One of our editors here at Bay Currents, although not a real techie, is into the exploration of his computer and the Internet, often volunteering useful tidbits of information. Foremost of this wisdom is how much out there is free. When I suggested he do an article, he barked back, "Why don't you do it?"

So here it is. By the way, for you techies or near techies, most of this will be no surprise, but for everyone else who is mystified by their computers and the Internet, this will be an eye opener, as it has been for me.

The Internet, as a relatively new medium, is constantly being studied, improved upon and added to. "Freeware" and "open source" are terms that apply to software that you can download to your computer and use for free. It may be created by developers, dedicated to producing and improving their work, by companies that charge businesses but offer their products free for personal use while some are versions with a sales pitch for a for-pay upgrade; usually unnecessary. It's very important however to download only from reputable sites because danger lurks.

Following a few simple rules, I went to some recommended sites and did a bit of research on my own to find that just about all the software you may need or want can be had for free, generally just [or almost] as good as the for-pay equivalent. Rule one: DON'T ACCEPT UNSOLICITED OFFERS; they're often a scam. Yes, if you're not careful, the Internet can be a very dangerous place. You can do grave damage to your expensive equipment or compromise your privacy. Rule two: ONLY DOWNLOAD FROM TRUSTED SITES. (See sidebar.)

Okay, you just unpacked your new computer, plugged it in and connected to the Internet. Now what? Before going any further, you must be sure your security software is up and running and your system is up to date. Find Windows Update in your Control Panel, which can be found on the Start Menu. Set it to update automatically and do an immediate scan. This is vital because security holes are patched by the updates.

Several manufacturers bundle security software with their computers (a trial version that expires) so simply be sure it's running. When your free subscription runs out, you can replace it with a freebie. If not, install immediately; DO NOT SURF THE WEB UNPROTECTED! You will need one anti-virus program, one firewall and two or more anti-spyware programs. More than one anti-virus or firewall will create conflicts but only one anti-spyware may not catch all the malware that can infect your computer. Most Internet service providers include security software in the deal and Microsoft offers their own free package, although the built in firewall can be improved upon.

Now you're ready to surf the web, so click on your browser, your window to the web. Windows machines come with Internet Explorer (IE) already installed (Mac's have Safari) but there are other options. Firefox, by Mozilla, an open source organization, is a great alternative, safer to use and offers numerous extensions, or add-ons, to enhance your experience. Google's Chrome is lightening fast (you can have more than one browser installed). IE and Chrome also offer extensions but not nearly as many as Firefox. A must have extension on any browser is Web of Trust (WOT) which indicates the level of trustworthiness of a site and warns of danger. Remember, you can never be too safe!

But computers are not simply for surfing the web. The standard for productivity software is Microsoft Office, expensive and necessary for students and those in the corporate world. For those not required to conform, OpenOffice consists of the essential programs, is largely compatible with Office and is absolutely free.

Now that you're set with security and productivity, you can surf and play. Listed in the sidebar is a general site where you can find a wealth of safe and free software and a few suggestions. But the beauty of it is that you can go wherever you want, play whatever you want and learn whatever you want. Simply follow a few rules and the world of cyberspace is yours...all for free!

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Okay, so where do I find the free stuff?

Everything listed here is trusted and safe to download. Although some of the individual sites may urge an upgrade to a for-pay version or request a donation, everything listed is absolutely free...no strings attached!

Be careful to click on the free version; not the trial or upgrade.

CNET is one of the best, most trustworthy all around download sites but everything listed is not free. It's easy enough to find the free stuff though and the site includes reviews and descriptions.

http://download.cnet.com/windows/

Most of the software listed below can be downloaded right from CNET or from their own site.

Generally regarded as the best free anti-virus programs:

Avast     http://www.avast.com/security-software-home-office

Avira     http://www.avira.com/en/download/index.php

AVG     http://www.avg.com/us-en/free-antivirus

Microsoft Security Essentials http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/ (Microsoft finally came out with their own security suite which can only be found on their site.)

ThreatFire is a different kind of anti-virus program that complements the others...a worthwhile addition to your security arsenal.

http://www.threatfire.com/

ZoneAlarm Basic is one of the best firewalls around at any price. Although Windows includes a firewall, it's not nearly as good. If you do heavy surfing or are concerned, install this program and turn off the Windows firewall.

http://www.zonealarm.com/security/en-us/free-upgrade-security-suite-zonealarm-firewall.htm

Highly regarded anti-spyware programs:

Ad-Aware      http://www.lavasoft.com/

Malwarebytes http://www.malwarebytes.org/

Many more free, anti-spyware programs can be found on CNET and other trusted download sites.

Ccleaner will clean your hard drive and your register, allowing your computer to run more efficiently...a highly recommended utility.

http://www.ccleaner.com/

Each of these browsers has its own personality and each is safer to use than the built-in Internet Explorer.

Mozilla Firefox http://www.mozilla.org/

Google Chrome     http://www.google.com/chrome

They can be enhanced by extensions (add-ons) and toolbars (a bar on your browser with search and links to often used categories) that help secure and enhance your browsing experience. Toolbars are offered from Google, Yahoo, MSN and others. Check out the list of add-ons offered for your browser. You'll be surprised at the scope and number of items available.

Get started by installing the WOT add-on to your browser for added security while surfing the net. A different toolbar that's of interest to dedicated web surfers is the  Stumble Upon Toolbar, which sends you to different sites on a subject of your choosing or completely at random.

If you're not required by school or work to use the costly Microsoft Office, a free office suite is OpenOffice.

http://www.openoffice.org/

And then there is Google Pack. Offerings range far and wide, including the noteworthy Google Earth.

http://pack.google.com/intl/en/pack_installer.html

Whatever your interest, it's out there. You can install a planetarium on your computer, fly a plane with a flight simulation program, create music or a work of art or play a game...all for free. Just remember, all the security software will not protect you if you don't take precautions. Be careful where you go on the net. Don't answer unsolicited offers or pop-ups and don't open email attachments from strangers. Check out any software with which you're unfamiliar by finding a review by a known trustworthy source before even thinking of downloading.

Just to prove it could be done, someone loaded up a computer exclusively with free software. Check out Freeware Mission at http://www.freewaremission.com/2008/08/51-essential-programs-for-a-freeware-only-PC/.