Issues

Many people currently use proprietary software. The idea of the Free Software movement is that using free software, shows that one supports the right to learn. It also allows us to share our ideas with others. Doing so with with propietary software, often risks labeling people as "software pirates". Followers of this movement also believed that propietary software represents a danger to a free society.

 

Origins

 

Before the Free Software movement free software communities existed as "hacker" communities. One of the first software sharing communities existed at the MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab. A few years later the GNU Project was created by Richard Stallman. This project eventually grew and lead to the ation of the Free Software Foundation. This foundation created many free licenses that are in use today by many free products.

Philosophy

1. The values of free software are made up of four freedoms. These are:
3. The freedom to use the program for any use
4. The freedom to stdy how a program works, and adapt it to your needs.
5. The freedom to share it with those around you.
6. The freedom to improve the program and share it with others who are interested.

 

Outcomes

 

The free software movment has created many copyleft licenses such as the GNU General Public License and the GNU Free Documentation License. Various programs such as Openoffice.org (office suite) and The GIMP (graphics editor) are a few software that have been created during the free software movement. Various Linux distributions such as Ubuntu and the K Desktop Environment have also been developed. This movement has also show that when people work together an improved society can be created.

 

Private places where it is usually forbidding to install a video camera such as; women's or men's bathrooms, private dressing rooms and even in private homes are being compromised by absolute strangers. The scary part about it is that we have no clue if this is happening to us, too.

Now, we have tools to fight back and protect our privacy from the prying eyes of total strangers and government agencies. Yes, there are some utterly incredible counterspy tools, gadgets and software that can help you reclaim your freedom and protect your privacy from being stolen.

Counterspy Tools (Indoor - Outdoor Use)

Some video cameras and recording devices have gotten so tiny that they can be planted just about anywhere and everywhere, so how do you know when you are being watched when you think that you are alone? The answer is simple, you do what the spies would do and that is to sweep the place for hidden video cameras and recording bugs.

Spy Exchange & Security Center

The Spy Exchange & Security Center carries a complete line of counterspy gadgets and products that the average person can use to detect hidden electronic devices that are being used to invade your personal privacy. The antispy products that this company carries are not toys and should not be used in banks, casinos or in government office buildings, because you could be breaking the law using these devices in these types of places.

Pro Extreme LaserScan Hidden Camera Detector/Locator

Image Source

Get ready to sweep an area for hidden video cameras of all kinds up to 50ft away with pinpoint accuracy. Not even pinhole hidden video cameras goes unnoticed as the Pro Extreme LaserScan Hidden Camera detector/locator can expose the most well hidden pinhole video cameras on the market using its lasers to scan the area from top to bottom.

Spy Gadgets

While hidden video cameras are seemingly everywhere that we go anymore, there are similar tools used to spy on the average person, too. Listening devices and micro digital recorders can be hidden anywhere and nearly in anything, so be careful what you say, because there could be total strangers recording every word. The Spy Gadget website offers counterspy gadgets, so you can fight and take your life back.

Portable Wireless Camera (Audio) Jammer

Image Source

This counter surveillance tool can be used to jam any audio recording device normally used to record private conversations and hidden out of plain sight.

StarTech Outlet Inc

Image Source

Stop worrying about strangers or government agencies from spying on your every move or word that you say when you visit StarTech Outlet Inc, because this website offers some extremely powerful countersurveillance tools available to professional sweep teams. So, when you get serious about protecting your privacy, then you can find some of the best antispy tools available on the market on this website.

Advanced Telephone Analyzer

Image Source

Get instant results at the touch of a button. The company claims, “Instantly detect telephone eavesdropping, wiretaps on telephones and RF room bugs using this computer controlled telephone analyzer.” Stops the spies dead in their tracks.

