|
|
|
Links Information
|
Welcome to the Links Information page.
This page provides a little further information on the items specified on the
"Links" page.
Also, each piece of Software is rated, from 1 to 5 "logos" (the normal stars
being replaced by the HolTech Services' logo - 
).
|
|
Anti-Virus
|
-
"Norton" by Symantec
-
Symantec's Norton Anti-Virus has a very good reputation and the current version
also includes Spyware-checking and keystroke-checking. This type of checking
was incorporated in version 2004, however it was next to useless, as it either
did not find many Spyware programs or could identify them, but not remove them.
Although it is fairly expensive, it's only let-down is that you can't set the
time period for the automatic update of the Virus Definitions. The automatic
update time period appears to be about 1 week.
-
"McAfee" by Network Associates
-
Network Associates's McAfee is a lot cheaper than Norton and is very
well-known, although this is not necessarily the same as a good reputation. It
is however used by a number of enterprise-level Websites, including Hotmail.
-
"VET" by Vet
-
Vet also has a good reputation, but it's interface is nor particularly
user-friendly.
-
"Trend Micro PC-Cillin" by Trend Micro
-
Trend Micro's Internet Security is the same price as Norton and includes an
Anti-Virus, Firewall, Spam Filter, etc. It also has the ability to set the time
period for the automatic update of the Virus Definitions, even down to hourly.
By default it is set to 3-hourly.
-
"Panda" by Panda Software
-
Panda is very new on the Anti-Virus scene, but seems to be doing quite well.
-
We don't have any personal knowledge of this Software.
|
|
Firewall
|
-
"ZoneAlarm" by Zone Labs - Free for personal use
-
The free ZoneAlarm is an excellent Firewall. It has received numerous awards
and favourable reviews from magazines and Online reviewers. Easy to set up, it
is heavily recommended for both beginners and advanced users. The advanced
version ZoneAlarm Pro (et al) is not free, but includes many advanced features,
including Alert Tracking.
-
"Sygate Personal Firewall" by Sygate Systems - Free for personal use
-
By all accounts and reviews, a good Firewall. Although very thorough and
detailed, it is very intricate and complicated to set up and hence is
recommended for advanced users.
-
"Kerio Personal Firewall" by Kerio Technologies - Pay for use
-
We don't have any personal knowledge of this Software.
-
"Black Ice Defender" by Black Ice (Internet Security Systems) - Pay for use
-
This Firewall has received numerous good reviews and is usually judged
alongside ZoneAlarm.
-
We don't have any personal knowledge of this Software.
|
|
Anti-Spyware
|
-
"Spy Sweeper" by Webroot Software - 1-update Unlimited Trial
-
Excellent Spyware Software. Has received a number of favourable reviews and has
even performed better than SpyBot, which is more well-known. One of the best
features, apart from it's performance, is it's ability to schedule a Spyware
scan of your hard drive at a preset day/time.
This free Software updates the Spyware definitions when it is first installed
and then periodically informs you of new definitions and asks if you would like
to subscribe.
Currently subscription stands at just $US29.95 per year.
-
"Ad Aware" by Lavasoft Software - Free for personal use
-
Initially when we tried this Spyware software, we found it to be very
problematic and although it still has minor teething problems, it is very
popular and does a fairly good job.
-
"SpyBot: Search & Destroy" by Safer-Networking - Unlimited Trial
-
Although very popular and effective, the free version cannot be scheduled,
which lessens its effectiveness.
|
|
Freeware and Shareware
|
-
"Tucows"
-
An excellent site, which keeps getting better and better and more polished all
the time.
Especially good for the large choice of mirror sites around the World,
including a large quantity in Australia.
Heavily recommended.
-
"NoNags"
-
Another excellent site, also getting better and better.
Also heavily recommended.
|
|
Essential (or at least extremely useful!) Software
|
-
"WinZip" by WinZip Computing Inc - 21-day Evaluation Version
-
For compressing/decompressing documents.
An absolutely essential tool for any Business. Will reduce the size of a
Microsoft Word document by a huge amount and can be used on any file.
Using this software and a word processor is much more effective, more readable,
more timely and faster than sending a Fax. And changes can be made, if
required. Try that with a Fax and you won't be able to read the reply!
-
"Acrobat Reader" by Adobe - Free
-
For reading PDF documents.
Another excellent product and although essential, is usually included free with
every PC item bought which has a manual on CD-ROM.
Also available by download.
-
"DAP - Download Accelerator Plus" by Speedbit - Free, Adware
-
For speeding up downloads of files. Also used to allow "resume" of a file
download.
Another excellent product.
Essential for Dial Up users and even useful for Broadband users, as it allows
recommencement of a broken download, at the same point that it was terminated.
This product downloads files at approximately 4 times the speed of normal Dial
Up.
Slightly annoying popup links to the Website, but well worth it.
-
Unfortunately, it has some problems with Windows XP.
Recommended.
-
"Copernic" by Copernic - Free for personal use
-
13 Search Engines in 1.
Another excellent product, it includes 12 Search Engines in 1 plus 1 in a
specialised category.
Includes the following Search Engines:
AltaVista, AOL Search, Enhance Interactive, FAST Search
(alltheweb.com), FindWhat,
HotBot,
Lycos, Mamma.com, MSN Web Search, Netscape Netcenter,
Open Directory Project and
Yahoo!
Heavily recommended.
-
"WinRAR" by WinRAR Labs - 40-day Evaluation Version, Shareware
-
For compressing/decompressing, encrypting documents.
Another useful compression tool, but not as well-known in the Windows
environment, as RAR originally comes from the Linux, Open Source environment.
WinRAR is totally compatible with Windows.
Comprehensive, but not as User-Friendly as WinZip.
|
|
Tech Sites
|
-
"Dan's Data" - Especially useful questions and answers in 'Letters' -
Australian expert
-
A particularly enlightening, informative and amusing Technical Site.
Never mind the ".com" rather than a ".com.au", this guy is an Aussie and is not
only extremely knowledgeable on PC Hardware and Software, but also PC History
(he had an Atari), Batteries and Radio-controlled models.
The favourite Technical Site of HolTech Services' personnel.
Heavily recommended.
-
"Gibson Research Corporation (Steve Gibson)" - Internet security guru;
consultant to FBI
-
A particularly useful Site for information and products on all things related
to Internet Security.
Has many very small, software packages to test and enhance your systems's
Internet Security.
Heavily recommended.
-
"Tom's Hardware" - especially good with Hardware
-
A very good Technical Site, especially for large-scale Hardware Reviews and
historical perspective Reviews on Hardware.
Heavily recommended.
-
"Overclockers" - good for Overclocking (USA)
-
An excellent Technical Site for Overclocker's, it has a huge Hardware
Overclocking Database.
Recommended.
-
"Overclockers Australia" - Local Site good for Overclocking
-
Another good Technical Site for Overclocker's, with a more local flavour.
Recommended.
|
For contact details, please Refer to the "Contact
Us" Web page
|
|
