On this page:
Browser |
Around browsing |
Real time |
E-mail |
File transfer |
News |
Servers |
Administration |
Graphic
Animation |
Sound&Music |
Editors |
Remote access |
Data Security |
Connecting |
Knowledge |
Main
BROWSER 
Browser usage in year 2007 (approxim.): Internet Explorer 78%, Firefox 15%, Safari (Apple) 3%, Opera 1%
K-Meleon (pocket version) - nice browser, free.
+ Extension: Adblock Plus for K-Meleon (don't miss the filter: EasyPrivacy)
Firefox 2 - browser with many extensions, free
Firefox 3 - browser with many extensions, free
Firefox versions archive
- Basic selection of Firefox extensions:
- Adblock plus (copy) - blocks advertising (don't miss the filter: EasyPrivacy).
- BlockSite - blocks whole domains.
- Better Privacy - removes LSO Flash cookies.
- Send Referer - sends referer header only on demand.
- Auto Copy (copy) - text selected on web page is automatically copied to clipboard.
Seamonkey - browser, e-mail-, newsgroup-, IRC-client, HTML editor, free.
QEMU-Puppy - Puppy Linux running in a QEMU virtual engine from an USB-stick,
browsing without changes on the host PC, free (86.9MB)
Opera-USB - USB stick version of the Opera browser.
Opera - now without advertising.
Iron - Google's browser recompiled for improved privacy, WinXP and up.
Amaya - W3C browser and editor, free.
Netscape Navigator 3.x - the virtues of earlier days, free.
Off By One - small web browser, fits on a floppy without the SSL DLL's, free (~1M).
Act - basic browser that fits on a floppy, free.
By pressing Control + w in Firefox or Internet Explorer
you can quickly close many pop-up windows.
In the long run it's easier to prevent pop-ups
with the browser configuration or running a pop-up blocker.
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--- --- --- ---
Around WWW browsing 
How to start the built-in firewall in Windows XP.
MJ Registry Watcher - polls registry keys for changes and undoes them, free (1.4MB)
ClamWin - antivirus program, free.
SpybotSD - finds and removes malware, free
+ useful tools for free like Filealyzer, Netalyzer, Regalyzer, Rootalyzer, Runalyzer.
Ad-Aware + Project Eco - finds and removes malware, free version.
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Occasionsally use the update functions of ClamWin, Spybot, Ad-Aware and the like,
so they can recognize recently released malware.
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Gmer - searches for software that hides other malware, free.
IceSword - searches for software that hides other malware, free.
AVZ - utility to find hidden malware, free.
RootkitRevealer - searches for software that hides other malware, free.
Hijack this - lists running programs.
VirtualBox - to make and run temporary OS installations.
Sandboxie - isolates hard disk writes and prevents unwanted changes, free.
Comodo Personal Firewall Pro - detailed configuration options for application and IP based rules, free.
Online Armor Personal Firewall Free - good at filtering outbound connections, free.
WIPFW - firewall for experienced users, free.
Jetico Personal Firewall v.1 - firewall for W9x/ME, free.
Ghostwall - simple outbound firewall, free.
Tor - improved privacy for web browsing and other services. Read the Tor FAQ, free.
+ Tor with the Vidalia interface: Mirror 1 | Mirror 2
+ FreedomStick - Preconfigured Tor, Polipo, Vidalia, Firefox, for USB stick, free
+ FreedomStick EvilTux Edition - Preconfigured Tor for USB stick, free
When you run Tor on your PC, your requests for web content are passed over three relays.
You -- your Tor client sends an encrypted request for a web page -->
Tor relay 1 forwards request encrypted -->
Tor relay 2 forwards request encrypted -->
Tor relay 3 forwards request unencrypted -->
Web server, sends requested web page unencrypted -->
Tor relay 3 passes on answer encrypted -->
Tor relay 2 passes on answer encrypted -->
Tor relay 1 passes on answer encrypted -->
You receive requested web page.
The relays in the Tor network are other Tor users who decide to run Tor also in relay mode.
