PDF Creator ~ Office-style Suite ~ Spyware/Adware ~ LogMeIn ~ Stinger Virus Removal ~ Firewall ~ Picture Format Interchange

Free PDF Creator software

Do you ever need to create PDF files, but don't want to shell out $400 to Adobe for Acrobat?

If so, go here: http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/

This is open source free software that allows you to create a PDF file from any application, such as Microsoft Word.

To download and install - At the present time, once you get to the web site:

• Click "download PDF creator" (A green bar somewhat left of center)
• Click "download" to the right of  "PDFCreator 0.9.5" dated December 24, 2007
• If there is a plus sign by “Latest PDF Creator 0.9.5” then click on the plus sign
• Click on the link “PDFCreator-0_9_5_setup.exe” – it’s on the next line down – to start the download

Save it to your computer, then double-click on it to install the program.

Click here to connect to an excellent resource from an ABC region for additional programs that create PDF files.

OpenOffice: a free alternative to Microsoft Office for your home computer!

 If you don’t want to spend $350 or more for Microsoft's Office Standard Suite, check out the absolutely free OpenOffice (now with a database similar to Access):

·         it's free
·         it does about everything that Word, Excel, and PowerPoint do 
·         it can open and save files in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint format
·         A database similar to Access has been added in the latest version
·         Did we mention that it’s free?
·         AND it will create Adobe Acrobat PDF files – for free!! No need to buy the Adobe creator
·         It even has a Macro Recorder 
·         It’s free, by the way…

It does NOT have an email program (such as Outlook).

System Requirements are about the same as for Microsoft Office:
260 Mb of hard disk free space
64 Mb of memory - it will run with less, but it will be slow (same as Microsoft Office)

For more information or to download the software click here to visit the OpenOffice.Org website.

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Rid your computer of Spyware, Adware, Internet Browser Hijackers...
                                we recommend using all three of the following programs.

• Spybot - Search & Destroy can detect and remove spyware of different kinds from your computer. Spyware is an increasing threat that common anti-virus applications do not yet cover. Spybot - Search & Destroy effectively detects spyware, adware, key loggers, Internet dialers, browser hijackers, and even some trojans.
  
  If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you didn't intentionally install, if your browser crashes, or if you browser start page has changed without your knowing, you probably have spyware. But even if you don't see anything, you may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging that is silently tracking your surfing behavior to create a marketing profile of you that will be sold to advertisement companies. Spybot-S&D is free, so there's no harm in trying to see if something snooped into your computer, too.

For more information on Spybot or to download the software click here to visit the Safer-Networking.Org website.

It is a good idea to be in the habit of "checking for available updates" every few weeks. This ensures that you have the latest scanning software which will find new forms of spyware. Spybot will immunize your computer as well, so that it continually blocks spyware that is trying to load onto your computer.

• Ad-Aware is designed to provide advanced protection from known Data-mining, aggressive advertising, Parasites, Scumware, selected traditional Trojans, Dialers, Malware, Browser hijackers, and tracking components. With the release of Ad-Aware SE Personal edition, Lavasoft takes the fight against Spyware to the next level.
  
  Ad-Aware SE is compatible with Microsoft Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003. Ad-Aware Personal edition is free for non-commercial use.
  
  For more information on Ad-Aware or to download the software click here to visit the Lavasoftusa.Com website.

  It is recommended that you "search for updates" regularly when using Ad-Aware. Ad-Aware does not immunize your computer, so you need to run it regularly to find any spyware that has installed itself on your computer.

   

• Microsoft Windows Defender. This software will help protect your PC from spyware and other potentially unwanted software. Download the anti-spyware software here Once there, you might want to click on the link named "Read More." Then click the orange “Download It Here” button to the right.
  
  Note: This works only on Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 computers.

  This program runs continually on your computer and notifies you when any program, website or "uninvited guest" is trying to make changes to your computer settings. If you are in the process of installing a program or downloading files, you simply click to allow the changes to be made.  If you unknowingly clicked on any form of adware or spyware that is attempting to install files on your computer, you will be alerted and can discontinue the action.
  
  It is recommended that you update the software regularly or configure the software to update itself automatically.
  

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Stinger Virus Checking Software

There is a free program called Stinger that checks for particular viruses (known as MyDoom, Shimg, Novarg, or Mimail) as well as for over 50 other viruses. The viruses it checks for are ones that typically try to interfere with, or even disable, your standard virus-checking software.

So if your virus-checking software seems to be acting strangely, or if other things seem abnormal with your computer, you can download the program from this web site:  http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

Double-click on the Stinger file, then tell it to Scan Now. It will detect and try to cure any viruses.
 

Free Firewall Protection

Download a free copy of ZoneAlarm. It's an easy-to-use firewall that blocks hackers and other unknown threats.

• Systematically identifies hackers and blocks access attempts;
• Automatically makes your computer invisible to anyone on the internet.

ZoneAlarm is free for individual and not-for-profit charitable entity use.

Download FREE ZoneAlarm® (Firewall Protection)

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LogMeIn

Need to open a file on your office computer while on vacation or access your church's computer while away at a meeting? Now you can with LogMeIn FREE! It's a free alternative to GoToMyPC or pcAnywhere.

If you can connect to the Internet at your remote location, then you can easily control the mouse and keyboard of any PC and view the monitor, all for FREE. You must of course install the host program on the computer you want to access.

»Control the PC remotely
»Check your email
»Run programs and open files
»Run system diagnostics
»Access from any browser
»Access from wireless PDA
»Easy-to-use interface
»100% FREE to use!

https://secure.logmein.com/go.asp?page=products_free

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Picture Format Interchange Program

Download a free copy of IrfanView that will convert from one picture format to another. You can change a TIF file to a JPG file, for example, which will take up much less space on your computer or in an email.

Download IrfanView and then at the right-hand side of the page, click "Download the current version @tucows."

At the page that opens, click on "Download Now." Save the file to your computer. The name is iview400_setup.exe and the size is about 1.1 Mb. Locate the file on your computer after it downloads and double-click on the file to install the program
 

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