We have the open source software movement to thank for a variety of amazing computing tools. It’s hard to imagine what the internet would be like without Mozilla and Firefox, and many a small business would have a lot of trouble paying for office suites if not for the wonderful OpenOffice.org. There’s more to open source software than browsers and Microsoft Office clones, however. Read on to discover the best open source security tools.

1. SpamAssassin (Free, Windows / OS X / Linux)

Everybody hates spam. Unfortunately, the spammers are always finding new ways to sneak their scams and non sequiturs into our inboxes. Thankfully, SpamAssassin by Apache is on the lookout. SpamAssassin is a wide-spectrum spam detection tool, which means that it uses both local and network tests to weed out spam. SpamAssassin has a devoted following, in large part because of how easy it is to configure, and how it will work on just about any e-mail client and on just about any platform. There are loads of different versions, too. Check out the website to see what’s available.

Also Read: How to know if a link is safe to visit or not?

2. ClamAV (Free, Windows / Linux)

The only thing more painful than suffering data loss or theft as a result of computer viruses is having to shell out the heaps of cash necessary to pay for commercial anti-virus software like Norton and McAfee. Fortunately, the good folks behind ClamAV, also known as Clam Anti Virus, have the answer. ClamAV is a toolkit for UNIX, and it scans for viruses on e-mail gateways with a command-line scanner and a fast, multi-threaded daemon, among other features. Confused by the jargon? Not to worry: ClamAV is easy to set-up and there is a helpful community willing to help troubleshoot, should anything go wrong.

3. IPCop (Free, Linux only)

IPCop is a firewall distribution aimed at small businesses and home offices. Though Linux users tend to be very tech-savvy, IPCop takes no chances: the web interface is very intuitive and easy to use. Best of all, IPCop is free, something that cost-cutting small business owners will be very glad to hear.

4. SmoothWall Express (Free, Linux only)

Like IPCop, SmoothWall Express is a Linux-based firewall distribution, and like IPCop, it is also free and open source. The similarities do not end there. SmoothWall Express is very easy to install and configure, and it is very light on system resources. Even older machines will be able to run SmoothWall with ease. If you own a small business, have almost no budget for IT expenses, and need a solid and reliable firewall solution, give IPCop and SmoothWall Express a try to see which is right for you.

5. OpenVPN (Free for two clients, Windows / OS X / Linux)

A virtual private network, or VPN, is an excellent cost-saving tool in its own right. A VPN allows a business to use the pre-existing infrastructure of the internet to host and access a private organizational network. This means a business no longer has to pay for costly private lines. OpenVPN takes the savings even further, by eliminating the need to pay for expensive proprietary VPN software. OpenVPN is easy to use and available on every platform imaginable. Try it for free on up to two clients.

6. Untangle (Plans starting at free, no operating system required)

Untangle is yet another firewall solution for small businesses. Like IPCop and SmoothWall Express, Untangle is free to use. Unlike the others, however, Untangle also offers paid plans that grant more control and more web filtering options. What also sets Untangle apart is that it does not require any operating system to run: Untangle requires a dedicated PC, and during the installation process it will install its own operating system. Untangle’s paid plans are free to try for two weeks, so give it a shot– you have nothing to lose.

7. SpamPal (Free, Windows only)

SpamPal is a lightweight anti-spam tool for windows, and makes a fine alternative to SpamAssassin if you want something a little more basic. SpamPal is a mail classification program that works for all POP3 and IMAP e-mail accounts, and it has dozens of plugins available in a variety of languages. Like everything else in this list, SpamPal is free to use.

This is a guest post by Kip, who writes about technology for one of the leading broadband comparison websites based in Australia where users can find exhaustive overviews of mobile broadband plans. If you would like to write for Extreme Trix, read Guest posting guidelines.

Image Credits: Unknown

[List] Seven Best Open Source Security Tools. is a post from: Extreme Trix

Google’s operating system, Chrome Os is already out for developers. According to the reviews I read it looks pretty good and would definitely give a tough competition to Microsoft’s Windows and Apple’s operating system OS X.

I was reading about the operating systems only and came through a really funny image of ‘Windows talking to OS X about the Chrome’ and found it worth sharing with all, after all I didn’t share any funny thing nor any list of wallpapers here too.

Windows talking to Apple OS X about Chrome Os

Windows talking to OS X

I am sure you would LOL! Won’t you?

Also Read: A wiki that you make you LOL!