If you are on broadband consider running Tor not only in client mode but also as a relay.
Privacy increases for all users with a higher total number of relays.
Beforehand you should read about the Tor server configuration and check the legal aspects for your country.
To launch an exit node from Vidalia click:
Vidalia > Settings > Sharing > Relay traffic for the Tor network.
If you want less exposure than a exit node, you can run a bridge relay instead by clicking:
Vidalia > Settings > Sharing > Help censored users reach the Tor network .
Also click Vidalia > Help for a concise help file.
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Flash player settings manager - work your way through the tabs to remove flash cookies.
related: Display your Flash player version number.
related: Uninstall Flash player.
BHODemon (=) - disable unwanted IE browser helper objects (BHO), free (127K).
Crap cleaner - removes unnecessary files left after browsing, free.
PC Decrapifier - removes unwanted files from a fresh install, free for non-commercial use.
Polipo - local proxy, does partial downloads, pipelining, free (285K).
WebCleaner - local proxy to filter undesired content, free (1M).
Proxomitron - local proxy to filter undesired content, free.
Privoxy - local proxy to filter undesired content, free.
3proxy - socks 4/4.5/5 proxy, DNS resolver and more, free (182K).
FreeProxy - versatile proxy and connection sharing (Win98 up), free.
Stone - SSL capable TCP/UDP repeater to connect through firewalls.
FreeBird - distributed proxy network.
Freecap - allows standard Windows Internet programs to traverse a SOCKS firewall (1.6M).
Network Meter - graphical display of incoming/outgoing traffic with totals, free.
NeoMonitor - displays connections (860K).
Trace - DOS batch utility to get network and domain related data, free (185K).
Wget - command line page fetcher and website downloader, free.
Curl - get or send data over common internet protocolls HTTP, HTTPS, FTP,FTPS, SCP, SFTP ..., free.
CookieCruncher - deletes unwanted cookies, free (867K).
Local Port Scanner - checks your machine for unwanted connections, free (561K).
Clean booting:
Persistent malware may only be deleted when you press
Function key 8 (WinME: Control key) during start up to prevent loading
the malware. From the command prompt you can delete the malware.
Use the full path of the file you took note off from the process list of your task manager:
del c:\malware\*.*
del c:\windows\malserve.exe
In Windows ME/XP you would do this with
System Restore disabled
or the malware might be restored as well.
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Peazip - zip/unzip program, option to extract each zip in its own directory, free.
QuickZip - zip/unzip program for many formats, free.
7-Zip - zip/unzip program for ZIP, CAB, RAR, GZ, TAR... free.
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Windows ME/XP/Vista's file manager Explorer can open ZIP archives.
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Splitit 3 - splits files into manageable pieces and put them together again, free (110K).
Xenu - fast link checker, free.
WebMon - checks if page has been updated, free (756K).
EwebCache - save pages from IE browser's cache directory.
Sam Spade - traceroute, nslookup, dig, site downloader ... free.
3d Traceroute - multiple route timings plotted, free.
WinDump - examines the raw TCP/IP network packets.
IP Prober - checks which services run on a given server, free (126K).
Internet2 Detective - check the internet2 capability of your access point.
(related: Global IPv6 science net).
Winsock2 upgrade for Win95.
Magical Glass - screen loupe may aid to read small text, free (100K).
Super Magnify - screen magnifier may help to view the screen, free (250K).
Zoom+ - screen magnification and capture program, free (62K).
Screen Loupe - screen magnification and capture program, free (98K).
--- --- --- ---
Net tips:
Ping and Traceroute:
MS-DOS 7.0 has ping and traceroute capabilities
for connection tests.
At the command prompt (DOS window) type:
ping www.servername.com
tracert www.servername.com
Netstat: Check open connections
You can check what Internet connections have
been established with your computer.
At the command prompt (DOS window) type:
netstat -a 1
The connections are displayed and updated every
second. To stop netstat press Control + c key.
Replace the 1 with another number if you want longer intervals.
Your local network IP number:
At the command prompt (DOS window) type:
ipconfig or winipcfg
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--- --- --- ---
REAL TIME COMMUNICATION 
Chat and similar programs
Vic - video conferencing tool, free.