Antispy Protection (Protect Your Internet Privacy)

There are many clever ways to track private individuals surfing the Internet or visiting their favorite websites. Some websites install a tracking cookie or spyware into a visitor's harddrive, so to track their activity while visiting their website. Other secretive individuals may attempt to infect your computer with Trojan horse viruses to gain illegal access to your computer's harddrive or personal files. Government agencies might try to intercept your outgoing or incoming emails, Instant Messages, and even what you are downloading or the sites that you are choosing to visit. So, now is a good time to take steps to protect your privacy and keep unwanted intruders away.

Arovax SmartHide

This is the prefect internet program for people who want to surf the web with complete anonymity. SmartHide protects your IP address by hiding it and secures all of your computer protocols through encrypting your movements when surfing the Internet. So, the next time you don't want to worry about who might be lurking around when you are surfing the Internet, checkout SmartHide, so you can hide in plain sight. SmartHide offers both a free program and a paid upgrade program that is designed to protect your computer and your Internet activities even more than the free program version is designed to do.

The Cloak

Surf the Internet anonymous using the free cloaking application that The Cloak provides you. Unfortunately, “the Cloak” may not be available in all parts of the world, because some universities and governments have purposely blocked this program from being used. That should be a good indicator that this program works good enough to be blocked by fearful governments and universities around the world.

10 Minute Mail

Don't be giving your private email to just anyone who asks for it or requires it to join a social network or whatever. Your email should remain as private as you can keep it, because in the right hands your email can be used to send you Spam or even steal your online identity. 10 Minute Mail allows you to obtain a temporary email address so that you can use to join social networks, forums or just send an anonymous email without having to worry about your email privacy. The temporary email address will expire after 10 minutes, so that no trace of you ever being there is left behind.

Computer Security Measures (Protect Your Hard Drive & Files)

Computer hackers and government sneaks are lurking about and some of these spies are gaining access to private computers without the users ever realizing that their computer's security has been compromised. That is a scary thought, to think that there is even a remote possibility that a snoop could be easily gaining access to our personal information stored on our harddrive anytime they choose to. You can do something about it to stop them, but you will have to make the first move and the programs will do what they are designed to do - protect your privacy, so you can enjoy what you like doing.

Password Protect Folders

Protect your valuable personal computer folders that are stored on your computer's hard drive from potential hackers or government sneaks whom might be snooping around without you ever knowing that they are there. This program protects all types of files on most versions of MS Windows machines. The company offers a 30-day free trial version of Password Protect and after the free trial has expired, then the user has the option to pay for the full version (if Liked) or opt-out (if Not Liked).

FileDudes

FileDudes offers computer users serious about protecting their privacy a variety of Safehouse Hard Drive Encryption programs that you can download. Encrypting your most important files on your hard drive will make it that much harder for anyone not suppose to have access to your computer from stealing, deleting or copying any of your sensitive hard drive files. Government agencies do not like it when private individuals uses encryption programs, because it makes it that much tougher for their agents to access private computer networks and retrieve information, but you have the right to your privacy and protecting it by any means necessary is your right, too.

DataPicks

DataPicks is the most comprehensive resource of the Top PC security programs and applications available on the Internet. This website offers a wide selection of security and privacy programs that will help you better protect your computer from being compromised and your identity possibly being stolen by a hacker or identity thief. Also, you can pickup a free antivirus program as well especially if you need an updated version.

Identity Theft Protection (Online and Offline Protection)

Identity theft is on the rise around the world as new technology makes it easier for crooks to change identities at the drop of a hat. Identity thieves can apply for credit cards and purchase high dollar products and services in the names of their victims, and then causing a world of financial ruins for the innocent people like you and me. So, to prevent this from happening to you it is time to take some precautions and protect that unique thing that makes us - us, our identity.

LifeLock

LifeLock provides a service that helps safeguard your personal identity by monitoring all of the activity incorporated with your social security number and credit card transactions. If someone should ever try to steal your identity and try to open up credit card accounts using your social security number, then LifeLock will alert you and put a stop to these types of attempts quickly and securely. LifeLock even has a $1 million dollar service guarantee to backup their claims, if a member of theirs should ever have their identity stolen when using the LifeLock service. Now, that is confidence at its best!

