windows based software

• 7-zip (file archiver and compression tool)
• adobe reader (pdf reader)
• avg free (free anti-virus software for home use)
• bullzip (pdf creation freeware)
• chrome (web browser)
• cutepdf (pdf creation freeware)
• eraser (secure data erase tool)
• firefox (internet browser)
• gimp (image manipulation software)
• microsoft security essentials (antivirus protection)
• openoffice.org (word processing, spreadsheets etc)
• putty (sftp, ftp, scp client)
• quicktime (digital media)
• spybot (privacy software)
• thunderbird (e-mail client)
• winscp (sftp, ftp, scp client)
• winrar (file archiver and compression tool)
• vlc player (media player)

macintosh based software

software that is useful for the apple mac osx platform would include:

• adobe reader (pdf reader)
• cyberduck (sftp, ftp client)
• fetch (stfp, ftp, scp client)
• firefox (web browser)
• google chrome (web browser)
• macfuse & ntfs-3g (both required for windows ntfs write support)
• openoffice.org (word processing, spreadsheets etc.)
• vlc player (media player)