Image via Tech Lunch

[Fun] What’s Windows saying about Chrome to OS X? is a post from: Extreme Trix

What do you do when you forget your Windows password? Call an engineer or what? I’m sure that most of you do so. Ever thought how much money do you waste by giving to that engineer for just a simple task, which you could have done yourself. It is not too much geeky or needs any programming knowledge. To crack a Windows password you just a program called Ophcrack and spare 10-15 minutes.

Ophcrack

Its an open source program that uses LM hashes to crack Windows passwords through rainbow table. As its open source you can download it for free and start using it.

How to use it?

It is very simple to use, just download its iso from here and burn it a CD/DVD or a flash drive. If you want to burn it on a flash drive, but don’t now how to do that, then you can read the tutorial posted here by Satish bro. After burning insert the CD (or DVD or flash drive) into the computer of which you want to gain password and restart the computer. Now turn on the computer and enter BIOS at startup. Change the boot sequence to CD before HDD, then save and exit. The computer will be restarted, Ophcrack will be loaded and you will get its Windows password!

Isn’t it easy? So next time if you forget your computer’s password remember not to waste any more money just read this- post once again.

How to crack Windows password? is a post from: Extreme Trix

Today I was planning to upgrade my computer’s operating system to all new Microsoft Windows Seven as I told you all in the last post that I like to keep changing my system’s Operating System, moreover I am on Ubuntu and it is creating a lot of problems for me which I am not able to solve. I always test an OS thoroughly before buying it (I read reviews and, then first test it on my friends old Pc ). I searched on internet about Windows Seven, I got a cool news that Microsoft launched new Windows service named Windows 7 Test Drive using which we can test Windows 7 OS right on our favourite web-browser just like Vista Test Drive which was launched by them in early 2006.

Try Windows 7!

This service from Microsoft allows us to experience the all new Windows Seven OS, which is running on Microsoft’s server along with it you can see step-by-step walk through videos of its features on the sidebar of live Windows. This service requires just an Active-X installation and Internet Explorer to run.

I tried it using online demo and found it better than any other OS, even better than new Apple’s Snow Leopard. I’m soon going to purchase it.

You too can experience Windows 7 from here.

News Credit – Mega Leecher

Test drive Windows 7 on your browser before buying it! is a post from: Extreme Trix

I know many tech savvy guys prefer downloading software rather than buying original copies from shops. I too like to download trial software and applications from internet because I do not think there is any use of buying an original copy of software, if I keep on formatting my hard disk after every two weeks and keep on changing my operating systems. Previously I was on Windows XP Professional, then I upgraded my XP to Windows Vista Ultimate and, then I formatted my HD again and installed the all new Ubuntu Karmic 9.10 to give it a try. Well I didn’t like it as compared to previous versions of Ubuntu because of some Adobe flash plug-in error, sometimes when I try to install a plug-in in my Ubuntu I get some weird Adobe flash plug-in error. So now I’m planning to upgrade to new Windows Seven.

Software CDs

Today when I logged in my laptop got a message my trial period of Nero burner is over, I was not having time again change the Operating System. I changed my date to two months back, but I didn’t work, still it was showing expire error. That time I had to burn some important data too on my DVD. So I searched on internet to get a solution, finally a found small 844 KB application named Time Stopper which can stop the time of trial versions of software. (Found it on Genius Hackers blog.) It solved my problem. I thought to write a detailed post about it on Extreme Trix as my blog is read by many tech savvies so thought it may help them.

Using Time Stopper we can use any trial version of software forever for free. The best thing what I liked about this application is real time and date run normally on our systems.

How it Works

• Open Time Stopper
• Browse and select .exe of required trial software
• Choose the new date (Any date which occurs in between your trial software time period before expiration, suggestion: set it to two days before trial software expiration date.)
• Choose any time
• Click open software on your selected date

Note: I do not support piracy, I used this software to just extend my trial period of Nero for just five minutes as I had to burn some important files, then after burning my DVD I removed this application and my trial Nero too.

Image credits: LeaseSource and MusicLab

Download / Info

Use a trial software forever for free! is a post from: Extreme Trix

Couple of days back Microsoft launched Windows Seven and now its claimed to be most stable and faster operating system released until the date, it is having clean user interface to look beautiful (even better than Windows Vista). Today in this article I am going to tell you about a cool transformation pack for Linux Ubuntu which will transform its UI to look like Windows Seven.

It includes some nice wallpapers, windows seven sound, cursor themes, GDM theme, windows seven icons, dock bar, panel background, etc.

Windows 7 on Ubuntu

So what are you all waiting for? Redirect to this page, follow the procedure and experience Windows 7 on Ubuntu!