Zfone - secure voice communication for VOIP networks.
Rat - audio conferencing, free.
Speak Freely 7 - secure voice communication, free.
Nautilus - secure voice communication, free.
PGPfone - secure voice communication over modem, free.
Pidgin - instant text messaging client, free.
- Pidgin extensions:
- Off-the-Record Messaging
- Pidgin-Encryption
TorChat - secure instant messaging, under development, free.
SIMP - direct secure text communication from your IP address to friends IP, free, (optional: source code).
Scatterchat - secure instant messaging client, free.
HydraIRC - IRC text communication, free.
VIRC 97 - IRC text communication (1.1M).
XiRCON - IRC text communication (940K).
--- --- --- ---
E-MAIL 
[Reading and Sending]
Thunderbird - graphical open source client with junk mail control and OpenPGP support, free.
GPG4Win - Claws Mail with GNUPG, free.
FoxMail - easy SMTP sending, POP receiving, free.
Scribe - small e-mail client, free for non-commercial use.
Evolution - e-mail, free (63M).
Mobility Email - e-mail client, free.
Mulberry Mail - e-mail client, free.
Alpine - console mail client with text only interface, based on pine, free.
Mahogany - e-mail/usenet client, free.
Pegasus - filter options among many advanced features, free.
+ Qdpgp PGP add on (420K).
VMail - full scale e-mail program, free (1.34M).
Blat - command line mailer, free (148K).
GnuPG - privacy software, free.
Remailer List - current list with uptimes.
[Mail Servers]
HMailServer - SMTP, IMAP, POP, parallel delivery, anti virus/spam, filtering, webmail, free.
Maccalan Mail Solution - SMTP, IMAP, POP, SSL server, free.
XMail - SMTP, POP mail server, spam filtering, free.
Mercury - mail server, free.
[Anti Spam]
SpamPal - filtering of unsolicited e-mails (POP3/IMAP), free (in Deutsch).
SpamBayes - statistical filtering of unsolicited e-mails, free.
K9 - statistical filtering of unsolicited e-mails.
POPFile - statistical filtering of unsolicited e-mails, free (2.5M).
Saproxy - filter out unsolicited e-mails.
(related: reading e-mail headers).
Stinger - removes some widely circulated e-mail viruses from your system.
"The merit of spam is to excite the masses for statistics."
--- --- --- ---
FTP | FILE TRANSFERS 
RetroShare - direct connection file sharing over certificate secured connections suitable for smaller communities, with chat & mail, free.
Off system - file sharing that stores only parts of files at each location, free.
PSFTP - console program part of the Putty download, free.
WinSCP - SFTP and SCP file transfers, free.
SSHdisk - console FTP through SSH tunnel on disk, free (655K).
OpenSSH - for Windows, free.
FileZilla - ftp server and client, free.
CoreFTP - ftp client, drag & drop, resume, free.
LeechFTP - multi-threaded FTP with job queue, smart resume, free (640K).
DeluxeFTP - easy to use ftp client, free (251K).
File Dog - can do scheduled downloads (3M).
WarFTP Client - good FTP program, free (1.3M).
Tiny uploader - puts files on FTP server, free (133K).
EFTP - FTP server, free.
WarFTPDaemon - FTP server (1.55M) + security upgrade (305K).
FreeWay - client/server combination, can transfer files between two FTP servers, free (250K).
WS FTP LE - client, free for non-commercial users (690K).
Dipstick - compares speed/reliability among multiple FTP sites, free (660K).
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NEWS RSS | USENET READERS 
RssOwl - RSS news feed reader, free.
Sage - RSS news feed reader extension for the Firefox browser, free.
Feedreader - RSS news feed reader, free.
Newzbot - Listing of public news server.
XanaNews - good news reader, free.
Nomad News - good news reader, free.
Xnews - good news reader, free.
Free Agent - news reader, free for non-profit use (1M).
MicroPlanet Gravity - news reader, free.
40tude Dialog - news reader, free.