Blue Chillies

Blue Chillies is a comprehensive website that offers a wide selection of identity theft protection programs and applications to protect your computer and online use from unwanted intruders and hackers. Some of the programs are absolutely free to download and other programs can be downloaded for a set price. There are a lot of choices to browse through, so to find exactly what you will need or want to customize your protection level of security.

Artmam.net

Artmam.net provides a comprehensive selection of security and identity theft prevention programs and resources that are designed to protect everything from your personal computer, laptop computers, iPods and much more. Since people are storing more and more personal information on their iPods and other handheld PDAs, it has become very important to secure these types of devices if they should ever fall into the wrong hands. This website provides the tools and connections needed to protect your privacy no matter what type of electronic device that you should choose to use.

 

 

Many people just hate not being able to make a couple of legal backup copies of the proprietary software that they paid good money for because of a restrictive license agreement that they had no choice but to accept. Yes, that really sucks. For once, the choice really can be yours to make, so here are a few sites that will help you to become informed.

These sites are worth a look for any body including those who are looking for alternatives to patented software and other software purchaser/user encumbrances. No Adware, Crippleware, Limitware, Timeware etc. to be found here. You even have the right to distribute the software yourself if you have the appropriate license. Might even be of interest to some of you Internet Marketing Entrepreneurs out there.

In providing this list of Free Software sites, I am not endorsing one over the other nor am I saying that any additional Free Software sites not included in this list are unworthy. This is because I have based the selection of these Free Software sites upon the following factors:

• Variety - Sites with a broad range of software genres (one stop shop if you will) and a range of products within each genre from which to choose
• Quality - Bad software is expensive at any price and more often than not ends up costing you more than its worth to remedy the damage done
• Legality - Software that allows you to legally, do with as you please is the underlying ethos of those making, developing, distributing and promoting Free Software. By “free”, they mean “free” as in “freedom” and not “free” as in “free beer”. Pity I like free beer. The other types of “free software” which come under the monikers of Open Source Software and Freeware I will discuss in another article.
• Features - The feature set of any software is always important as the more features that the software has ultimately translates into its greater usefulness
• Usability - Not only must the Free Software be easy and intuitive to use but so must the sites from which you obtain it
• Support - Nobody likes getting the cold shoulder and being able to get a helping hand every now and then is always of great value. To this end correct, readily available and up-to-date documentation is imperative.

Most of all I think everybody should visit a few of them to find out what alternatives to “mainstream” pay-through-the-nose products and services are out there. So here they are:

Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation.org is all about distributing free software where the free means “free” as in “freedom” and not “free” as in “free beer”. The range of software products they offer is diverse and many are actually available free as in “free beer” but you need to verify this on a case-by-case basis. Sister sites, all of whom embody the same basic philosophy as their parent but with a regional perspective include:

• Free Software Foundation Europe

No points for guessing that this Free Software Foundation sister site has a European bias particularly where issues deemed relevant or important to the EU such as privacy legislation are concerned. Still worthy of a look.

• Free Software Foundation India

With over a billion in population India is more than just a geographic region it is fast becoming a world economic power. This manifests itself in the vast numbers of “Western” countries and corporations that are currently out-sourcing development of products and services to Indian-based organizations.

• Free Software Foundation France

As with most things the French like to do it their way and the Free Software Foundation France.org is the Free Software Foundation's sister site based in France.

• Free Software Foundation of Latin America

It seems that everybody is getting in on the act and if you live in Latin America then the Free Software Foundation Latin America is the site for you.

Free Software Directory

The Free Software Directory is a project of the Free Software Foundation (FSF) and United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Here you will find a huge catalog of useful free software that runs under free operating systems. The focus is squarely oriented toward the GNU operating system and its GNU/Linux variants. I bet you will love this site, as there are over 5,000 free software packages available there just has to be something here for everyone.

