-day malware attacks, inclusive of web and e-mail threats (Real-World Testing) (while the industry leader scored 98% 100 is better then 98!

Emsisoft has many layers of protection, which, to be honest goes over even my head! Its behavior blocker at its core is second to none. I think for this part i will just let there amazing promotional video explain.

but heres why i really love it

I completely endorse this idea! My laptop always has a myriad of problems. If I fix one problem, another one comes up. I would also suggest that you make the advice as user friendly as possible. I have often gone to sites looking for solutions only to leave more confused.