Absolutely Free Software -
Best Windows Freeware

This page is updated regularly. Last update: October 10, 2005.

update 10/17 Portable AbiWord now includes a grammar checker. Mobility Email, a portable email application based on Thunderbird. KeePass, a great, open source password manager.

Best Free Portable Security Software for Windows

Free Portable Antivirus Software

AnitVir AntiVir Personal Edition Classic

Yes, it's quite possible that a machine you attach your key drive to could infect your personal files. Do not trust a strange computer. Run an antivirus program. These days, it is not an option. It's a necessity.

http://www.free-av.com

USB Encryption Software
Portable Drive Encryption

TrueCrypt TrueCrypt

TrueCrypt isn't just listed because it's portable software. It's listed because it's the best, portable or not. You can create a virtual drive of any size you choose that contains all your private data and information. You can use it to encrypt your entire USB drive or only a segment of it if you prefer. I highly recommend this tool.

http://www.truecrypt.org/

USB Encryption Software

File Encryption / Folder Encryption

Remora USB Disk Guard Remora USB Disk Guard

new! added October 10, 2005

A simple tool designed specifically for USB drives. In order to run the application, at all, you must enter the correct password. Then, specific files or folders can be encrypted each with their own, unique password. Simple concept, nicely executed.

http://www.richskills.com/

Free Portable Password Protector / Password Manager

KeePass KeePass

Perhaps you don't want to save all your files, but only want a handy place to keep all your passwords. I used to recommend PINs for this category, but KeePass is open source, a big plus for encryption software.

http://keepass.sourceforge.net/

Free Portable Secure File Deletion

CyberShredder CyberShredder

Let's say you're working on an unknown computer, and you save a file to its hard drive. If you want to be sure it's really gone and cannot be recovered after you're gone, you must use a secure file deletion tool. The file is deleted, and the spot on the drive where it was located is overwritten seven times with random data.

http://www.cylog.org/utils_9.asp

Free Portable File Undelete Tool

Restoration Restoration

new! added September 14, 2005

If you are truly paranoid about leaving tracks on a visited computer, run Restoration to see what files may be undeleted after you leave.

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/restoration.html