Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.40

Reviewed by: MD:HAMDE RABBI

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a surprisingly effective freeware antimalware tool. It's a relatively speedy malware remover, with the quick scan taking about 8 minutes even with other high-resource programs running. The heuristics engine proved on multiple computers during empirical testing that it was capable of determining the difference between false positives and dangerous apps.

The app has some nice features rolled in, too. It supports multiple drive scanning including networked drives, context menu options including a scan-on-demand for individual files, and the FileAssassin option under the More Tools section for removing locked files. The interface is simple, but pleasant-looking and well-organized. Tabs live just below the oversized logo, with few options per tab to keep down the clutter. The installation process was fast enough, but interestingly offered up the well-kept changelog and an instant definition file update.

Do note that the real-time protection is restricted to the paid version, as is the scheduler for updates and scans. Overall, though, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a responsive malware remover that does what it should with a minimum of fuss.

Publisher's description

From Malwarebytes :

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is a high performance anti-malware application that thoroughly removes even the most advanced malware and spyware. With one of the fastest, most effective quick scans and malware removal capabilities on the market, this program is the perfect addition to your PC's defenses. The full version of the product includes a number of key features, including the ability to schedule updates and scans and most importantly, a real-time malware protection module that blocks malicious processes before they even start.

Version 1.40 adds an IP blocking module, support for two new languages, and fixes a few bugs.

Download Now (3.76MB)

Trend Micro HijackThis 2.0.2

Reviewed by: CNET Staff

If persistent spyware is bogging down your computer, you might need HijackThis. The tiny program examines vulnerable or suspect parts of your system, such as browser helper objects and certain types of Registry keys. Pressing the Scan button generates a log of dozens of items, most of which are just customizations. Don't check off an item and hit the Fix Checked button unless you're sure it's malware. Clicking Info on Selected Item tells you why the entry was flagged as suspicious, but not whether it's actually malware. To find that out, search the Web for that item's name or go straight to a forum, such as SpywareInfo or Computer Cops. Saving the log creates a text document you can post to these forums.

The latest version adds powerful tools to the Config window. The process manager and hosts file editor help you excise virulent infections. The unique ADS Spy tool scans for alternate data streams, which some browser hijackers use to hide from spyware removers. The program still installs into whatever directory in which you unzip the file, which can make it hard to locate. HijackThis is a serious tool for any user who needs to root out a serious infestation, but wield it with caution.

Download Now (793.3K)

Foxit PDF Editor 2.1 Build 0702

Reviewed by: CNET Staff

This program is a handy editor for PDF files. There is no installation; once you click the EXE file, PDF Editor opens on your desktop. After opening a PDF file, you quickly see how easy the software is to use. You simply click any part of a document, and the automatically selected line appears below the document. Then you configure the text, color, stroke color, transformation, or form. The program also allows you to add virtually any text or image object. Moreover, it displays all the current settings of the line or object, which is convenient for further configuration. This program will be useful for any person needing to customize anything in a PDF file.

Publisher's description

From Foxit Software :

With Foxit PDF Editor, you can open a PDF file, create a brand-new file, add or remove pages, change anything, and save. All graphic details will be retained with no quality loss. You can select, modify, delete, and insert text, images, or graphic objects. Like any real editor, Foxit PDF Editor supports features such as single or group selection, copy and paste, and undo and redo. You can see your changes immediately. Foxit PDF Editor is an independent application, so you don't need to install any other software (not even Acrobat Reader). It's compact and easy to use.

Version 2.1 includes Shading Object Support, Converting Text of Path, Adding Shapes in Non-Graphics Editing Mode, Removing all evaluation marks at once, and Alignment Support.

Download Now (3.32MB)

Picasa 3.1 build 71.43

This photo organizer strikes us as the picture of simplicity, a hairy task considering that Picasa 3 stacks on over a dozen more features and refinements to improve the editing, creative, and sharing options onto what has for years been a solid consumer app. Although not the most powerful image manager on the block, Picasa has the distinction of being the most easygoing.