How to convert Ubuntu UI to look like Windows 7? is a post from: Extreme Trix

Last night I got an email by one of an Extreme Trix reader that he (sender of mail) wants to give Linux a try, but don’t know what’s the difference between Linux-based OS and Windows. Well, I thought it is better to write an article on it rather than to personally reply his mail. So in this posts I am going to differentiate between Linux and Windows.

So here we go -

• The Linux GUI is optional while the Windows GUI is an internal component of an Operating System. Linux typically provides two GUIs. KDE and Gnome.
• Linux also has Text Mode Interface. This is also known as command interpreter. Windows users sometimes call it DOS prompt.
• Linux is less costly or free, but Windows is expensive.
• One thing that Linux can do, but Windows cannot, i.e., you can run Linux from live CD without installing the whole OS and software’s. To run Windows, it has to be first installed on hard disk.
• One major constraint is Software restriction. A program written for Linux will not run under Windows and vice-versa. For example, Microsoft Windows have Office and another product Star Office is made for Linux. These are two different products, each capable of only running on the OS it was designed to do the same work.

Also read : Tried out the unofficial version of Chrome OS!

Linux vs Windows. Who’s better? is a post from: Extreme Trix

A day before yesterday when I was casually reading some tech blogs found news that unofficial beta version of Google Chrome operating system is released, without wasting even a second I left it for download. The download got finished in five hours and some minutes. Well, frankly speaking my past experience with Ubuntu was not good so wanted to give it (Chrome) a try. I just tried it for 12-13 minutes, but I found it more user-friendly than Ubuntu. The thing I didn’t liked was its speed, speed of live CD was too slow as compared to Ubuntu’s Live CD speed.

Well I can’t review it now because I have used it for some minutes only.., But don’t worry tonight I am going to play with it and tomorrow morning I will surely draft a review in Extreme Trix. Till read other articles tagged Linux.

Note : These days I’m too busy with our new blog network, so can’t review (test) chrome now. I will post a review after 10-20 days.. Keep visiting ET

Tried out the unofficial version of Chrome OS! is a post from: Extreme Trix

I became fan of open source applications since I started to use WordPress, I started loving open source alternatives, Last night I installed Ubuntu 9.04 on my computer. I faced some problems while installing it, so thought to share the problems (with their solutions) -

• Installation struck at 82% – I inserted Live CD into CD drive and installed Ubuntu inside my Windows Vista Ultimate. I rebooted the system and boot manager was showing two OS – Ubuntu and Vista, without wasting a second I clicked on Ubuntu. Till 81% everything went fine, but when it reached 82% it got stuck when there was a message “checking mirrors”. After wasting my 20 minutes (trying to solve it) finally I got a solution.

Solution -

• I simply turned off my router for 10 minutes and everything went fine.

Problems I faced on first start up -

• MP3 Decoder issue – After some help of ubuntu forum, finally Ubuntu was up and running fine, then I decide to play music. I clicked on places > 62.9 GB media > browsed my song folder and clicked on my favourite song. Woo! music player was showing that you need to have MP3 decoder plug-in to play songs, I searched MP3 decoder in Ubuntu packages and nothing was there. I kept on searching .. At last after 5-6 minutes I found two plug-ins for MP3. The download and installation took two-three minutes, now I was able to play songs (at last!).
• Wireless Driver issue – Ubuntu has gone up to 9.10 beta so I thought there would be no more driver issue, but I was wrong! tell me, what is the use of a router if wi-fi is not working? I searched on internet and found a WiFi driver. It started working.

Solution -

• I followed instructions recommended by one of an Ubuntu user in ubuntu forum.

Note : This article is a result of my own experiences with Ubuntu. It doesn’t mean, you’ll also face the same issues. I hope that you liked my article, if you really enjoyed reading it do read other articles filled under Applications category. Comments, tweets, shares and Diggs will be appreciated.

Problems I faced while installing Ubuntu. is a post from: Extreme Trix

You may have noticed that every time you open your computer to browse folders that there is a slight delay. If you are using Windows XP operating system with too many application installed then it may take up to 15+ seconds to open a folder because Windows XP automatically searches for network files every time  you open Windows Explorer. So today I’m sharing a new trick with you all to speed up folder browsing!

Follow these steps to speed up folder browsing in Windows :-

• Open My Computer
• Click on Tools menu
• Click on Folder Options
• Un check the Automatically search for network folders and printers check box
• Click Apply
• Click Ok
• Reboot your machine & your done!

Thanks Computer Tricks blog for this cool trick!

How to speed up folder browsing? is a post from: Extreme Trix