• MemoToMe.com 
  Here's a useful free reminder service that lets you easily specify one-time or recurring events and automatically sends you a reminder about them via E-mail or a wireless device.
  
  
  
• Free-Minder.com 
  Do you need a helping hand in getting your day organized? This helpful free reminder service sends you E-mail that you can customize to remind you of everything from birthdays to wedding anniversaries to business meetings.
  
  
• Domain Watch 
  Are you worried about forgetting to renew your site's domain? Sign up with this free service and you'll get repeated notifications that remind you to renew your domain registration as the expiration date approaches.
  
  
• The Emergency E-mail Network 
  Sign up with this unique free service to receive notification via E-mail of natural disasters or other emergencies in your area. To get started, select your state and county from the lists provided and follow the instructions. (U.S. only).
  
  
  
• EZ-Reminders.com 
  This free reminder service can help organize your life. You can configure it to automatically E-mail you when important dates and events roll around. It's handy for remembering birthdays, anniversaries, meetings, doctor appointments, auto maintenance, etc.
  
  
• TVEyes.com 
  A fascinating free service that sends you an E-mail alert any time a topic or keyword that you specify is mentioned on TV. Many uses: from following the latest news on your fave celebrity to keeping up with anything that's mentioned on the air about your investments. TVEyes.com monitors broadcasts in real time and "watches TV for you when you're not able to."
  
  
  • MailWasher 
    This handy freeware E-mail management program lets you fight back against spammers and E-mail viruses and helps protect your privacy. MailWasher lets you check and manage your E-mails before you download them. You can also use it to bounce E-mails back to spammers, so that it looks as though your E-mail address is no longer valid. (For Windows).
    
    
    
  • SafeProxy.org 
    This free, ad-supported service helps protect your privacy online by letting you surf the Web anonymously. Note: SafeProxy.org supports SSL sites as well.
    
    
    
  • KPKFile 
    Does your PC have sensitive data that you'd like to keep safe from prying eyes? This "privacy management tool" is the best freeware program we've seen for encrypting (as well as hiding) files on your hard drive. KPKFile offers drag-and-drop functionality and is easy to use. (For Windows).
    
    
    
  • NetBrute Scanner 
    How safe is your network? This freeware tool lets you locate dangerous and easily exploitable security holes in your network. NetBrute Scanner includes three helpful network utilities that are the same types of tools that have long been available to UNIX-equipped hackers. (For Windows).
    
    
    
  • Ad-aware 
    (This site is occasionally inaccessible). Protect yourself from "Spyware" with this handy free utility. (Spyware consists of sneaky software programs that use your Net connection--usually to report data to advertisers--without your approval or knowledge). Ad-aware removes spyware on your PC and scans your memory, registry and hard drive for known spyware components. (For Windows).
    
    
    
  • StealthMessage.com 
    Are you worried about the security of your E-mail? A free service, StealthMessage.com offers a secure messaging system that encrypts your private messages and stores encrypted messages anonymously. The service is easy to use and there's nothing to download.
    
    
    
  • SurfinGuard 
    These days, even if you've installed firewall and anti-virus programs on your PC, you're still not safe from all the dangers that lurk in cyberspace. A freeware program, SurfinGuard, can protect your PC from today's new generation of online threats that include malicious executables, Windows scripting files, ActiveX and Java. SurfinGuard is free for personal, non-commercial use. (For Windows).
    
    
    
  • Anonymizer 
    A very useful site that lets you surf the Web without leaving a trail of personal information about yourself across cyberspace. Anonymizer offers unlimited free trial access. You can either surf anonymously via the site's online version or you can download the free version of Anonymizer's "PrivacyButton," a tool that downloads into Internet Explorer's toolbar.
    
    
    
  • ZoneAlarm 
    If you have DSL or a cable modem, you may have heard about the security problems that these types of always-on connections pose. An essential free firewall program, ZoneAlarm offers your computer protection against thieves, snoops and vandals. ZoneAlarm includes five interlocking security services, including a Stealth Mode, which renders your computer invisible to the Web (and potential intruders). (For Windows).
    
    
    
  • Sneakemail 
    Have you ever been reluctant to enter your E-mail address in an online form, for fear of being spammed? Sneakemail is a free service lets you create disposable E-mail addresses. These addresses are aliases of your real E-mail address, (which is kept hidden). Using this service, you can ensure that your E-mail won't be abused, bought or sold.
    
    
    
  • Cryptext 
    Need a quick, easy way to encrypt files on your computer? Just install Cryptext and whenever you right-click on a file, you'll get a pop-up menu that lets you easily encrypt or decrypt it with one click. This freeware utility uses a combination of SHA-1 and RC4 to encrypt files using a 160-bit key (which is geek speak for saying that it renders your files unreadable to snoops). (For Windows). Available in English, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese language versions
    
    
    
  • PrivacyX 
    (Note: this service is no longer free, but a free 30-day trial offer is available). Did you know that every E-mail that you send can be accessed and read by people (other than the intended recipient) even months after it has been sent? This free new service offers you complete privacy and anonymity with all your E-mail correspondence. And since it's a POP3 server (not Web-based), you can use it with any E-mail client.
    
    
    
  • ScramDisk 
    Here's a freeware hard drive encryption program that's a must if you have data on your PC that must be kept secure. ScramDisk creates an envelope on your hard drive that can be mounted as a virtual disk when you enter the correct password. All data written to this disk is encrypted and can't be accessed without the password. ScramDisk supports several encryption algorithms, including Blowfish, IDEA and Triple-DES. (For Windows).
    • Note: ScramDisk has been succeeded by a new program, DriveCrypt, (which is not freeware). However, ScramDisk is still free and available at this site, although it's no longer in development.
    • Since it was developed in Britain, ScramDisk is not subject to U.S. export law.
    
    
    
    
  • JBoot 
    This handy free utility will secure your PC's contents against unwanted prying eyes while you're away. Think of it as a MasterLock for your computer. It's only 52 kilobytes in size. (Requires Windows).
    
    
    
  • HushMail 
    Are you worried about the privacy of your E-mail? You should be, given the security woes that plague E-mail these days. A free Web-based E-mail service, HushMail offers 1024-bit technology encryption for your messages and attachments. (Note that your recipient must also be a HushMail user for you to take advantage of the 1024-bit encryption feature). Service is available in English, French and German. For Windows. A Mac version is promised in the near future.