• Free Software Directory - GNU

A subdirectory of the above Free Software Directory that focuses on GNU distributions and supporting software where you will find links and support to much GNU-based software. Documentation is also available here.

• GNU

GNU Operating System packages and additional software such as productivity suites, audio and video applications, database applications and tools, educational software, print and printer software and utilities including drivers, scientific applications, security suites and tools, graphics software, software development and software libraries to name but a few of the extensive range that can be found here.

Have been developing the free, UNIX style operating system GNU since 1983. The primary objective is to enable computer users to have the freedom to share and improve the software they use. Most common distributions have teamed GNU with the Linux kernel to form GNU/Linux.

Other directories of note include:

• GNU/Linux

Here you will find lists and links to GNU/Linux distributions that only include and only propose free software. Any non-free applications, non-free programming platforms, non-free drivers and non-free firmware “blobs” are not accepted. If any are included by mistake, then they remove it or at least that is their claim. Check them out. They do try hard to live up to their ethos.

It is also possible for you to recommend suitable software to be included in their catalogues. You can do this by asking the distribution's maintainers if they want to follow these free software principles. If they do, and would like their distribution to be included in these lists then they should write to .

There are many distributions that are working very hard toward being a completely free system and their efforts can be rewarded by being posted here as the “free” as in “free beer” publicity will undoubtedly be to their benefit. So if you are a developer, maintainer or user of a distribution that would qualify for listing then do so. The future and life expectancy of listed distributions is on average much rosier than for those not listed.

• Free GNU/Linux Distributions

If you are a fan of Linux and GNU then here is a good site as their focus is set firmly on Free GNU/Linux distributions. The site maintains a list (catalogue) of all of those distributions that they list are installable to a computer hard drive and most can be run live. Their lists have no particular order and they have many links to other sites.

• GNU.cz

This is an unofficial Czech GNU site

• JNode

Because Sun Microsystems® have made Java freely available with incredable software development tools and support the folks at JNode.org have produced a free operating system written in Java that is supposed to be “ground breaking”. I have no personal experience of this OS myself, but I am sure that this will be of interest to all you Java enthusiasts out there.

I myself am going to check it out once I have finished this article so if you want to check back later I will have an update to give you the low-down on what it is like. Better yet, if anybody has already experience of it, I know that I like many others would appreciate it if they would leave their thoughts or impressions in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Amazingly, even I have found something new and worthy of further investigation while researching for this article. You never know what is out there unless you look. This is the reason why I included some of the earlier sites and the “news and community” sites below. Some people make very good software but are not so “crash hot” on promoting or publicizing it.

• Dynebolic

The showpiece at Dyne.org is undoubtedly Dyne:bolic the free, as in “free beer” GNU/Linux distribution that places special emphasis on audio and video editing. Visit the site, download an ISO-image, burn a CD and then reboot your PC and hey presto a new OS up and running.

With a focus on rich multimedia content production dyne:bolic includes tools that enable you to record, edit, encode, stream, manipulate, broadcast and multicast sound and video. “Out of the box” support for a huge list of peripherals, audio, video, TV, network cards, IEEE 1394 (FireWire) and USB. Runs on a Pentium I or K5 and above, 64MB of RAM and IDE CD-ROM or a modded XBOX game console which is pretty, damn amazing.

This site rates a mention because it caters for much that we love and fulfills the fundamental criteria of providing variety, quality, support, versatility, legality, massive feature set and most of all its free in both dollars and the ideologies of the free software movement.

You will also find up to date documentation and a huge range of other free software products and services at Dyne.org including DHORUBA and pure:dyne.

Free Software

Free Software, as used in this web site, refers to software distributed in source form, which can be freely modified and redistributed, or freely modifiable and redistributable software. It does not necessarily refer to zero-cost software although many of the titles listed here are.

