Finding security, open-source software for free

	By SAM WARD

This week, I will be wrapping up GNU (GNU is Not Unix, a recursive acronym and is pronounced guh-new) and move into security software that’s available for free. All software listed here is for Windows operating systems, and possibly for other OS.

Celestia is an open-source real time space simulator for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. This software allows you to explore the Milky Way galaxy and the local galaxy group. Celestia includes a plethora of stars, planets, spacecraft, moons, asteroids, comets, information and simulations, like seeing the Huygens probe land on Titan to seeing where the Cassini probe is. You can also find out when the next solar eclipse is, where the planets will be on a certain day and orbits of known and fictional stars. Celestia also allows you to download and install real and fictional add-on packs, like Earth texture maps, addition of other galaxies and science fiction ships from Star Trek to Star Wars and Babylon 5. There are many possibilities. To find out more and download Celestia, go to www.shatters.net/celestia/ and for add-ons, go to www.celestiamotherlode.net.

7-Zip is an open-source archiving software. It can un-package many extensions, including ZIP, RAR, TAR, BZ2 and 7z, 7-Zip’s native compression format. You can test the integrity of the archive and see if there are any errors. To find out more, and download 7-Zip, go to www.7-zip.org.

Ad-Aware Second Edition Personal is an anti-adware, anti-spyware software targeted at the consumer. This scanner looks for any tracking cookies, Trojan horses, spyware, and adware. For more information, and to download Ad-Aware SE Personal, go to www.lavasoftusa.com.

Spybot Search and Destroy is, like Ad-Aware SE, an anti-adware, anti-spyware software that is aggressive. It will “Immunize” your computer from any known spying and malware software. To find out more, and to download Spybot:S&D go to www.safer-networking.org.

AVG Anti-Virus Free edition is available for Windows and Linux and is for those who need an anti-virus without the cost and hassle of one that you buy. You can set up automatic updates, even for dial-up. It comes with an e-mail scanner, RAM scanner, and can be scheduled to scan hard disks. For more info, and to download AVG, go to free.grisoft.com.

ZoneAlarm is a firewall for those who don’t want anyone to poke into their computers. You can set up access for specific programs that are capable for using the Internet and being a server for that. It is useful for anyone who uses the Internet every day. To learn more and download, go to www.zonelabs.com.

As part two of a three column series, next week, I will explain more games that are available for free.

LINK TO PART 1