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Education | Microsoft | Macintosh | Freeware / Shareware

Although there are many other operating systems Microsoft is the most commonly used operating system in the world. Be sure to check your system for needed updates and patches that Microsoft provides free of charge for users of their operating systems, browsers and email software as well as their office products and miscellaneous other software and hardware products.

Apple has been producing their award winning line of Macintosh computers since 1984. They are a proprietary computer manufacturer, meaning that the hardware created by Apple will only run their operating systems and software. You can't run Windows software directly on a Mac Computer. Having said that though, the Macintosh is a positively powerful system. In the background, the Mac OS has standard features such as Unix based OS, C++, Perl and Python programming languages and the ability to get deep into the operating system to create your own applications and scripts.

Recommended Freeware or Shareware software:

Avast Anti-Virus software: Avast Anti-Virus offers a free version of their Anti-Virus software. They also sell full versions of the software also.

wpeAB.jpg (106035 bytes) Zone Alarm Firewall protection: A firewall can be either hardware based such as a router or software based. If you have a broadband connection whether it is a Cable or DSL modem which is always on you should definitely have firewall protection of some kind.

While there are many software based firewalls to choose from we recommend Zone Alarm for their free firewall protection. The company also sells firewall software with more features and abilities but if you have only one computer and are an individual user Zone Alarm will surely work for you. If you are a user of Microsoft Windows XP, you may already know that you have a built in firewall. The problem with Windows XP firewall is that it only stops incoming security risks. If you receive a virus or trojan that takes over your system from an email the Windows XP firewall will allow it to go back out of a port without question. Zone Alarm stops both incoming and outgoing security risks.

Spybot - Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware SE Personal are two very popular spy ware and ad ware removal programs on the market today. Both offer a free version available for personal use. If you download trial software, shareware or freeware from the internet or install software from friends or co-workers, you need at least one of these programs.