You will find links to a diversity of software including operating systems, general utilities, programming languages, Windowing systems, desktop environments, Web browsers, productivity suites and applications, office suites and server software to name but a few.

Chi3 Free Software

Much free downloadable software including games (on a separate page). The main compilation is a free to redistribute collection of a diverse range of software for many different platforms including Windows and MAC as well as the expectable GNU/Linux varieties.

Have a look because I was surprised to find the range and quality along with the currency of this software to be one of the better assortments. But then again whenever I find good quality software that contains highly regarded security components such as data removal, encryption, firewalls, and data recovery tools combined with audio and video software along with a reliable DVD ripper I just have to take a closer look.

• Chi3 Free Games

I will not list the games here but at a quick count over 70 titles including two of my favorites Free Quake and Tetris.

Delorie Software

This is DJ Delorie's own site. You will find many freebies and a software store with many free and freely redistributable software packages for which support is available but not free of charge.

They also have a number of services and will do contractual work. Some of the types of software available include web tools, 32-bit development system for DOS, UNIX replacement programs, a Hex calculator, bookstore, games, and Caldera's MS-DOS replacement among others.

GNU EmacsWiki: ElispArea

This is the EmacsWiki elisp area where we collect EmacsLisp files. No login required, no ftp required, no password required. It is as simple as the wiki itself. That also means that anybody can place malicious code in these Emacs-Lisp files. If in doubt, do not use them.

GNU programs for the Amiga and BeOS

An FTP site with many AmigaOS and BeOS software.

Free Software News Sites and Download Links

As with all things it helps to get your message out there and have, your voice heard. To this end, a number of websites are dedicating themselves solely to this purpose. Some of the major free software news sites that contain information pertaining to Free Software include (not in any particular order):

Slashdot

Slashdot has as their slogan “News for nerds, stuff that matters” and they are one of the major Free Software community and news sites that also have numerous user forums. You will find much information pertaining to software and software issues as well as links to many other sites with tons of useful information and downloads.

Specialty areas cater for include science, developers, books, games, hardware, Linux, mobile, politics, Apple and much more. The forums are very popular and many interviews and archival materials are available as well. Those who are so inclined can subscribe to numerous other mainly free services offered by the site.

Freshmeat

Freshmeat is a major software announcement site that maintains an extensive list of UNIX and cross-platform software as well as the Palm OS software. You will find thousands of software titles, particularly open source titles, catalogued here. With daily updates, a description of the software and links to download each listing also provided.

You will also find extensive articles regarding news on new releases, a variety of original content on technical, political, and social aspects of software and programming, written by both freshmeat.net readers and Free Software luminaries. While the comment board attached to each page serves as a home for spirited discussion (forum), bug reports, and technical support.

Free Software Activist Groups

Although the above news may have some degree of activism associated with them it is by no means as polarized as some of the following groups and non-profit organizations. If you feel strongly about this issue then remember that the primary ideology is one of “free” as in “freedom”.

Always remember that any highly emotive group polarized individuals will undoubtedly contain “extremist” elements and that freedom of thought and speech are ideals not openly available to every human or otherwise on the planet.

At this point, I need to state that I am neither condoning nor condemning any of the organizations that I have already listed or those that I am about to list. As always, I recommend that if you so desire, check them out for yourself and you be the judge.

Advogato

Advogato are the advocate site for free software developers. They state their mission as being the provision of a resource to free software developers, “free” as in “freedom”, around the world. In addition, they aim to provide a research test bed for group trust metrics and other social networking technologies. Advogato sums up its ethos as being devoted to the public good through its support of free software.

You will find many forums and semi-formal articles posted here. There are also links to download resources. Readers can reply or comment on many of the posts in considerably more detail and at much greater length than is the case with most social networking sites. Check it out there may be something that catches your fancy.

