Whether you have just bought a new PC or want to get the most out of your current one, there is some essential software that no computer should be without in 2014. From security tools to media players, here is our pick of the essential software you need on your PC – and the best part is, almost all of them are completely free!
1. Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool
Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool is a security utility that is not intended to protect your PC against incoming virus threats that can damage your local data, intrude on your personal information or cause other untold havoc. Instead, it is crafted from the ground up to be used in situations when you know that you are already infected with malicious software. It is a common occurrence that viruses and other malware manage to disable antivirus software, preventing you from even installing or activating it. When that happens, you definitely need to try Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool, a utility that has protective measures which enable it to effectively fight any type of already deployed software threat. You can even install it in Safe Mode.
Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool features an extremely easy to use interface, with intuitive tools that enable even complete computer novices to control it. A single button will start automatic disinfection of the computer, with the optional ability to schedule a manual deep scan. After the scan, some files may be sent to Kaspersky servers for further analysis, and a detailed report about the health of your system will be presented to you. The main dashboard of Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool features a very pleasant layout, with 5 main tabs that open new areas of this software’s services – Protection Center (current state of your files, private data, system, application and online security), Scan (where you can pick the complexity of the scan and set up a scan schedule), Update (for refreshing the local catalogue of threat software), Tools and Upgrade.
2. IObit Malware Fighter Free
Malware Fighter Free from IObit is a popular malware and spyware removal software that uses advanced techniques and widely tested procedures to rid your PC of all kinds of malicious software and deep infections. One of the most celebrated features of this program is its unique “Dual-Core” anti-malware engine that can effortlessly detect any kind of software threat – adware, Trojans, bots, worms, spyware, keyloggers, browser hijackers, data theft and more. All you need to do is install and activate Malware Fighter Free and your PC will become free from those threats.
While there are many other anti-spyware solutions on the market, Malware Fighter manages to distinguish itself with the wide range of threats it can detect and successfully remove from your system, saving your OS from slowing down, protecting your local files, and preventing the leaking of your personal information. All of this is controlled via a very user-friendly interface that can be easily handled even by complete computing novices. All its functions are managed from a well-organized dashboard with 4 main tabbed categories – Overview (current state of your system), Scan (manual or scheduled scans with varying degrees of complexity), Protect (set up additional defenses) and Cloud. Additionally, the Quarantine area of Malware Fighter is always prominently showcased, giving you a quick way to see which files were flagged as threats.
Malware Fighter has a very competent free version that can be used without restrictions, but its paid service ($19.95 per year per PC) unlocks a wide variety of additional advanced services.
Malware Fighter Features:
One-click Solution and Very Easy to Use
Traditional advantages of IObit products. We love simple and automatic styles.
Complete PC Security Care
Anti-malware, anti-spyware, anti-adware, anti-trojan, anti-bots, and more. IObit Malware Fighter can assist your antivirus to defend against any tricky and complex threats.
Finds the Deepest Infections
- Using DOG (Digital Original Gene), a novel heuristic malware detection method, IObit Malware Fighter can find the most complex threats.
- Very Fast and Light – Thanks to the improved, unique “Dual-Core” anti-malware engine, complicated analysis can be made faster now.
- Works with All Antivirus Products – Everyone needs a qualified antivirus software, and IObit Malware Fighter will surely be the best mate for your current antivirus.
- Automated Working in the Background – Just install it and forget it. This powerful utility works continuously, automatically and quietly in the background on your PC. You can set it to your schedule or just let it work automatically when your PC is idle.
- Automatic and Frequent Updates – With the new-generation malware analysis system and our professional database team, IObit Malware Fighter catches the emerging dangerous malware on the Internet.
3. Format Factory
Format Factory is a comprehensive audio, video and photo converter and ripper that will satisfy your every need, all while having a simple interface that can be used by everyone.
Among the many features of Format Factory, you will most likely appreciate the comprehensive options for ripping and converting files. You can not only use it on individual files, but it can also access and convert entire directories, DVD discs, music CDs and your entire multimedia archive after only a few clicks of a mouse. Of course, the integrated audio and video converter comes with a wide array of options that will enable you to easily convert your files for consumption not only on your PC, but also on all popular portable devices (such as iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android and BlackBerry).