Picasa's editing tools now include a retoucher to cover over blemishes and an improved red-eye corrector that detects and fixes all orbs emitting a magenta glow, with fairly good results.

Picasa really shines when it comes to organizing, uploading, and sharing pictures. New syncing and sharing buttons on the album level let you keep folders up-to-date on your Picasa Web album without leaving the desktop app. The same goes with its neighboring 'Share' button, which uploads photos online and e-mails your contacts the link from Picasa's interface.

The latest version also greatly improves the collage tool and adds a basic movie maker that lets you intersperse a wide range of video with stills. Though we love the concept, the bare-bones tool needs work, and greater choice of outputs--right now it only churns out WMV files. One other caveat: Picasa eats a lot of memory, so be wary of a performance drag, oh ye of modest memory. In every other respect, this free photo editor and organizer program is an excellent choice for amateur shutterbugs with plenty of photos to share.

Download Now (9.59MB)

UltraISO Premium 9.3.3.2685

Reviewed by: CNET staff

Highly versatile and especially proficient with boot discs, UltraISO Premium creates, edits, and burns disc images in several popular formats: ISO, BIN, Nero, Alcohol, CloneCD, and Xbox. It also converts images among formats. UltraISO supports data and audio/video discs and includes a simple MP3 encoder, but it really excels at creating bootable discs. It even can create a disc with a menu for booting several OSs.

The interface is well organized, though rather plain, and we wish its icons were more readable. Also on the negative side, the program can't mount CD images, which will diminish its value for some. However, if you need support for multiple image formats and want to design bootable discs, UltraISO makes a very good pick.

Publisher's description

From EZB Systems :

UltraISO can extract, create, edit, and convert CD/DVD image files. It can directly edit an ISO file, make ISO images from CD/DVD-ROMs, create a new ISO from files and folders on your computer, and make bootable CDs and DVDs. In addition, UltraISO can convert nearly all known CD and DVD image formats to ISO, BIN/CUE, Nero (NRG), Alcohol 120% (MDS/MDF), and CloneCD (CCD/IMG/SUB) formats, as well as burn CD/DVD images directly with built-in burning engine and emulate ISO images with up to 8 virtual CD/DVD drives.

Version 9.3.3.2685 can view and extract files from XBOX360 ISO images, mount UDF DVD images on Windows Vista and Windows 7 Beta 1, and save newly detected media capacity.

Download Now (3.44MB)

FreeRip MP3 3.1

Reviewed by: CNET Staff

Like a finely tuned laser, FreeRip 3 does one task: extract songs from your CDs. Fortunately, the app accomplishes its goals accurately, if not with flair, and makes for an easy-to-use audio-track ripper.

The latest version of the program features some long overdue enhancements. Chief among them is the inclusion of the WMA format, and it's hard to believe it wasn't included before. FreeRip also supports WAV, MP3, Vorbis, and FLAC. Other features include multitrack ripping and an option to use the program as an audio-file converter. The options menu is extensive and will appeal to any advanced user, since it makes most manners of customization a cinch.

The interface is well done, with big icons and a friendly main window split into two sections. The left pane lists the tracks, and the right gives you specific info on each song and has a tab to switch to CD-wide info. The toolbar has icons for all the major functions of the app as well as links to the publisher's community pages. In the end, FreeRip doesn't do anything its competitors don't, but it functions well, is uncomplicated and quick, and has no price tag.

Publisher's description

From MGShareware :

FreeRip is an easy to use application that can convert from audio CD to MP3, OGG, FLAC, WAV and WMA. It also is a MP3 converter, and it can convert MP3 to WAV, OGG to MP3, WMA to MP3, WAV to FLAC, and so on.

FreeRIP also is a MP3 tagger, supports CD-Text and online CD database (FreeRIP CD DB and freedb.org). Moreover FreeRIP includes a search shortcut menu, to help you find images, videos, information and lyrics about CD/track artist or song. Version 3.1 fixed a clipping problem in Ogg Vorbis reader, updated LAME and FLAC libraries.

Download Now (1.79MB)