League for Programming Freedom

The LPF state their mission as being that anyone interested in the freedoms of free software and the benefits that it promotes should seriously consider joining and helping the LPF stop software patents and look and feel copyrights, before they stop you.

Free Software Foundation

The Free Software Foundation is all about distributing free software where the free means “free” as in “freedom” and not “free” as in “free beer”. They are also active in the promotion of their “Free Software” ideals.

Although I have already discussed the FSF earlier in this article I feel that they also merit a special mention here in the activists section since it was they (or at least their founder Mr. Richard M. Stallman) who really opened up this “can of worms” in the first place when he formed the FSF in 1985.

In short, the FSF claim their mission to be one of advocating and educating on behalf of computer users around the world.

Chi3

Chi3 was born in 2005 to “fight for freedom in the digital age”. Although I am listing, Chi3 here again under the activist section since this site makes their intentions and motives very clear as can be seen in their introduction when you first go there. You will also find a lot of free software as well from the links I have listed. Feel free to check it out, who knows you may just find what you are looking for here.

• Chi3Campaigns

Here is a snippet from the activist section “Big Media describe DRM as Digital Rights Management. However, since its purpose is to restrict you the user, it is more accurate to describe DRM as Digital Restrictions Management.”

The BadVista campaign is an advocate for the freedom of computer users; opposing adoption of Microsoft Windows Vista and promoting free (as in freedom) software alternatives is among other campaigns promoted by the site. See the site itself for more details.

• Chi3 Free Software

Much free downloadable software including games (on separate pages). The main compilation is a free to redistribute collection of a diverse range of software for many different platforms including Windows and MAC as well as the expectable GNU/Linux varieties. See the software downloads section for more details or just visit the site.

BadVista

The BadVista campaign is an advocate for the freedom of computer users; opposing adoption of Microsoft Windows Vista and promoting free (as in freedom) software alternatives. No prizes for guessing that these folk are not Microsoft's favorite group of people and since their slogan and ethos as stated above says what they are about I will leave it at that.

I will however add that this campaign and the Free Software Foundation (FSF) and many of its members are part of the same as the full web site address of http://badvista.fsf.org indicates. This is yet another reason as to why I have included them in the software directory section as well as here in the activists section.

General Directories

SourceForge

Although SourceForge.net is the world's largest, Open Source software development web site you will still find many Free Software, as in “freedom” projects available here. I will be producing a more detailed listing of Open Source software sites shortly so for now here is a brief synopsis of SourceForge.net.

SourceForge.net provides free hosting to Open Source software development projects with a centralized resource for managing projects, issues, communications, and code. Here are the latest figures for SourceForge.net's projects and registered user base.

Registered Projects: 178,435 and Registered Users: 1,859,843 and over 250,000,000 OpenIDs. You must admit that over 250 million OpenIDs is one heck of a large number and goes a long way to backing their claims of being the world's largest Open Source software development web site.

Note that there are quite a few dormant projects and single-user projects included in the above figures.

You do not have to be a registered user in order to download any of the software for which they are acting as a repository. There are also numerous “mirror” sites located in different geographical regions around the planet. For most people it is probably wisest to download the version of the software you are after from your local mirror.

This is because in cases where software has regional variations due to local idiosyncrasies the compatibility is generally better. To illustrate I have tried downloads from different regional mirrors and have found that for Australia the language version that is usually available from the local Australian mirror tends to use the Australian version of the English language, if available and not the American one.

Well that is it for now. I will be presenting a roundup of open source and freeware sites shortly. Until text time, enjoy!

The world of technology, on the other hand, is largely dominated by patents, which makes it a "close" and competitive model where knowledge is rarely shared without money involved: companies strive to patent their latest innovations and boost their profits. Standard licenses and patents therefore prohibit any attempt at understanding the detailed mechanism through which a particular piece of technology works.

In this sense, the Open Source Software can be seen as a way to bring the worlds of science and technology closer together, particularly in the field of computer software, by granting everybody the rights to disassemble, rebuild, manipulate and personalize the software, making it possible to understand its inner mechanisms and adapt it to the user's needs.