The interface of Format Factory is very easy to use, with a dashboard that allows quick access to all of its conversion combinations for Videos, Audio, Pictures and other types of conversions. Simply pick your target format, load your content, and click on the “Start” button that is clearly placed in the central location at the top of the app. Customization options for each of the supported formats vary from simple (resolution change for pictures, for example) to more complex (full control over the audio/video quality).
Advanced options of Format Factory will enable you to convert pictures by using crop, rotation, zoom, tag and watermark tools, select audio tracks for your video files, and even repair damaged multimedia files when possible.
4. KMPlayer
KMPlayer is a free and powerful multimedia player, capable of playing various audio and video formats and working with the most popular codecs. While many other video players that are popular around the world require the user to install and maintain a codec collection on their PC (usually via easily distributable codec packs), KMPlayer is focused on a much different type of reproduction – reproduction with all codecs and tools already preinstalled with its installation. Users who want simplicity, total coverage of all multimedia standards and advanced features that can control all aspects of video and audio playback need to take a real closer look at this powerful app that is today used all around the world by millions of users.
The first version of KMPlayer was released by Korean programmer Kang Young-Huee in early October of 2002. Its popularity grew steadily with each passing year, but the true expansion happened in early 2008 when it was announced that KMPlayer was acquired by the popular internet video streaming company Pandora TV.
KMPlayer is an all-in-one media player covering various formats such as VCD, DVD, AVI, MKV, Ogg, OGM, MPEG-1/2/4, WMV, RealMedia, and QuickTime. It handles a wide range of subtitles and allows you to capture audio, video, and screenshots in many ways. The player includes almost all the essential free decoders required for playback. Furthermore, external ones can be specified, so that KMP works optimally with the users’ own customization.
5. VLC Media Player
VLC (formerly VideoLAN Client) is a lightweight, open source, cross-platform multimedia player and framework that plays most multimedia files as well as DVDs, Audio CDs and VCDs, and also allows you to watch streaming media from remote computers and servers.
With faster decoding on multi-core, GPU and mobile hardware, and the ability to open more formats – notably professional, HD and 10-bit codecs – version 2.0 was a major upgrade for VLC. Twoflower brought a new rendering pipeline for video, higher-quality subtitles, and new video filters to enhance your videos.
6. BitTorrent
BitTorrent is one of the first and most popular torrent clients, which allows you to quickly and safely share files with your friends or other computer users. BitTorrent is a simple piece of software that makes downloading big bundles of files (torrents) fast. The program is very well optimized for downloading from multiple sources, and uses only minimal computer resources. Harness a community of over 150 million users to deliver files to your PC faster than anything else.
The BitTorrent client first appeared on the market in July of 2001, and was presented to the world as the first client built to work only with the BitTorrent protocol. With popularity quickly achieved, this client became known in the developer community as the “mainline” software solution, viewed as the basis of the entire transfer protocol. Development of this app continued to be open source until 2006, when its code was switched to be powered by μTorrent. From that point on, the BitTorrent client stopped being open source and adopted a closed development structure that produces steady updates even today.
The interface of the BitTorrent client is very traditional, offering anyone an easy way of controlling current downloads, the number of connections and everything else that is needed from a modern peer-to-peer file transfer client (parallel downloads, speed limits, automatic file recovery…). One interesting addition can also be found – an integrated search engine for discovering new torrents. As of early 2014, the interface of the BitTorrent client was translated into 66 international languages.
BitTorrent Main Features:
Ultra-fast file delivery
Move big files quickly and efficiently. The technology breaks big files down into small pieces. The files are then downloaded, piece by piece, from one or many different sources. Since the files are broken down into tiny bits, you use less bandwidth, which means your downloads move a lot faster.
Free, unlimited downloading
Download gigabytes. Download terabytes. Distribute petabytes. With BitTorrent, there are no limits to the number of files you can download, or the amount of data you can move.
Instant play on in-progress downloads
Watch while you download. You don’t need to wait for your files to finish downloading to start using them. Press play on media files, and watch, listen, or read them as you download.
Built-in bandwidth booster
Optimize speed for your connection. BitTorrent auto-adjusts bandwidth usage, based on your network and Internet connection, to ensure fast file delivery. Your downloads run in the background, which means they’ll never slow down video chats or game play.