Xnews - small news reader with advanced filtering, free (680K).
WinVN - small news reader, free (350K).
Parchive - recovers from missing blocks in multi-part archives, versions 1 and 2.
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SERVERS 
WEB
Nginx for Windows - Windows version of a fast server, free.
Lighttpd - Windows version of a fast server, free.
Yaws - web server for many concurrent connections, written in Erlang, free.
Apache - Windows version of the standard server, many options, free (Documentation).
MyServer - SSL, authentication, CGI, free.
TinySSL - small SSL server (514K),
TinyWeb (187K) without SSL, free.
HFS Http File Server - web server, free.
Xitami - multithreaded server, HTTP/FTP/CGI/SSI, free.
Baby Web Server - small, ASP support, free.
SimpleServer - start, stop, simple, small, free.
PROXY
Delegate - server, proxy server, gateway, free (585K).
Hhproxy - several PC's over one modem to Internet, DNS forward, Socks4, TCP/UDP mapping, FTP, Telnet proxy, free (185K).
FTP
Cerberus FTP server - needs Windows Installer
(Win9x ME/
NT 2000), free for non-commercial use (305K).
GuildFTPd - many options, resume, speed and IP address limits, free.
CesarFTP - many options, quotas, limiting speed and connections, free.
WarFTPDaemon - FTP server.
EFTP - ftp server, free.
E-MAIL
HMailServer - SMTP, IMAP, POP, parallel delivery, anti virus/spam, filtering, webmail, free.
XMail - SMTP, POP mail server, spam filtering, free.
Mercury - mail server, free.
REMOTE LOGIN
FreeSSHd - secure remote login with SSH2, free.
MS IIS users: Urlscan - to filter requests and Lockdown - to
secure IIS dependant services.
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ADMINISTRATION 
System and network administration tools
Belarc Advisor - shows missing Windows hotfixes.
NTSVCFG - command line configuration script to improve the security of NT-services.
Shutdown Windows servers - closes network services of non-domain XP/2K installations.
AINTX - Linux like NT administration tools, free (1.4M).
GNUWin32 - various GNU tools for Win32, free.
Unxutils - set of GNU utilities like grep, sed, awk for Win32, free.
Clay's Utilities - helpers for batch processing, free.
OpenSSL - create your own certificates. Binaries compiled for Win32, free.
SmartSniff - LAN packet viewer with filters, free (60K).
Sniphere - LAN packet viewer with filters, free (172K).
Wireshark - LAN packet viewer with filters, free.
Vistumbler - wireless network detector, works on Vista using netsh, free
Netstumbler - active wireless network detection, free
AdapterWatch - displays details and statistics for your network adapters, free
Server Watch - sends pings and notifies you when server is down, free (571K).
Perl for Windows - multi purpose interpreter often used for CGI applications (FAQ).
Strawberry Perl - another free Windows port of Perl.
Process Explorer - viewing and stopping processes, free.
PrcView - viewing and stopping processes, free.
Dependency Walker - shows for a programm dependend modules and called functions, free.
Nirsoft - many useful utilities for free.
Sysinternals - free utilities.
Optimum X, free utilities.
NT Security, free utilities.
MAC Address Changer - for XP/2003, free.
Mac MakeUp - MAC address changer for XP/2003/Vista, free (560K).
Nmap - nmap host scanner and OS detection, free.
NmapNT - nmap host scanner for NT/2000, free.
CIS Scanner - probes software over internet for known weaknesses, NT/2000, free.
IP Subnet calculator (570K).
Resetting lost NT password - from a special boot disk, free.
Lads - list alternate data streams on NT, free (36K).
Related readings:
Microsoft Security | Five-Minute Security Advisor
| Security How-To
| Notification service
| Windows updates
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GRAPHIC 
Graphic viewer, painting and drawing programs
Gimp - good paint programm, free.
Gimpshop - gives the free Gimp paint program another interface.
PhotoFiltre - easy to use paint program, masking, filters, free for private noncommercial use.
Artweaver - easy to use paint programm, free.