Many Open Source licenses therefore state the source code of the program must be available for immediate download. This, unluckily, is sometimes considered to impact the fields in which the OS model can be applied.

For instance, using free software for network security purposes is generally discouraged, as the source code availability makes it easier for a malicious user to find a bug in the program and exploit it, whereas with proprietary software you would have to reverse-engineer a large part of the code to achieve the same result.

However, the advantages in terms of transparency and reusability coming from the Open Source model are unique and will often attract developers willing to review and submit frequent patches and updates on a voluntary basis to ensure the quality of the project remains high.

This configuration editor can be run through the command (Alt-F2): gconf-editor

Or, you can right-click the Applications menu, click Edit Menus and then you can see the lists of things in the Applications Menu (some may be disabled from appearing by default when they are unchecked, others you can uncheck if you don't want to see them). Click the System Tools menu (in the left-hand column) and then check Configuration Editor (in the right-hand column). There are many apps that you may not have heard about, so you can check the boxes and try out the apps.

As I said before, you may want to be careful with what you do in the Configuration Editor as it could damage your user interface if you do something silly.

In addition, one can become involved in the Ubuntu community. There are multiple levels to become an Ubuntero. Each of these levels confers certain rights and responsibilities. The first level is the Ubuntero (Ubuntu Activists); it does not require testimonials, recommendation, nomination, etc. One simply needs to sign the Ubuntu Code of Conduct. The Ubuntu Code of Conduct can be signed using GPG.

Here are the instructions to use GPG for emails in Gmail and becoming an Ubuntero:

1. Start Firefox
2. Go to Launchpad.
3. Register for a Launchpad Account (Use your good Gmail account (it'll make your life easier later in a few steps)- and don't use an account you would normally use for spam or online registrations- Ubuntu won't send you spam).
4. Login
5. In the top right corner it should say Logged in as [someone]. Click the [someone].
6. On the Left Column under actions click Update OpenPGP keys.
7. Now minimize Firefox and go to console.
8. In console, type gpg --gen-key (Note: You may use any good password that you wish, that should be secure)
9. Type 1 for DSA and Elgamal (default)
10. Keysize, whatever you want (1024 is fine, though the higher your number, the longer it will take to generate and it will be more secure)
11. Type 0 for key does not expire (default)
12. Type y for yes
13. Type the same name you used for your Launchpad account under Real Name
14. Type the email address you registered Launchpad with No comment (press enter key)
15. Type O for okay
16. Key will now be generated. You may want to continue using your computer and do stuff, as this will be used by GPG for random information to create your key.
17. In console, type gpg --list-keys
18. Look for the line that says something like the below: pub 1024D/ 2007-04-11
19. The key ID will be some alphanumeric characters which you will use for the next steps.
20. In console, type gpg --send-key --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com
21. In console, type gpg --fingerprint
22. Look for the line that says something like the blow:
23. Key fingerprint =
24. Your fingerprint will be some alphanumeric characters which you will use for the next step.
25. Select your fingerprint, right-click, copy.
26. Go back to Firefox.
27. Paste your fingerprint in the filed that says Fingerprint:
28. Press the button Import Key
29. Now you will be emailed, but the text will be encrypted to so will need to use the Firefox extension for GPG in Gmail (now you see why I said Gmail before).
30. Go to http://firegpg.tuxfamily.org/stable/firegpg.xpi in Firefox. You may need to let firegpg.tuxfamily.org install software.
31. Click the button Install Now.
32. Restart Firefox.
33. Login into Gmail and open the email.
34. In the bottom right part of the email (to the right of Reply), click the Decrypt this Email link. You will need to enter the password you chose for GPG.
35. Click the button OK.
36. Voila.
37. Now go to the link in the email and activate the key.
38. Now go back to your Launchpad account.
39. Under the left column under actions click Code of Conduct.
40. Save the file on your desktop.
41. Read the file and if you agree with what it says then proceed.
42. In terminal, type cd Desktop.
43. In terminal, type gpg --clearsign UbuntuCodeofConduct-1.0.1.txt.
44. Open the created file in a text editor and copy and paste the entire contents into the box provided on the Launchpad Code of Conducts page in Firefox.
45. Click the submit button.

