8 FREE PROGRAMS That Should NEVER Be On ANY PC!

In a recent video we showed you the free programs that we think are the best. Sadly, there is software that for a variety of reasons could do more harm than good. In this yearly round up, I’ll show you the free programs we believe should never be installed on any computer. I’ll explain why they shouldn’t be installed and if available show you free alternatives to those programs.

10 FREE PROGRAMS That Should Be On EVERY PC!
“FREE SOFTWARE” Playlist

0:00 Intro
0:26 Password Manager (Numerous Issues)
1:44 VPN (User Logging/Botnet)
2:40 Ad Blocker (Accepts Payola to Show Ads)
3:38 PDF Reader (Slow/Shady Install Process)
4:33 Operating Systems (No Longer Supported)
5:08 Browser (Security Issues/Not Supported)
5:29 Media Player (Slow/Limited File Support)
6:07 Antivirus Extensions (Not Needed/Slows Browser)

LINKS TO FREE ALTERNATIVES:
Bitwarden
KeePass
Proton VPN Free
Foxit PDF Reader
Linux Distributions
VLC Media Player
SMPlayer

MORE VIDEOS TO WATCH:

Brett In Tech is a leading source for the technology that we use each day. Whether it’s discussing computer operating system tricks, the latest tips for your mobile phone, finding out about the newest gadgets, or letting you know about the free software programs that should never be on any PC, Brett In Tech has boundless topics on technology for the astute YouTube viewer.

[rigen]

it's unbelivable how immensely slow Acrobat Reader was especially considering how little feature it offers. Even using browsers to open PDFs is far better.

[jonasfermefors]

I'm a PC pro with over 30 years experience and I approve of this list and run most of the recommended alternatives myself.
Regarding Acrobat Reader: last time I checked it took more diskspace to install than the entire MS Office suite. All Adobe software is bloated beyond reason.

[WarpRulez]

I haven't seen it myself, but I have read several anecdotes of people helping friends or clients to clean up their computers because they were running so slow, and finding dozens and dozens of "windows optimizers", "registry cleaners" and so on and so forth, all actively running in the background. In many of these cases the user had tried to make their PC run faster by installing more and more of these "optimization" and "cleaning" programs that supposedly would do so... only for these programs themselves making the computer run much slower because of how heavy they are and how much they interfere with each other, consuming resources.

[bpdmf]

In my internet security class we had one assignment to install and use last pass. I emailed my prof and told him I wouldn't use it and he let me use a different one of my choosing. Even newer textbooks use last pass as a go to for training people and it just taught me that even if things are accepted as good that they might not be.

[mohamedaliessbai]

For pdf readers i would recommend Sumatra, it's free open source and lightweight . As for web browsers use thorium or ungoogled chromium (they're both chromium based), or mercury (Firefox based). For media players, other than VLC, i usually install K-Lite codec pack with MPC (media player classic), and using the integrated windows media player after installing the codec pack is not a bad experience either.

[GaryB]

I use Firefox as my PDF reader. Most browsers can open them natively.

[JasonWestaway]

Thanks for the video. Very informative

An alternative to MS Office is Libre Office, which is free and open-source.
Libre Office can read MS Office documents and vice versa

[QueueWithACapitalQ]

Not surprised Lastpass is on here. The idea of a password manager that is backed up to some companies database always rung as a bad idea to me. Putting all your passwords in one place along side a neat list of everything you have an account for and what password goes with it is just asking for a databreach to ruin you.

[sapelesteve]

Thanks so much for this very important computer information Brett! Yet another video to send to friends & family for viewing! 👍👍

[talibong]

What about SumatraPDF? It's the fastest, lightest PDF reader I've ever come across.

[EpicATrain]

If you haven't already, can you do the best PAID programs that all computers should have and PAID programs that should never be on a PC?

[christophercooper]

Sumatra PDF is a great lightweight freeware reader that has no unnecessary bells and whistles

[RIOTNOOB]

I will say you are spot on about the programs. Thank youi for no click bait.

[animyosfox]

4:29 Sumatra PDF is also a very good reader if you just want to read PDFs.

[agateanne]

Thanks Brett! You are so very helpful!

[bobman]

VLC has been thw best for so long. Credit to the programmers

[kobihersh]

great tips - I personally already do some of them and I just learned some new ones from this video which I'm going to implement !

[misterbum]

Very informative. Thanks. On your recommendation, I added two of the programs you suggested.

[darth_dub_]

Just found this channel and love the quality of your information. One new subscriber here.

[bocconom]

Excellent information and just in time as I will be building 2 new systems along with reformating a third.