Pixia - paint program with layers, effects, free.
Paint.NET - layers, from version 3 on only for XP or newer, needs NET 2, free.
Photobie - paint program with layers, needs NET framework, free.
Dog Waffle - paint program, free basic version.
Painter 23 - small paint program for various formats, free (510K).
Ultimate Paint 1.91f - paint program with filters, free (1.920K).
CinePaint - paint program for film editing, under development, free.
Photo edit - simple paint program with many filters, free (835K).
Image Enhance - applies filters and effects to JPEG and BMP pictures, free (290K).
Inkscape - good vector drawing program, reads/writes SVG, free.
Dia for Windows - vector drawing for structured charts and diagramms, free.
Blender - 3D modeller, renderer, animator, free.
Art of Illusion - 3D modeller, needs JAVA runtime, free.
TrueSpace 3.2 - 3D modelling and rendering, free.
Moray - 3D modeler for the POV-Ray and Polyray renderers (3M).
POVLAB - 3D modeller (2.4M) for POV-Ray and
free patch (535K).
POV-Ray - renderer, free.
MegaPOV - POV-Ray renderer extented, free.
VirtuaLight - renderer, free.
Polyray - renderer, documentation (265K).
HYCAD - CAD program, free.
Minos - 3D CAD program, free(890K).
CadStd - 2D CAD program, free.
IrfanView - good image viewer, can apply filters in photoshop format, free.
Imagej - Java image viewer, plugins for various formats, free.
11View - preview all images in folder, includes a GIF animator, free (1MB).
XNview - viewer and converter for many graphic formats, JPG, GIF .., free (1.1M).
FastStone - preview all images in folder, free for home user.
Image Navigator - preview all images in folder, free.
Osiva - image viewer with an unusual interface, free.
Bmap - image viewer for many formats, free (210K).
Formati 9 - converter for various formats, free (961K).
Magical Glass - screen loupe may aid to read small text, free (100K).
Super Magnify - screen magnifier may help to view the screen, free (250K).
Screen Loupe - screen magnification and capture program, free (98K).
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You can capture the entire desktop with the PrintScreen key
or only the active Window with Alt + PrintScreen.
Then you can paste the captured image into your paint program.
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ANIMATION 
Video and GIF animation programs
VirtualDub - video processing, free
T@b ZS4 - Zweistein video editor, free.
Powerbullet Presenter - makes Flash animations, many predifined forms, free.
Camstudio - screen recording, free.
Movies 12 - GIF animator with effects and transitions, free (425K).
BMG - GIF animator with basic edit and additional animation functions, free (6.5M).
11View - image viewer with a GIF animator, free.
Photoscape - image viewer with a Gif animator and a few edit options, free (11M).
Super - encodes, converts most video formats, free.
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SOUND & MUSIC 
Audacity - WAV, MP3, AIFF.. record and edit, effects, free (1.6M).
Wavosaur - small sound editor for WAV, ASIO and VST support, free (175K).
WaveSurfer - WAV, MP3, AIFF, NIST/Sphere.. record and edit, manual, free (1.3M).
GoldWave - WAV, VOC, AU, SND, AIF, IFF.. record and edit (466K).
Cool Edit 96 - WAV, VOC, VOX, AU, SND, AIF, IFF.. record and edit (2M).
TWE - WAV, AIFF record and edit, free (760K).
Sound Gadget Pro - WAV, VOC, AU, SND editor (1.3M).
Soliton II - sound editor, free (296K).
Mplayer - command line player, no codec hassle, free.
Smplayer - multi format player with Windows interface based on mplayer, free.
Media Player Classic - multi format player, free.
CoolPlayer - well done MP3 player, one key short cuts, free.
Zinf - MP3 player, uncluttered design, free.
Yamp - MP3,2,1, MOD, IT, WAV, MID.. player, free (2.12M).
WPlay - MP3 audio player with nice design (600K).
[ Info MPEG layer3: 12 to 1 lossy compression, stereo 128kbit/s, bandwidth over 15kHz ]
LPAC - another lossless real time audio compressor, free.
