The open source community has developed privacy-related tools to help you keep your data and online activities private.

With these tools, you don’t have to spend big bucks just to purchase expensive security tools. Whether you are a developer, student, or new open source user, you’re sure to find tools here that can help keep your data secret.

Developer Tools

• Jasypt – Jasypt is a tool you can use to add encryption to your code if you are not fully knowledgeable with cryptography. This tool uses standards-based encryption methods or techniques that allow you to encrypt text, numbers, passwords and more.
• JCrypTool – this tool allows you to learn about encryption and cryptography. It makes it easy for users to experiment on different encryption mechanisms.

Encryption Tools

• TrueCrypt – this tool can be used to encrypt just a single file, a particular partition or even the entire hard drive. It can also encrypt portable hard drives or USB flash disks. This can be used in Windows, Mac and Linux.
• AxCrypt – a file-encrypting tool that makes it easy for Windows users. Users can just browse and right-click the file they want to encrypt on Windows Explorer and viola, encryption is done. This tool is developed for Windows operating systems.

File Transfer and Sharing Tools

• WinSCP – this tool supports SFTP, FTP and SCP. Users can securely transfer files from Windows to Linux computers. This tool is compatible with Windows.
• RetroShare – with this tool, you can securely chat and transfer files with your peers. This is because you can setup your own network by sending your peers a key. Communication is encrypted using OpenSSL. This tool is compatible with Windows and Linux operating systems.

Network Security Tools

• Untangle – even if Linux operating systems cannot be easily attacked by malware or hacks, this tool can increase the security level of your Linux box. It includes firewall, intrusion prevention, anti-spyware, anti-spam, web filtering, anti-virus, VPN and more. This tool can turn any computer into a security appliance because of its all-in-one approach to security and network protection.
• Privoxy – this tool lets you setup a proxy server for protecting your privacy. It includes web filtering, removing ads, and more. Privoxy is easy to customize and users can apply with their network or on a standalone system. This tool can be used in Windows, Linux, Unix, OS X, BSD, and Solaris.
• Mixmaster – this tool allows you to send email messages anonymously or using an alias to anyone. This can be used with Windows, Linux, Unix, OS X and BSD.
• Remote BHO Scanner – spyware usually disguises itself as a Browser Helper Object (BHO), integrating itself to Internet Explorer or other browsers. This tool helps you determine if your Browser Helper Objects are spyware. With this, you can remove them manually and protect your data and privacy. This tool can be used in Windows operating systems.

Some Tools for Protecting Your Privacy is a post from: Computer Spot

Among the top portable GPS navigator devices available today, TomTom GPS Vehicle Navigator has been touted as number one.

When you consider the expense involved in adding a built-in GPS navigator to your new car, another alternative that will save you a considerable amount of money is purchasing the TomTom GPS navigator.

TomTom’s features include:

• Millions of points of interest; TomTom MapShare instant map updates
• Pocket-sized design; 3.5-inch touch screen with 2D and 3D views
• Turn-by-turn spoken directions
• “Help Me” emergency menu; real-time traffic capability
• Technical Details
• Type: Receiver
• Display: LCD
• Display: TFT
• Touch Screen: Yes
• Voice: Yes
• Battery Type: Internal Lithium-Ion Battery
• Battery Life: 2 hours
• TomTom’s HOME is free software that enables users to future proof and also personalizes your devices.
• Via easy desktop access, any TomTom customer can update maps, download the latest application, and celebrity voices as well.
• With HOME you can: Update their TomTom device with the latest software and services automatically and for free
• Easily buy and install the latest maps and European safety cameras
• Download celebrity and character voices
• Pre-plan trip itineraries
• Receive free traffic alerts on your computer
• What’s in the Box: TomTom ONE device, suction mount, car charger, USB 2.0 data cable, and installation CD with connection software and manual.

Among the many features listed above, consumers who have utilized the TomTom have stated that there are several new features to this 3rd edition of this GPS navigator they find most useful.

For example, the device gives you the capability to make corrections to the map using the “map correction” feature.

This feature also allows you to reverse traffic direction, edit street names, unblock a street, and add missing points of information.