7. DAEMON Tools
DAEMON Tools Lite is one of the best optical disc image creation tools on the market, managing to provide both complete PC novices and seasoned PC veterans with a streamlined way of creating backup copies of their CD/DVD/Blu-ray/HD DVD discs and emulating them inside a very easy to use virtual disc drive system that can manage an entire collection of discs and host dozens of virtual drives. Thanks to its simple user interface it’s ideal for both users who have very little (or no) technical knowledge of PCs and seasoned users who demand complete control over their disc authoring system. Those advanced users will be happy that DAEMON Tools Lite can easily manage their large collections of virtual drives and operate with up to 4 simultaneous disc images loaded into virtual drives (this limitation can be removed by purchasing the full version of the app).
DAEMON Tools Lite has more than one decade of experience in providing excellent tools to its large user base that demands the perfect mix between usability and advanced options. As of early 2014, the DAEMON Tools virtual drive management app exists in 5 distinct versions – Lite, Pro Standard, Pro Advanced, Net and Ultra – with Lite being the most popular, plus a discontinued “portable” USB version that got its last update in late 2012. Today, DAEMON Tools Lite represents one of the most popular virtual disc drive management tools, not only because of its great interface but also for its wide support for disc standards. It can even create and mount images of CDs or DVDs protected by SafeDisc, SecuROM, LaserLock, or any of the other latest protection technologies.
DAEMON Tools works under Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8, and supports almost any CD and DVD-ROM make. It can emulate CD, DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray discs.
8. PowerDVD
PowerDVD is one of the most popular and highest-selling media reproduction software, capable of providing easy playback of virtually every multimedia content while utilizing all the best video and audio technologies available today (all Dolby Digital audio formats, 3D Blu-ray reproduction, AVCHD, GPU acceleration, and many other advanced formats that are used by high-end movie production companies and loved by movie collectors).
The first version of PowerDVD appeared on the market back in 1998, instantly managing to offer users from all around the world great support for experiencing video, audio and photo multimedia on their PCs. As the years went by, this media player received an incredible number of updates that solidified it as a leading multimedia decoding software that was praised and awarded by internet media and used by millions of users who required perfect management of their entertainment consumption.
With over 16 years of experience in the field of multimedia, the creators of PowerDVD enabled it with playback capability of every media imaginable – movies, videos, photos, music, DVD, Blu-ray, 3D films, 4K video reproduction, internet streaming of bonus materials, streaming of multimedia from local networks, social network integration (Facebook, Flickr, YouTube), the ability to control reproduction via remote control, streaming of your local entertainment content from PC to Android and iOS portable devices, perfect upscaling algorithms, full subtitle support and more.
All of that is packaged into one extremely easy to use interface, which easily manages to showcase all your media library, links to your home devices, DLNA sharing, Online Media, and great playlist management (Top Rated, Recently Played, Recently Added and any number of your custom new playlists).
PowerDVD New Features:
Ultimate Universal Media Player
PowerDVD is the premium universal media player for all your movies, videos, music and photos. Enjoy brilliant Blu-ray & Blu-ray 3D for an incredible home cinema experience and play any media – movies, videos, photos & music!
Entertainment Beyond the PC
PowerDVD takes entertainment beyond the PC and to your smartphone or tablet with two new apps: an Android media player for videos, music and photos that wirelessly connects your Android tablet with the PC, and the PC remote for iPhone, iPad and Android devices that lets you control PowerDVD remotely.
Upscale to Amazing HD & 3D Quality
Apply TrueTheater® Enhancements to drastically improve the quality of your DVDs, videos and photos. Convert 2D movies, videos and photos into a cool 3D experience.
Entertainment Meets Social Media
Conveniently enjoy Facebook, Flickr, YouTube and MoovieLive all from one application! View Facebook & Flickr photos and convert 2D images to an out-of-this-world 3D experience. Search and watch YouTube videos in enhanced quality!
9. LastPass
LastPass is an easy-to-use and free password manager and form filler that can greatly improve your security while using Internet Explorer, Firefox and Google Chrome internet browsers. It allows importing and exporting data from every major password storage vendor, with the addition of capturing passwords that other managers can’t process (such as many AJAX forms). LastPass is a great solution for managing and creating online passwords.
So these were our picks of the essential software you need on your PC in 2014. Did we miss any of your favorites? Do leave your comments below!