NoteWorthy Player - midi player displays a note score for the music, free (510K).
MIDInight Express - MIDI player, free (890K).
Hubie's loopback 2.5 - midi device driver connects in/output of several programs, free (38K).
TinyCD - small CD player with little control bar, free (60K).
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EDITORS 
HTML and text editors
[HTML]
Kompozer - modern web editor, free (7.6M).
Nvu - modern web editor, free.
Arachnophilia - integrated web site developing program,
careware (1.6M).
Web-O-Rama - good web page editor, free for non commercial use (2.47M).
HTML-Kit - HTML editor with extras, free (2.8M).
[Text]
PFE Programmer's File Editor - edits multiple large files, nice macro language, useful features, free (607K).
MoonEdit - collaborative editor, users can work simultaneously on same document over network, free.
Texmaker - easy to use LaTeX editor, free
PSPad - column selecting, syntax highlighting, spell checking, much more, free.
Metapad - good notepad replacement, multiple copy buffers, free (50K).
Context - syntax highlighting, macros, regex, free.
GreenPad - notepad replacement, unicode, regex search, syntax highlighting, free (73K).
MdiNotepad - multiple large files editor, useful editing functions.
Kankowski Edit - large file, macros, unindenting, case convert, free (200K).
CRedit - editor with regex search & replace, free.
VIM - adapted to the Windows graphical interface, free, (related: VIM basic usage).
NotGNU - emacs like editor, manual, free (302K) (related: Emacs basic usage).
Barry's Emacs - emacs like editor (copy at Yahoo).
WEB Wizard - simple dialog driven page creation, free (220K).
HTMgen32 - object oriented page construction, free (1.43M).
Dox - a RTF - TEXT - HTML file converter.
XVI32 - hex editor for large files, free (373K).
Allchar - to ease input of foreign language characters, free.
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REMOTE ACCESS 
UTF-8 TeraTerm Pro - TeraTerm with SSH2, free.
Putty - SSH1/SSH2 remote login and file transfer clients, fit on a floppy, free.
+ (How to use screen shoots)
UltraVNC - displays remote desktop, chat, filetransfer, plug-ins for encrypted connections.
SRP - secure authentication and data exchange system.
TeraTerm Pro - good telnet program, free (950K).
TTSSH - SSH module for Tera Term Pro, free (275K).
TCP/IP Connector - port connector, free (146K).
Netcat - port connector.
ShamCom - scriptable terminal program for modem, telnet and CAPI connections, free.
EasyTerm - macros, session log, resizable window careware (40K).
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DATA SECURITY 
Eraser - permanently delete data through overwriting, free.
Erase Utility - DOS boot disk utility to erase SATA and ATA hard disks, free.
TrueCrypt - encrypted file as a virtual drive, for W2000 and above, open source, free.
BestCrypt Traveller - portable version for W9x and above,
encrypted file as a virtual drive, free.
DiskCryptor - hard disk encryption, free.
GPG - public key software, free.
PGP - public key software, mostly used for e-mail privacy, free for non-commercial use.
FreeOTFE - Serpent, AES among others, free.
Blowfish Advanced CS - Serpent, AES among others, free.
Ccrypt - AES for file and stream encryption, free.
DsCrypt - AES file encrypter, free (25K).
Burp - command line file encrypter, free.
Data Lock 2 - secures files with Diamond2, free (587K).
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INTERNET CONNECTION 
DSL / Cable
NetGraph2 - displays download and upload, counts traffic and speed, can log daily totals, free.
Modem
ModemSta - displays and logs modem activity, shareware (796K).
--- --- --- ---
KNOWLEDGE BASE 
"Internet is single click"
Microsoft on Windows security problems
Laptop Security Tips
Home computer security
Secure your Computer
How to protect private information on your home PC
Online safety myths
CERT WinNT Intruder Detection
Windows NTBugtraq Archives
NT Security
Petri's Windows How to
Preparing an anti virus disk set
Detecting Trojans
Windows tips
Speed up Win98
NT Installation and Backup
WinXP &
Win2000 command reference
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