![N.D. Author Services [NDAS]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhwXPd7BQfCEhHu95PcxamyThf4jeljbWcLvrSKosnWsuleuz2iekozxOuan7pLgbZB9nYEJEUlcS_IYOAyarPqTJDbICo37gdfUvCWwDqG-m_DjX3ieg6egHYDfs2A_BaysT3YPphNyA/s1600/serveimage_trim.jpeg)
Resources
for Authors and Others
You do not need to pay for great software. Selections herein are industry compatible, cross-platform and/or multilingual.
FOSS: Free Open Source Software
As with “free” software, you should not pay for such, including with personal information. Donate to projects that benefit you, or they may not continue. Watch for the to spot the ones we favor most.
Disclaimers
NDAS does not financially gain from or take responsibility for your use of any software.
Should you need assistance, see the application's “help” and/or developer documentation and online support communities.
OS (Operating Systems)
100% of author professional and/or personal needs can be fulfilled with a FOS (Free Open Source) operating system. For those who need some applications found only in the commercial OS world, there are free options for this as well.
 |
Linux Mint“Cinnamon” desktop edition recommended. #1 Linux “personal desktop” globally as of 2018+. |
 |
VirtualBoxUsed to run other operating systems windowed inside a primary OS. In this way, we use [almost] any software application. |
Office Suites/Applications
The widely claimed necessity of Microsoft products for publishing industry compatibility is false.
 |
LibreOfficeWord-processor, Spreadsheet, Presentation, Drawing, Database, Formula. Can open, create, edit, convert and save all Microsoft formats except for MS Access; includes PDF print/export. Its native ODF (Open Document Format) is 200% more versatile than DOC(X). A derivative of OpenOffice popular worldwide. |
 |
Apache OpenOffice |
Internet Applications
You, your activities and information are the prime commodities (and currency) of today's internet. The following focus on your privacy and security, though you should enhance them as well. [See “Extensions” herein.]
Web Browser
 |
SRWare IronBuilt on open source code for Chromium; Linux & Android versions based on slightly older codebase. All Chrome / Chromium telemetry and tracking code have been removed. Turn off auto-update settings that overwrite personal customization such as search engines. |
 |
Tor Browser BundleWeb access through a global network of encrypted relays. Prevents (1) surveillance of sites you visit, (2) sites learning your physical location, and (3) allows access to blocked sites. |
 |
WaterFoxFOSS | Linux , Windows & OSX & Android Built on a safe version of open source code for Firefox. All new Mozilla telemetry and tracking code has been removed. Turn off auto-update settings that overwrite personal customization such as search engines. WARNING: Firefox version 57+ is not recommended due to embedded telemetry & tracking code that cannot be removed. Use WaterFox instead. |
 |
ThunderbirdEmail, RSS, Newsgroups, Messaging, Tasks, Calendar, and more through Mozilla extensions. A communications center in one application. Turn off auto-update settings that overwrite personal customization. |
Extensions/Plugins
The following may be installable in other web-enabled applications. Browse to this page in the application and select the links. If the application is not recognized for the top 3 extensions below, then do not use it to directly browse the internet.
 |
HTTPS EverywhereWaterFox; Iron; Chromium, Chrome, Firefox, Thunderbird, Opera 15+, etc. FOSS | Forces HTTPS encrypted connections more aggressively than your browser. |
 |
CanvasBlockerWaterFox; Tor Browser Bundle; FireFox | Blocks the JS-API for modifying browser canvas to prevent Canvas-Fingerprinting and protect your identity online. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2NG0-PSdr3hQKsmqYbUONE_Xg6XNrHTeLEvJrHi82j_U4G7ti3zBQKDWCBPtnL5zrt-_fbkp_izplXp7z12EWkovIgAPYhz1STXdtUIy288_s2gbw4uW109DdrSvxn4_Yq0mM_APSx1zI/s1600/useragent-switcher64.png")
 |
ReadiumIron; Tor Browser Bundle; Chomium, Chrome | Review your unencrypted ePUB3/ePUB2 ebook master file with 95-100% full attributes enabled; your ereader may not do so. |
 |
QuiReaderReview your unencrypted ePUB3/ePUB2 ebook master file with 95-100% full attributes enabled; your ereader may not do so. |
Finance / Accounting Applications
If you establish yourself as a professional by vocation based on income from authorship, you need to document expenses for tax purposes. Doing so should not cost you as well.
 |
GrisbiHome/office finance Management, checking/savings, etc. Can replace most home accounting programs. One of the top three of its kind in the open source community. |
 |
GnuCashHome/0ffice/small business finance, accounting, checking/savings, etc. More robust than Grisbi but has a very friendly layout. Use this if you have stocks or a retirement fund. One of the top three of its kind in the open source community. |
 |
Money Manager EXPrimarily for home and personal finance. Its simpler layout may appeal to those who have never used financial software. |
 |
HomeBankPersonal finance, accounts, transactions, analysis, budget, etc.; multi-lingual. Can import/export data for Quicken, MS Money or any applications supporting QIF / OFX / QFX / CSV file formats. Stores its data in international XML format for easy export/import to more applications. |
 |
KMyMoneyPersonal finance, accounts, transactions, analysis, budget, etc.; multi-lingual; double-entry accounting. Can import/export data from Quicken, MS Money and other applications supporting the QIF, OFX, QFX, and CSV file formats. Built on KDE support files, it is installable in all Linux distributions. |
Security Applications
Protect your system effectively for free. Your OS's default security will not adequately do so in all cases. While our “Resources” section focuses on free and/or open source software, NDAS personnel with an IT background recommend Symantec (with Sophos a close second) for commercial security applications.