If all is successful, then you are now an Ubuntero (Ubuntu Activist).

I compiled some of the most useful online tools that are free of charge here.

Who's Off

Struggling to manage your holiday calendar? With WhosOff you can run reports and see on a monthly basis or yearly basis who is on holiday and who’s not. Your employees can even put in holiday requests.

Ask 500 People

Do you need to run a short questionnaire and struggling to find the people. Try Ask500People and you can get feedback from 500 people and you can see them answering in real time.

Mind 42

With mind42 you can create your mind maps online alone or with other employees. If they are in the same room or on the other side of the World. Brilliant.

Walletproof

Struggling to keep your finances straight? Scribbling your figures still and pieces of scrap paper and loosing them? Have a look at Walletproof and get organised!

Side Job Track

Do you struggle to keep track of projects, estimates and invoices? SideJobTrack has exactly what you need. You will never forget about an unpaid invoice or any estimates and quotes.

Actionize

Get your projects back under control. With this tool you can create projects and tasks and assign them to your employees.

All these tools will help you to work as a team and be successful. Even if your team is spread throughout the world. Doesn't matter. If you know of any other tools just post the links below.

Here are a few more free software programs which could be useful to you:

Photoshop

I haven't actually tried this one yet (only because I haven't had time) but Paint.NET looks very promising.

Antivirus

There are quite a few anti virus programs around try one of these ClamAV, Avast, AntiVir or AVG. Well you could simply try all 4 of them since it doesn't cost you anything.

Sound Recording Editing

There are probably better once out there but they will charge you for their software. So try Audacity. It certainly has some nice features and I am sure you will get used to it.

Winzip

There is a complete free software called 7-zip. Can extract from many different formats but sadly can not compress into the same. But hey, it's free.

Sage

Fed up with paying loads of money for sage but then not even use all its features that you pay for. Maybe Turbocashuk can help you to save a little bit of cash. Not sure how good it is since I don't need them.

By Law this is illegal and you can be prosecuted for doing this. Another danger are viruses that are often hidden in files you download.

There is another option. There are plenty of free programs that are an alternative to the expensive ones. Often they can do exactly the same as the one you were looking to buy.

Here is a list of some alternative programs

1. Microsoft Office

   This is a programme most people need and is very expensive. Open Office is a very good alternative to Microsoft Office. It can open pretty much all MS Office files except Access. You can also save them as MS Office files.

   Another alternative is Google Docs. Yes thats right Google. You can create Spreadsheets, Presentations and Text Documents online or you can upload existing ones. The advantage is that you can access them from anywhere as long as you have internet access. You can also share them with other people online.

2. Dreamweaver

   Dreamweaver is quite expensive but why not simply try PHP Designer. There is a Personal Edition available which is free of charge but comes with limits. It is quite good and has very useful features.

3. Nero

   Nero isn't that expensive but you can still get it cheaper. Have a look at CD Burner XP. You can pretty much do anything you can o with Nero. Create ISO's, burn ISO's, burn DVD's and much much more.

4. Maya, 3D Max

   These programes are very expensive. A Free option is Blender. It is available for Windows, Linux and Mac and produces amazing results.

5. Photoshop

   Another expensive programe some people can't/wont live without. Download Gimp and produce results that are just like the one from Photoshop but free.

6. Outlook

   Alot of people use Outlook and don't even know that there is software available that does exactly the same and is free. Thunderbird has proven to be very good and very cheap.

I will soon post the next part covering Antivirus and more and also provide more free alternatives to some of the above programs.