At a time when technology has advanced in the field of communication, having a TomTom GPS Navigator makes driving from point A to point B manageable, easy, and void of stress.  TomTom users have also found this GPS navigator more accurate than its counterparts.

Price at approximately $165.00, it seems clear why TomTom has gained recognition throughout the GPs user community.

With TomTom’s availability in 36 languages, as well as its user application available in 22 languages; no wonder it has been rated as the number one GPS system in the world.

TomTom GPS Vehicle Navigator is a post from: Computer Spot

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As technology matures, it always yields better results. Proceeding on similar lines, since the featured web browser from Google, Chrome is still currently in beta form.

You’ll find precious little news on just why Google believes the technology incorporated in Chrome is advancement on the existing web browsers, notably Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and the Mozilla’s Firefox!

There are lot many reasons that may be listed out but here are my Top 10 Reasons to try Google Chrome includes:

1. Open source

I know it sounds strange, and Firefox is open source too, but as a matter of fact, Internet Explorer isn’t! If you don’t know why open source can be a good thing, then you’d better read this…

2. Crash control

Every tab the user opens, runs independently in the browser, consequently if any application crashes it doesn’t take anything else down with it.

So it can be considered to be highly stable, on the other hand I have personally experienced Firefox crashing totally many a times, which is quite annoying!

3. One box for everything and SSB’s

Chrome allows creation of Site Specific Browsers, which are basically created from the main Chrome browser to allow users to quickly access a single site.

These are the stripped down versions of the main browser. Moreover Chrome incorporates Web search, dedicated Address bar providing suggestions as you type and Web history.

“One unified box serves all your browsing needs,” says Google, and that does make sense.

4. New Tab page & Dynamic tabs

Every time you open a new tab, you can find a visual sampling of the most visited sites, most used search engines, and recently bookmarked pages as well as closed tabs. Pretty cool… ain’t it?
What has Google got to say on this-?

“You can drag tabs out of the browser to create new windows, gather multiple tabs into one window or arrange your tabs as you wish – quickly and easily”, Google says.

5. Application shortcuts; Omnibox

With Google Chrome you can use web applications without opening your browser as application shortcuts can directly load your favorite online apps.

All Webapps can be launched in their own streamlined window without the Omnibox URL box and browser toolbar. The Omnibox is the URL box at the top of each tab, similar to Opera, which includes auto-complete functionality but auto-completes only URLs that were manually entered.

6. Safe browsing mode; Incognito

Chrome includes an Incognito mode, which is similar to Safari’s Private Browsing and Internet Explorer 8’s InPrivate! Google Chrome warns you if you’re about to visit a suspected phishing, malware or otherwise unsafe website.

7. Instant bookmarks & Simpler downloads

If you wanna’ bookmark a web page, you can simply click on the star icon at the left edge of the address bar and that’s it you are done ?

What’s more there’s no intrusive download manager; you can see your download’s status at the bottom of your current window, which feels lot more convenient.

8. Importing settings options and smart Pop up blocking

When you switch to Google Chrome, you need not lose all your private data and you can happily start from the same point where you left off with all the bookmarks and passwords duly restored from your existing browser.

Moreover the Popup windows are scoped to the tab they came from, meaning that they will not appear outside the tab unless the user explicitly drags them out!

9. Rendering engine

Chrome uses the WebKit rendering engine on advice from the Android team, which is an interesting thing to watch out for… Only time can tell what difference can this really make, in helping Chrome scoring over the other browsers…

10. Blacklists

Chrome periodically downloads updates of two blacklists, first one being meant for phishing and other for malware, and warns users when they attempt to visit a harmful site.

This service is also made available for use by others via a free public API called “Google Safe Browsing API“, which resembles the Internet Explorer 8’s functionality as well!

Google Chrome also has many more new advanced fabulous features such as gears, Sandboxing, cool Plugins, high Speed, support to all JavaScripts, high Stability, Multiprocessing abilities, efficient Task Manager and many more, which add developer features that could probably become web standards, typically relating to the building of web applications that even includes offline support too!

There’s lot more associated with Chrome than you can guess… so just be on the hunt to discover more!

Top 10 reasons to try Google Chrome is a post from: Computer Spot