1. Browsers and extensions

• Firefox – Currently The Best Browser Out There
• Chrome – A close second
• Adblock Plus – Blocks Ads
• ProxTube – Circumvent Blocked Youtube videos.
• Speed Dial – Allows fast access to your most visited websites.
• NoScript – Add-on (for Firefox) which allows JavaScript, Java, Flash and other plugins to be executed only by trusted sites.
• TinEye browser plugin – Reverse search an image.

2. Audio and video

• VLC – Open Source Video Player.
• Media Player Classic – Home Cinema – Light-weight media player for Windows.
• Foobar 2000 – Extremely lightweight and customizable free audio player for Windows.
• Audacity – Free, open source, cross-platform software for recording and editing sounds.
• Spotify – Listen to music for free.
• Grooveshark – Listen to music and radio stations for free.

3. Security:

• Microsoft Security Essentials – Antivirus software.
• Malwarebytes – Anti-malware software.
• LastPass – Password manager.

4. Communications:

• Skype – Call friends/family on their computers or phones.
• Pidgin Open source chat client which is compatible with several different chat networks.
• mIRC – An oldie but a goodie

5. Documents, images and graphics:

• Foxit Reader – PDF reader.
• Open Office – Open source personal productivity suite.
• GIMP – Free image manipulation software.

6. File Compression:

• WinRAR
• 7-Zip – Open source file archiver.

7. CD/DVD-tools:

• ImgBurn – Really good, lightweight burning application.
• CDburnerXP – Another good, lightweight burning application.
• Virtual Clonedrive – Free media emulation software.

8. Cloud Storage:

• Dropbox – Cloud storage.
• Google Drive – Google’s cloud storage solution similar to Dropbox.