Access
 |
KeePassX (Passwords, Other)Securely store login and other information; does not integrate with other applications, which is a security risk. Not as convenient and automated, but your information is thereby more secure within high AES encryption. Create multiple databases for differing needs. |
AntiVirus
 |
Sophos (Antivirus, Other)Some NDAS staff with a background in IT and network security have deployed this for clients in multiple countries. |
 |
Comodo (Antivirus)Lesser known but robust, but try Sophos first. Pay attention during install to disable unneeded trial applications. There is little out there that compares in free AV for Windows; Microsoft's default malware utilities do not cover all security needs. |
 |
ClamAV (Antivirus)Linux is the most robustly defensible OS, but claims of its invulnerability are false. Not the best AV but long-standing and continuously improved. In Linux, install the ClamTK GUI for convenient control vs. the command line. Both are available through most Linux repositories or Synaptic. After installing in Linux, open a terminal and enter: sudo apt-get upgrade. This will update both applications. Then launch “ClamTK” and select in the main menu Advanced > Scheduler; this is where you can set the daily time for a full scan and a virus definitions update. ATTENTION: For important options and increased functionality regardless of OS, see GUI+ClamAV. See Also: |
Network
 |
Angry IP Scanner (Wireless Monitor)Check if someone is using bandwidth for which you pay. While AIS will not stop them, it will inform you of the need to do so. |
Backup Applications
Protect past, present and future projects / data. Manual file/folder copies to a USB stick or CD/DVD is not enough. In system failure or human error, you will still lose on-going work.
Files/Folders
 |
SyncthingBackup, sync and/or mirror between storage devices only you control; your files are never stored in accessible format anywhere else, especially on a “cloud” server. All transfers are via the Torrent network, the toughest encryption on the planet; it also seeks local network connections for faster transfers. ATTENTION: Syncthing is complicated though improves continuously in usability. Give it a try, if you can. |
 |
FreeFileSyncYour OS may have the most versatile backup / sync utility called “rsync.” It is command line only and intimidating for the average user. This GUI gives you convenient access to rsync's most potent features. |
OS/System
 |
SystemBackFOSS | Sourceforge.net/projects/systemback/ Systemback makes it easy to create backups of your whole system and/or configuration files. In case of problems, you can easily restore the previous state of your system. Extra features for system copying, system installation and “Live” system creation. PPA install available at Launchpad. |
 |
TimeShiftFull system backup. Better and more convenient than default applications in Linux distributions. You may find that TimeShift incrementals also take up [much] less than other backup solutions. |
Utilities
Most file managers come with extensive features; sometimes you need more. These are more convenient and/or powerful than defaults in an operating system.
PDF Reader
 |
Foxit PDF Reader (Viewer)Free; one of the few multi-platform PDF viewers. Review your print-ready PDF for personal assurance or ACN notes to your layout technician. |
Archiver / Extractor
 |
PeaZip (Extracter, Compressor, Converter)(Semi-)cross-platform, portable GUI for Open Source technologies like 7-Zip, FreeArc, PAQ, UPX. It can create 7Z, ARC, BZ2, GZ, *PAQ, PEA, UAD/BALZ, TAR, UPX, WIM, XZ, ZIP archves and extract nearly 150 others. |
Optical Disk Drives
 |
ImgBurn (Read, Copy, Build, Burn, Verify) |
 |
Burn (Read, Copy, Build, Burn, Verify) |
 |
XfBurn (Read, Copy, Build, Burn, Verify) |
 |
Basero (Read, Copy, Build, Burn, Verify) |
Audio/Video
Unlike applications you know, these do not invade your privacy and/or force you into proprietary modes. Entertain yourself for free!
Media Center
 |
Kodi[Most NDAS staff use this at home.] Award-winning, free and open source media center for use with networked televisions and computing devices. Play/stream most videos, music, podcasts and other digital media from local/network storage and the internet. |
Audio
 |
Amarok |
 |
Clementine |
 |
Nightingale |
Video (and Audio with most)
 |
VLC Media Player[All NDAS staff use this as well as others.] Handles more media formats than almost any other application. Yes, it can be used as a full media center, if you take time to learn how. (Play / Organize / Rip / Stream) |
 |
JuceVLCOther FOSS | (Play / Organize / Rip / Stream / Media Center) |
 |
Banshee |
 |
UMPlayer |
